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The Black Keys, named in honor of a schizophrenic artist who called the
boys “black keys”, his phrase for people who weren’t quite
right, was formed in Akron, Ohio USA, in 2001 by two childhood friends,
singer+guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney. Despite their
Midwestern roots, the duo manage to convey a sound that strongly recalls
the Southern Blues-Rock of The Allman Brothers Band and The
Black Crowes, but the music is much more straightforward than either
of those more-established acts, with nary a trace of Funk, R&B or
Pop.
They made their first, self-released, record, "The Big Come Up",
in the spring of 2002 and embarked on their first tour that year, after
being fired from their day jobs. Following enthusiastic responses from
audiences and critics, the two men decided to remain unemployed so they
could devote all of their time to their music.
They practiced and toured relentlessly, then released their second album,
"Thickfreakness", their first on Fat Possum, in April 2003;
it ended up breaking the top 50 of the U.S. Independent Albums chart.
Later that year, the band took up residence on the second floor of a cavernous
former tire factory. Putting together an ad hoc studio of second-hand
equipment and old magnetic tape recycled from not-quite-right recordings
of Mississippi fried chicken joint commercials, sessions for "Rubber
Factory", the band's third record in as many years, begin in January
and last until April 2004. It peaked at #11 on The Top Independent Albums
chart crossing over to The Billboard 200 Sales list reaching #143.
Cut to early 2006, The Black Keys return to the basement, Carney's new
studio Audio Eagle, to record "Magic Potion", their first full-length
disc for Nonesuch Records. Upon its September 2006 release, the 11-song
set climbed up The Billboard Top 200 chart to a respectable position of
95.
April 2008 saw the Akron-based minimalist Rock duo issue their fifth
and most succesful album, "Attack & Release"; it includes
the alt-Rock radio single "Strange Times".
The Black Keys biography is an exclusive of 100xr.com
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