The Black Keys

Hanni El Khatib and Black Keys' Dan Auerbach Spin Garage Gold

The most obvious difference in Hanni El Khatib's music these days is a sense of control. The former skate punk -- "playing the world's worst guitar" (but "Guitar Hero is helping out)," he jokes -- still dabbles in garage, psychedelia, punk, and blues, only now his songs are tighter, more realized. ... More >>

Sara McClellan, What Are You Listening To?

Sara McClellan McClellan is the freelance writer, creative mentor and brand consultant behind Intuitive Horizon. She is also author of The World Needs Hope and is an inspirational speaker on hope, grief and empathy. Learn more here. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what ... More >>

Top Five Phoenix Music Stories of the Week

The news waits for no one -- at least that's what we read somewhere -- so it's perfectly understandable that you, the reader, might have missed out on a musical tidbit, breaking news about your favorite venue, or one of our rants. So enjoy this digest-style sampling of some of our biggest stories f ... More >>

The Hives, Marquee Theatre, 10/9/12

The Hives @ Marquee Theatre|10/9/12Eleven miles from the US Airways Center, at The Marquee Theatre, an important question was pondered tonight. "Do any of you like The Black Keys?" asked Hives lead singer Howlin' Pelle Almqvist. Every band that took the stage before the Swedish garage rock band go ... More >>

The Black Keys, US Airways Center, 10/9/12

The Black Keys @ US Airways|10/9/12The Black Keys have come a long way since their last performance in Phoenix a year and a half ago. They released a new album, El Camino, played prime time slots at Coachella two years in a row, and performed at a much larger venue last night. The decision for both ... More >>

Top 5 Contemporary Blues Rock Bands That Don't Totally Suck

Our sister blog, West Coast Sound, has caught a lot of shit lately for their disdain for neo-blues rockers The Black Keys. Just remember we're only critics, and opinions are just opinions. Nicholas Pell even offered up some alternative blues bands for you to dig. The problem is, as commenter AlexNic ... More >>

Five Albums Every Man Should Have In His Bachelor Pad

For those who are really terrible in this life, I imagine a special hell: reality TV hell. This awful place will be populated by the combined casts of Jersey Shore and The Bachelor Pad, two of the most painful shows ever. Why would I want to watch a television show that glorifies ignorance and margi ... More >>

Bay Pride

25 Gorgeous GIFs from Lollapalooza 2012

See also: Lollapalooza Suspended, Resumed After Dangerous Weather Conditions See also: 10 Things Your Lollapalooza Outfit Says About You By Reed Fischer Ready for some GIFs? To quote Ozzy Osbourne, "I can't fucking hear you!" I said, ARE YOU READY FOR SOME GIFS?! This past weekend's running of Lo ... More >>

As The Black Keys Take on Pizza Hut, We Wonder What Selling Out Even Means Anymore

See also: What Are the Ten Most "Spotified" Songs in Phoenix Last week, NPR blogger Emily White got a whole bunch of discussion started about how musical artists are and aren't getting paid. (We chimed in too, discussing music streaming service Spotify.) If White's thought, that my peers and I will ... More >>

Like The Black Keys? Dig Their Musical Roots

What a wonder prime time slots at Coachella two years in a row will do for you. Everything's coming up Milhouse for The Black Keys these days. The blues/indie/garage group played a sold-out show at Mesa Amphitheatre last year and will return to a much larger venue in October. Thanks to the succes ... More >>

Incoming: The Black Keys, El-P, Sharon Van Etten

Blues rock masters The Black Keys have been on top of the world lately. They've toured the globe, sold out Madison Square Garden twice, and headlined every music festival under the sun (including this year's Coachella fest, where they teamed up with Creedence Clearwater Revival's John Fogerty during ... More >>

Literal Band Names: Radiohead, Black Keys, Meat Puppets, and More

There are some weird band names out there, so we let our imaginations go wild to envision what some of these names would literally look like. We chose Radiohead as our jumping off point because love them or hate them, the band is playing at Jobing.com arena tonight, and it's sure to be one of the ... More >>

Rich Berra, What Are You Listening To?

Rich Berra​Rich Berra Berra is one of the hosts of the Johnjay and Rich radio show heard on 104.7 KISS-FM here in Phoenix. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play? It sounds like a scam, but I listen to KISS to hear what our station sounds like af ... More >>

Is This It? Eight Songs to Listen to While Waiting for Coachella's 2012 Lineup Announcement

Coachella's full lineup should be announced sometime this week. Last Friday, the festival tweeted a picture that read "Next Week" with the hashtag #Coachella2012. There's already been some speculation with fake fliers and what not, but the official lineup will be announced any day now. LA Times pred ... More >>

The Young at Yucca Tap Room, 1/4/12

The Young, Mangled Men, ROAR, The Plainfield Butchers Yucca Tap Room Wednesday, January 4, 2012 Bits of Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney's interview with Rolling Stone started hitting the web yesterday, with the bespectacled musician stating: "Rock 'n' roll is dying because people became okay with ... More >>

What's Selling: Zia Record Exchange Top 10 Selling Albums of the Week

Want to know what new release discs and platters are moving across the Valley at local record stores? We've got you covered with another installment of What's Selling. Feliz año nuevo, friends. The first What's Selling list of 2012 is full of familiar faces, with Drake's Take Care owning the numbe ... More >>

What's Selling: Stinkweeds Top 10 Selling Albums of the Week

​Want to know what new release discs and platters are moving across the Valley at local record stores? We've got you covered with another installment of What's Selling. Christmas is officially d-u-n, done. If you're like us you're probably still sitting in a tamale coma, wrapped in you're bra ... More >>

Top 10 Music Videos of 2011

It's a Katy Perry kind of year...​Welcome to another installment of Up on the Sun's 2011 Review. We've been counting down our favorite songs, shows, national and local releases of 2011. This installment takes a look at 2011's best videos. Enjoy! Quite a few bomb-ass videos have been released ... More >>

Top 10 Songs of 2011: Christina Caldwell

White Denim​Welcome to another installment of Up on the Sun's 2011 Review. Over the next week, we'll be counting down our favorite songs, shows, national and local releases of 2011. This installment comes from Christina Caldwell, who came on board as a major contributor to Up on the Sun this y ... More >>

What's Selling: Hoodlums Top 10 Selling Albums of the Week

​Want to know what new release discs and platters are moving across the Valley at local record stores? We've got you covered with another installment of What's Selling. If top selling lists and viral videos are any indicators of trend setting, don't be surprised if there's an outbreak of hip ... More >>

Darren King of MuteMath on Music Videos, Japan, and Being "Chrish"

Claire Vogel​We're legit bummed that X103.9's Bush and MuteMath show was cancelled, but since it would have been tonight, we decided that our interview with MuteMath is definitely still worth a read. Mutemath drummer Darren King had a lot to say about stop motion photography, comparisons to the Bl ... More >>

A "Black" Bands Primer: In Celebration of Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears​ Okay, seriously. Here us out. This is not a list of bands containing black people (some do, some don't), it's a list of bands with "black" in their band names. I came up with the idea shortly after The Black Lips performed at The Rhythm Room, and waited for a ... More >>

The Black Keys Video for New Single, "Lonely Boy," Plus Four Other Videos With Awkward Dance Moves

​When you look up the definition of "viral video" in the internet dictionary, The Black Keys new video for "Lonely Boy," the first single off the highly anticipated El Camino, would be the prime example, complete with links to other articles awkward hand claps and hip gyrations. The new vide ... More >>

Ellie Elmore, What Are You Listening To?

Ellie Elmore: The interior designer and Zumba fitness instructor. Teaches at Diverse Elements Dance Studio in Phoenix Monday nights. For more information on her classes, go here.  When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? Lately, 97.5-FM ha ... More >>

Eric Steven Glomski, What Are You Listening To?

Eric Steven Glomski​Eric Steven Glomski The director of winemaking at Arizona Stronghold Vineyards is helping host a river trip in the Verde Valley Saturday, July 23, complete with lunch and a wine tasting. For more information, call (928) 639-3004. When you put your key in the ignition and turn ... More >>

Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys is an Awesome Producer

​ We shared news on Monday that blues-rock duo The Black Keys are finished with their follow-up to the freaking great album Brothers, and this week we profiled young Ohio-based singer/songwriter Jessica Lea Mayfield in our print issue, whose latest album Tell Me, along with her previous, With Blas ... More >>

Anton Mackey, What Are You Listening To?

Anton Mackey​Anton Mackey Mackey is a yoga teacher at LifePower Yoga and Summit North Scottsdale and a fitness trainer at FITLIFE Scottsdale. What songs are you vibing on these days? "Hold You," by Gyptian (Major Lazer remix); "I Wanna," by Sahara & Bob Sinclair (featuring Shaggy); "One by O ... More >>

The Black Keys File Lawsuits Against Ad Agency

​The Black Keys have sued ad advertising agency for using their hit single in a commercial without getting permission or paying royalties, according to Pitchfork.The blues rock duo has filed two lawsuits against Della Femina Rothschild Jeary and Partners for using The Black Keys' song "Tighten Up" ... More >>

Metallica, Arcade Fire, The Black Keys and More of April In Concert Photos

The Black Keys at Mesa Amphitheatre ​May already? Yup. In case you are in the same work-induced haze that I am, you may need a reminder that April is, in fact, over. Luckily hindsight is twenty-twenty. You'll appreciate that as you look back at the best concert shots from April. April was one ... More >>

The Black Keys at Mesa Amphitheatre Last Night

Maria VassettThe Black Keys playing a concert at Mesa Ampitheatre.​The Black Keys with Cage The Elephant and Stone Foxes Mesa Amphitheatre Thursday April 14, 2011 The duo is dead. That fact hadn't occurred to me until about ten songs into The Black Keys set at Mesa Ampitheatre last ... More >>

The Black Keys @ Mesa Amphitheatre

Bass Drum of Death, "Young Pros"

​Song: Bass Drum of Death, "Young Pros"Context: This band Bass Drum of Death just signed to Fat Possum -- home to Band Of Horses, Wavves, Yuck, The Black Keys and many more of the best bands out there. So far I really like what I hear from them. The track is downloadable for free, by the way. ... More >>

The Top 10 Music Videos of 2010

​We've nearly got another year in the books, and with a great year came a great collection of fabulous music videos from musicians representing a wide variety of genres. So we're counting them down, in the far-too-usual fashion.The best part of this year end list?Kanye West is not #1.Crazy, I know ... More >>

What's Selling Faceoff: Stinkweeds vs. the Zia Records chain

​What's Selling is now a battle of the best, a local music duel of sorts. Stinkweeds and Zia are going head to head with indie versus hard rock, rap and hip-hop.Which of two record stores had the best compilation of top 10 albums this week?

Ozzy Osbourne to be the Dear Abby of Rolling Stone

​What publication in their right mind recruits Ozzy Osbourne to dish out advice to readers? Rolling Stone, that's who. According to Beat Crave, the Prince of Darkness is getting a health advice column in RS.He has already written a response to Adam in Brooklyn, some schmuck who isn't putting two a ... More >>

What's Selling: Zia Record Exchange Tempe

​Music lovers at Zia Record Exchange in Tempe are craving rougher, louder sounds at the moment. Topping the chart this week is The Sword. Also in demand were Best Coast's lo-fi chillwave and the beloved raps of everyone's favorite white boy, Eminem, as well as the talented Akron blues boys, The Bl ... More >>

What's Selling: Zia Records Phoenix

​The music lovers who frequent Zia Records in Phoenix tend to favor heavier fare -- typically metal and hip hop. But they always pepper in a few surprises. While the latest from Bun B comes out on top this week, The Black Keys slide right in the middle. The newest Arcade Fire record that indie-hip ... More >>

The Black Keys, "Unknown Brother"

​Song: The Black Keys, "Unknown Brother"Context: The standout track on the new Black Keys' record, Brothers. 13 - Unknown Brother

Nothing Not New: Podcast #6

Peter M. Storch​Hope you all had a good Memorial Day weekend. Now that you're back on the clock, use company time to give a listen to the sixth Nothing Not New podcast. In this installment, music editor Martin Cizmar and I play 11 songs from recent new releases and discuss the industrial roots of ... More >>

Hate Kings Of Leon? You're Going To End Up Wanting To Go To Their Show Anyway. Peep These Openers.

Luke Holwerda"Your favorite band wants to open for us and your girlfriend would probably love to hook up with us. Our Sex is on Fire, bitches."​Sure, Kings of Leon suck. Hard. Soooooo hard. But damn it if the only legitimate arena-ready act born of the early naughties garage rock revival doesn't k ... More >>

Tucson's Digital Leather Signs To Fat Possum

​Tucson's Digital Leather has signed to hip Mississippi-based label Fat Possum (Wavves, The Black Keys, fellow Tucsonian Bob Log III) and is prepping for a national tour and album release. The band, a project of multi-instrumentalist Shawn Foree, who grew up in the Baha'i hippie commune of Souther ... More >>

A Dan Auerbach Story, From Way Back

The Black Keys as they looked back when I interviewed them.With The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach's solo record, Keep It Hid, having come out last Tuesday and his protégé, Jessica Lea Mayfield coming to town tomorrow, I thought this would be a good time to share a story I wrote on Auerbach for my colle ... More >>

Coachella Lineup Officially Announced

Coachella's 2009 official lineup is officially out -- as of 3:15 this morning, says Michael Lopez. Here it is: Girl Talk, Crystal Castles, The Knux, Fleet Foxes, Lupe Fiasco (that's, in order, five of my 10 favorite records of 2008) plus The Black Keys, Late of the Pier, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Gasligh ... More >>

Black Diamond Heavies

The Black Keys at The Marquee Theater

Same As It Ever Was

The Black Keys keep it real

Blues Clues

Gettin' down-and-dirty with the Black Keys

The Black Keys

Thickfreakness (Fat Possum)

The Black Keys

The Big Come Up (Alive)