While using as much reverb as Hendrix ever did and a jam band ease of Faces, the Black Keys play a minimalist style of bluesy-rock. The duo – Dan Aurebach, vocals and guitar and Patrick Carney, drums and production- are another band rewriting the rules of blues for the 21st century. Like the North Mississippi All-Stars, 20 Miles, or the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, the Black Keys draw from the influences of Junior Kimbrough, Fred McDowell and R.L. Burnside to create a gritty and unapologetically abrasive sound.
ThickFreakness– the band’s debut for Fat Possum- sounds like a live recording minus the audience. With no bass player, the duo relies on volume, heavy drum beats and energy. Dan is an accomplished guitarist whose style ranges from Eric Clapton to The Sex Pistols, Steve Jones. He successfully borrows licks from Cream on the title track and uses George Harrison’s “Taxman” distortion on “Hard Row.” Covers of Junior Kimbrough’s “Everywhere I Go“ and Richard Berry’s “Have Love Will Travel“ are included on the 38 minutes of hard drivin’ material.
With the White Stripes and The Hives phenomena taking a hold of the music world as Grunge did in the early 90’s, The Black Keys are without question another band to keep an eye on.