Saturday, December 18, 2010

The Black Keys at the Palladium, 9/27/10

And we're back!  Time to catch up on the many shows I've been to in the last three months, followed by all kinds of fun end-of-the-year content (lists and the like).  In other words, this paragraph is basically saying Apres moi, le deluge...

The Black Keys are awesome.  It's just true, so let's get it out there.  I've always been incredibly impressed with their musical chops, lead singer Dan Auerbach's soulful voice, and their ability to fill up so much space with just a guitar and drums.  On their latest album Brothers, however, they've added more keys, organ and bass than ever before, even going so far as to bring them along for the show.  Not to sound like a hopeless traditionalist, but on this night the songs that Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney tackled by themselves just sounded better.  That's not an indictment of the rest of the set, or even of the incredible album they put out this year.  It just seems they still have to get used to sharing the stage with anyone but each other.  Still, a great show as always.

Sidenote: I found it interesting the quality of celebrity that was at this show.  Sandra Oh seemed exasperated with her date, but Spoon lead singer Britt Daniel was transfixed by the band (and endeared himself to me by having a cute but regular girl as his date).  The most revealing person in attendance, though, had to be Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.  If one of the modern gods of guitar rock is digging on your band, you must be doing something right.

Set List: Thickfreakness / Girl Is on My Mind / 10 A.M. Automatic / The Breaks / Stack Shot Billy / Busted / Act Nice & Gentle / Everlasting Light / Next Girl / Chop and Change / Howlin’ for You / Tighten Up / She’s Long Gone / Ten Cent Pistol / I’ll Be Your Man / Strange Times / I Got Mine

Encore: Too Afraid to Love You / Sinister Kid / Your Touch

Photo by David Hall, OC Register

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