The blackened blues

In my memory the Black Keys entered my sphere of listening just after the release of their debut The Big Comeup in 2002. The White Stripes were big at the time, having rereleased White Blood Cells on V2 and there was a fair amount of talk about a sudden proliferation of blues- and rock-oriented duos. I already had stuff by Doo-Rag and The Flat Duo Jets so I can't say it was a whole new thing to me, but the team of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney did it well. They were slated to play at least three times in Ottawa but cancelled for various reasons. The last time they were a no-show they were slated to headline the Birdman Stage at Bluesfest but didn't make it because some other festival they were scheduled to play at fell apart (another bluesy duo, Mr. Airplane Man, filled their headlining slot and did a swell job). I think I missed the first time they actually made it to town, but on Nov. 18, 2005, I finally had a chance to see them mix it up live. I recall enjoying the late, great Nathaniel Mayer and Ottawa's own Weapons of Mass Seduction More, but couldn't deny the Keys put on a great set. They were even better at this Bluesfest show, despite some apparent technical problems - there was a fair amount of amp, monitor and drumkit tweaking during the set.

Patrick keeps his eye on the cymbals.



Dan sings!



Sliding action!



Just move this and that and this ....



Hair-shaking action!



Dan works the microphone.



Patrick grimaces!



Dan shouts!



Patrick grimaces some more! You just know the glasses couldn't last.



The whole lot!



Dan goes down!



Tambourine action!



Things fade to black.



Many, many more photos of The Black Keys can be seen at my Flickr account.

• Show reminder: The Dead Are Those Who Have Dies, Ptarmigan and pH play 443 Kent St.; for some strange reason pH are also alleged to be playing Mercury Lounge with Ion That Eats its Face and Adversary ... hmmm!