The Black Keys @ Terminal 5. NYC.

I waited far too long to see these guys play a live show. A few chances were previously presented, but my schedule never allowed it. Luckily, the two-some returned to New York tonight and I had a ticket to the sold out show.

Opening first for the Black Keys was a band called Heartless Bastards. Upon hearing the name, I hoped they'd be decent, just so I could say it more often when telling my friends (It's fun. Don't kid yourselves). They are a four-piece band of guys with a female lead vocalist, who resembles Kathy Griffin... but only in appearance. Oddly enough, the guitarist looked a lot like Billy Bob Thornton. Despite the image, their sound was unlike anything I've ever heard. Erika Wennerstrom (the lead singer) has a scratchy, Janis Joplin-esque voice and the band complimented her well and were percise and lively enough to get the crowd going.

Next was Lucero. The lead singer had on a white wife beater and tattoos all over his body. He talked like a biker dude version of kermit the frog. I prayed he wouldn't sing similarly. Whoops. He did. The band was laughable. Guitars broke, chords were stepped on and unplugged, they forgot lyrics, stopped in the middle of a song and decided to forgo playing it altogether. The worst part? They decided to grace us with their presence for nearly an hour. Why, God, why?

By the time The Black Keys came out, we were all fired up and ready for some real music... and that's just what they gave us. They came onto the stage and though it's only the two of them, it felt like we were hearing a band of 20. Frontman, Dan Auerbach and drummer, Patrick Carney put every last effort into making the music they make, while disguising it as effortless. Carney is like a wild animal on drums and the way Auerbach projects his voice would make you think he was trying to let the entire tri-state area in on it. I've never felt so overcome with passion at a live show in all my 22 years. The Black Keys have a hypnotic way of pulling you in and making you fall so deep, you'll no longer be aware of anything else going on around you. Just a few strums of Auerbach's guitar and it's like you've suddenly been transported to the late 1960's and are dancing barefoot in mud at some free-spirited rock festival.

The band played a good mix of songs. Oldies like "Have Love Will Travel" and "Set You Free" pleased the die-hards, while stuff off of their latest album Attack and Release, like "Psychotic Girl" got a good roar out of the crowd. My personal favorite of the night? "Your Touch", which can be found on their 2006 album Magic Potion.

Check out The Black Keys at http://theblackkeys.com/

I will be so bold to say that this band is one of the greatest of this generation. The Black Keys will make you feel alive.

Auerbach


Carney