Touring to promote their eighth studio effort, Turn Blue released in March of this year, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney formally known as The Black Keys played to a packed crowd at DC’s Verizon center last Thursday evening.
While the sheer size of the Verizon Center never fails to amaze me, what’s interesting at shows like this is just how intimate a performance a band like The Black Keys can deliver to their audience. While I’ve always preferred the smaller stages for music in general, it’s nice every once in a while to be reminded that even a now iconic national act like The Keys can still drive things home in a venue that seats 18,000.
Backed by just a bass player and a keyboardist for this tour, The Black Keys sounded fantastic live as any hardcore fan might expect. The Keys are clearly still able to deliver a live performance that exceeds what they do in the studio.
Let’s remember that this is a two piece band after all, and the task of bringing a sound as full as they pull off live takes hard work and precise playing. They’re still at the top of their game and their set list ranged from older to newer material which spanned the gamut of their career to date.
Cage the Elephant had the task of being the night’s opener and I thought they sounded fantastic. I have seen Cage play several times now and I can honestly say that they are better each time I catch them live.
Front man Matt Schultz always brings a frantic, high energy level of showmanship to each and every show giving the headlining act a lot to live up to. I’m still waiting for Cage to launch a headlining tour, which would be well deserved.
THE BLACK KEYS
CAGE THE ELEPHANT
The Black Keys Setlist:
It’s Up to You Now
Next Girl
Same Old Thing
Run Right Back
Dead and Gone
Gold on the Ceiling
Strange Times
Leavin’ Trunk
Too Afraid to Love You
Howlin’ for You
A Girl Like You
Money Maker
Gotta Get Away
She’s Long Gone
Fever
Tighten Up
Your Touch
Lonely Boy
Encore:
Weight of Love
Turn Blue
Little Black Submarines
