Thoughts on The Black Keys: Indianapolis: The Lawn at White River
Observing a band that you have watched grow from infancy get embraced by the masses can be a strange experience. The feeling is similar to purchasing a new t-shirt, only to be later informed that you must share it with all of your friends. It can be disconcerting, to say the least.
It seems like just yesterday that The Black Keys were playing at The Vogue for $20 a head. Watching the ticket prices to a sold-out show at The Lawn at White River soar to above $80 on Stubhub was rather surreal. These guys have made it. Much to my own surprise, I am happy about it.
Rather than harbor resentment for the yuppies that only know The Keys from their most recent work Brothers, I choose instead to embrace it. This is the music that I want America to listen to. This is the music that I want the radio stations to play. Not Gaga, Young Jeezy or Coldplay. This. Shit. Right. Here. Mannnnn.
I arrived at The Lawn to Booker T Jones and the MG’s performing their version of Albert King’s “Born Under a Bad Sign.” For the next several tracks, Booker T hopped out from behind his Hammond B-3 organ to riff on rhythm guitars. Al Green’s “Take Me to the River” went missing halfway through the song when the drummer doubled as hype man/freestyle rapper. For me, the highlight of the set was the closer “Time is Tight,” a song I’ll forever associate with The Blues Brothers film.
Here come the boys.
The Black Keys came on stage around 9:30 to a packed house undeterred by a lousy weather forecast. “Thickfreakness” kicked things off. I am beginning to wonder whether they ever open with anything else. They continued to shower the crowd with older songs, with five tracks from The Big Come Up and my personal favorite, Rubber Factory.
As far as I’m concerned, the night could have ended six songs deep with The Keys’ rendition of The Kinks classic “Act Nice and Gentle.” I would have left satisfied with a permagrin til Tuesday. Then, the giant disco ball dropped and a bassist and keyboard player joined the boys for a slew of cuts from Brothers.
Hardly my first Keys show, I still find myself fascinated by drummer Patrick Carney’s play. This gangly goof of a man wails away like some psychotic, spewing sweat on everyone in the first six rows. Magic! Carney’s play reaffirms what bandmate Dan Auerbach must have known ten years ago when the duo began jamming in that Akron, Ohio basement: this is all I need.
Though the set only lasted for an hour and ten minutes, no one left short changed. The Keys rifled through 18 songs, playing a sensational mix of new and old. “Strange Times” from the Danger Mouse produced Attack and Release served as one of the show’s second half highlights.
Booker T came back on stage for a solid version of “I’ll be Your Man.” I was bummed that The Keys missed out on an opportunity to let the legend solo. If there was a chance for an extended jam, this was it.
Chanting fans brought The Keys back on stage for a two-song encore: “Sinister Kid” followed by “Your Touch.” I wouldn’t have traded places with anyone last night. I am happy that everyone is finally on board, now go brush up on some of their older shit.
My Morning Jacket, Todd Haynes & YouTube Throw Ultimate Record Release Bash in Louisville
What is sure to be one of the summer’s hit records officially released yesterday: My Morning Jacket’s Circuital. The band’s front man, Jim James, poignantly noted last night that in the Internet age, “Record releases aren’t what they used to be.”
Thank goodness for all of us. The show was billed, through a viral Internet advertising campaign, as Unstaged: An Original Series from American Express. Acclaimed filmmaker Todd Haynes, with whom James had worked on the Dylan biopic I’m Not There, directed the webcast.
Giants of web video YouTube and VEVO teamed with Haynes to offer three, simultaneous streaming feeds of the performance. As an objective observer, I can honestly say the quality of the live film and audio was astounding. Don’t tell American Express, but I may have paid for this experience.
“This is a strange time,” James said to the capacity crowd at Louisville’s Palace Theatre. “…I just want to thank you all for being here.”
My Morning Jacket’s genre smashing jams rollicked across the airwaves last night, thrilling more than those along the Ohio River. New tracks such as “First Light” and “Outta My System” danced along nicely with the band’s established hits of “Golden,” “Off the Record,” and “The Way that He Sings.”
Special guests included fellow Kentuckian Ben Sollee and current touring partner Daniel Martin Moore. Erykah Badu also joined MMJ for a few tracks that included a personal highlight: James singing the hook from “Tyrone.” Magic!
James is right about a few things. The very foundations of the music industry are beyond wobbling, they’ve snapped. For the moment, the benefit has landed squarely on the shoulders of the consumer. Album leaks are available weeks if not months in advance via little more than a Google search. Boundaries between consumer and thief have disappeared, not simply blurred.
On the other side of the coin, an artist’s ability to reach an audience is at an unparalleled height. All of this was on display at the Palace last night. Oh yeah, and there was some seriously good music played. If you don’t believe me, check out the highlights on My Morning Jacket’s VEVO page.
Thought on Tracks 