Black Keys at the Hollywood Palladium

Sometimes it’s great to go to a concert and JUST be a fan. Not someone who works in the music industry, not someone documenting every moment with a cell phone so your friends know you were there – JUST a fan.

Last night I was just that at the Black Keys’ sold out show at the Palladium. Ever since the Akron, OH duo of Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbachperformed in KCRW’s studios in 2008 (they visited in 2003 as well), they’ve been one of my favorite bands.

I know these are hefty words, but I think they are the saving grace of rock ‘n’ roll right now. At least the kind of rock ‘n’ roll I like – bluesy and raw. Pure talent, no bells and whistles. Two guys making wonderful noise who read each other so well they seem like brothers. And Brothers happens to be the name of their latest – and greatest – album which, despite having been released back in May, is still getting heavy airplay on the station as the DJs continue to dig in deeper. I think “Everlasting Light” may be the current favorite and DJ Jeremy Sole, one of their biggest fans here, was just as excited as I was to see these tracks live and performed expertly as always. Last night, we were fans.

I was blessed to be escorted onto the stage to watch from the side about halfway through the show and what really stuck with me was 1) how engaged the audience was, fists in the air and heads banging and 2) Dan Auerbach’s feet! I couldn’t keep my eyes off of them. He was doing the rock ‘n’ roll version of the moonwalk and it was exciting enough to distract me from what he was doing on guitar, so you know it was pretty crazy.

I rarely write show reviews but this was such an incredible experience, that I had to make a plea for anyone who has not heard Brothers or the Black Keys to do it immediately!

Your fan, RR

p.s.: sorry for the lack of photos but….I didn’t have my cell phone out. Thanks Danny for the pic!