The Black Keys

The Black Keys, a rock duo formed in Akron, Ohio, brings together guitarist and singer Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney with a blend of blues rock, garage and alternative rock. The band’s early records — “The Big Come Up” (2002), “Thickfreakness” (2003) and “Rubber Factory” (2004) — are rooted in a lo-fi aesthetic characterized by abrasive guitar riffs, dry drums and a strong grounding in electric blues. From “Attack & Release” (2008) the duo expanded its songwriting with more developed arrangements and began a regular collaboration with producer Danger Mouse, who helped shape the band’s evolving sound on “Brothers” (2010), “El Camino” (2011) and “Turn Blue” (2014). After a break, they returned to a more direct formula on “Let’s Rock” (2019) and paid tribute to Mississippi blues with “Delta Kream” (2021), followed by “Dropout Boogie” (2022) and “Ohio Players” (2024). On stage, The Black Keys favor a primarily duo format, sometimes augmented by additional musicians, with playing focused on repeating motifs, mid-tempo grooves and a stripped-down approach to rock.