On a late Saturday night/early Sunday morning for our final Lollapalooza aftershow we hit up Schubas to see Dan Auerbach, front man for the Black Keys, touring on his solo album, Keep it Hid. Schubas is one of those places that get’s top-flight talent in an intimate setting and personally I’m a huge fan.
Opening up was Cage the Elephant. I saw them at Summerfest and besides their hit “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked,” it was largely unimpressive. So, we sat that one out and took a load off on a barstool and sipped some delicious Corona instead. Auerbach came on around midnight.
I don’t have a lot to say about this show, except that if you ever get a chance to see Auerbach – with the Black Keys or solo – take it. One factor that slightly disappointed was the constant din of the crowd. It seems to be a common problem with Lolla aftershows – maybe it’s the all-day drinking of those who attended the festival during the day.
Below is video of “Whispered Words.” You’ll want to watch it to the end. Current tour dates after the video.
You might also like: Dan Auerbach at Metro, Black Keys in Cleveland, Ultimate Lollapalooza Highlight Reel, Band of Horses at House of Blues.
| Nov 5 2009 | 8:00P | Newport Music Hall | Columbus, Ohio |
| Nov 6 2009 | 8:00P | The Majestic Theatre | Detroit, Michigan |
| Nov 7 2009 | 8:00P | Phoenix Concert Theatre | Toronto |
| Nov 8 2009 | 8:00P | Le National | Montreal |
| Nov 9 2009 | 8:00P | The Paradise | Boston |
| Nov 11 2009 | 8:00P | Webster Hall | New York, New York |
| Nov 12 2009 | 8:00P | Theatre of the Living Arts | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Nov 13 2009 | 8:00P | Sonar | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Nov 14 2009 | 8:00P | Cat’s Cradle | Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
| Nov 16 2009 | 8:00P | The Orange Peel | Asheville, North Carolina |
| Nov 17 2009 | 8:00P | Variety Playhouse | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Nov 18 2009 | 8:00P | House of Blues | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Nov 20 2009 | 8:00P | Minglewood Hall | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Nov 21 2009 | 8:00P | Cannery Ballroom | Nashville, Tennessee |
| Dec 3 2009 | 8:00P | Turner Hall | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Dec 4 2009 | 8:00P | First Avenue | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Dec 5 2009 | 8:00P | The Vic Theatre | Chicago, Illinois |
| Dec 6 2009 | 8:00P | The Bluebird | Bloomington, Indiana |
| Dec 8 2009 | 8:00P | Southgate House | Newport, Kentucky |
| Dec 9 2009 | 8:00P | House of Blues | Cleveland, Ohio |
(Video included) Dan Auerbach, front man for The Black Keys, is touring to promote his first solo album, Keep it Hid. On Friday, March 6 he made a stop at The Metro in Chicago to play in front of a sold-out crowd. Simply put, the show rocked. By far, it’s one of the best shows around of the early 2009 season.
He led off with “Trouble Weighs a Ton,” a slow, back-country sounding tune that immediately signals a sound departure from the heavy blues of The Black Keys. But from there, Auerbach led the crowd into the meat of Keep it Hid, playing the ska-inspired but blues-based “I Want Some More.” It’s heavy but clean, scratching the surface of what’s to follow. The set included the aptly-named “The Prowl” with its stalking rhythm, “Mean Monsoon” and its quirky beat, the heartfelt “Goin’ Home,” “My Last Mistake,” “Heartbroken, In Disrepair” and just about every other song from the new record. There’s a sound emerging from Keep it Hid that I haven’t heard before. It’s blues, it’s rock and there’s some reggae thrown into some of the underlying beats. It all comes together seamlessly, and it sounds very good.
Seeing Auerbach on stage with a full supporting band – Hacienda, including My Morning Jacket percussionist Patrick Hallahan – I can’t help but be reminded of Jack White’s transition from The White Stripes to The Raconteurs. It’s clear that while The Black Keys showcases Auerbach’s unique style, his solo effort is a glimpse of what he’s really capable of as a musician. He stays true to his blues roots and his style, but it’s a richer, more complex sound. He has said that The Black Keys aren’t going to quit making music, and that’s a good thing. That said, go out and see this show if at all possible. I’d see him again tomorrow if I could. I want some more.
Below is video from the show, of “Heartbroken, In Disrepair.” It’s a little shaky at times, because I was having trouble staying still. Click “HQ” for best quality. Enjoy. Upcoming tour dates are below the video. And you can visit Dan Auerbach’s MySpace page to hear the entire new album.
| Nov 5 2009 | 8:00P | Newport Music Hall | Columbus, Ohio |
| Nov 6 2009 | 8:00P | The Majestic Theatre | Detroit, Michigan |
| Nov 7 2009 | 8:00P | Phoenix Concert Theatre | Toronto |
| Nov 8 2009 | 8:00P | Le National | Montreal |
| Nov 9 2009 | 8:00P | The Paradise | Boston |
| Nov 11 2009 | 8:00P | Webster Hall | New York, New York |
| Nov 12 2009 | 8:00P | Theatre of the Living Arts | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Nov 13 2009 | 8:00P | Sonar | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Nov 14 2009 | 8:00P | Cat’s Cradle | Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
| Nov 16 2009 | 8:00P | The Orange Peel | Asheville, North Carolina |
| Nov 17 2009 | 8:00P | Variety Playhouse | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Nov 18 2009 | 8:00P | House of Blues | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Nov 20 2009 | 8:00P | Minglewood Hall | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Nov 21 2009 | 8:00P | Cannery Ballroom | Nashville, Tennessee |
| Dec 3 2009 | 8:00P | Turner Hall | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Dec 4 2009 | 8:00P | First Avenue | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Dec 5 2009 | 8:00P | The Vic Theatre | Chicago, Illinois |
| Dec 6 2009 | 8:00P | The Bluebird | Bloomington, Indiana |
| Dec 8 2009 | 8:00P | Southgate House | Newport, Kentucky |
| Dec 9 2009 | 8:00P | House of Blues | Cleveland, Ohio |
