The Black Keys

The Black Keys are an alternative rock group from Akron, United States, formed in 2001. The group consists of singer and guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney. Their name comes from an Akron artist and friend who used the phrase “black keys” for things he disliked or people he did not trust.

Style and recording approach

The Black Keys draw on traditional blues and psychedelic rock, and their listed genres include alternative rock, blues, blues rock, garage rock, garage rock revival and indie rock. They are known for simple, lo-fi recording methods and usually record, produce and mix their own material rather than using major studios. Much of Thickfreakness is recorded in about 14 hours in Carney’s basement with an early 1980s Tascam 388 eight-track recorder, and some of their recordings keep background sounds such as an owl hooting.

Albums and releases

Their debut album, The Big Come Up, appears in 2002, followed by Thickfreakness in 2003 and Rubber Factory in 2004. In 2005 they release the live DVD Live, recorded at The Metro Theatre in Sydney on 18 March 2005. Their 2006 releases include Magic Potion and Chulahoma, along with the single version of “Your Touch”.

Attack & Release, produced by Danger Mouse, follows in 2008 and is their fourth record. Brothers, their fifth album, appears in 2010 and is the first they record in a proper studio. El Camino follows in 2011; it is co-produced by Danger Mouse and wins the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album. The song “Lonely Boy” receives Grammy awards for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song. Their eighth studio album, Turn Blue, appears in 2014.

Recognition and performances

The band receives praise for its debut release, including attention from Rolling Stone, and Time names them one of the “10 Best Acts of 2003”. They tour with Sleater-Kinney in 2003, open for Beck, and later support Radiohead on the American leg of a brief 2006 tour. They perform at Lollapalooza in 2005 and 2007. They also appear on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and The Late Show with David Letterman, and are supported by John Peel.

Media use and wider exposure

Several Black Keys songs appear in film, television, advertising and games. “Set You Free” is included on the School of Rock soundtrack. “When the Lights Go Out” appears in Black Snake Moan, while “Lies” appears in Lie to Me and in an HBO Big Love campaign. “Girl Is on My Mind” appears in Sony Ericsson and Victoria’s Secret commercials and in the films Rest Stop and Cashback. “10 am Automatic” appears in MLB ’06: The Show, The O.C., The Go-Getter and an American Express commercial. “Your Touch” appears in a Lee’s jeans commercial, Friday Night Lights, Eastbound and Down, Entourage and Zombieland. Other uses include “Grown So Ugly” in Cloverfield, “Strange Times” in Grand Theft Auto IV, Dexter, The Mole and Gossip Girl, “Just Got To Be” in NHL 08, “Hard Row” and other songs in Sons of Anarchy, “The Breaks” in RocknRolla, “Psychotic Girl” in One Tree Hill, “I’ll Be Your Man” as the opening theme for Hung and in Rescue Me, “I Got Mine” in 24/7 Pacquiao-Hatton and coverage of the 2009 American League Championship Series, and “Next Girl” in Saints Row: The Third. “Tighten Up” also appears in a Subaru Legacy commercial and on the FIFA 2011 soundtrack.

Followers and collaborators

Among their known admirers are Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead, and Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett. Matt Helders of Arctic Monkeys is also seen wearing a Black Keys T-shirt in an MTV interview.