It’s been quite the run thus far for The Black Keys on their 2019 Let’s Rock Tour. Touring for the first time in over four years, Dan Auerbach (guitar & vocals) and Patrick Carney (drums) have fortunately fallen right back into the swing of things, rolling out polished performances like they’ve done since their formation in 2001.
Releasing their first album since 2014, it’s no surprise the guys decided to head back out on the road in support of the new content. Of course, the decision came with much thought as Auerbach and Carney had only recently ended a five year hiatus as a band.
Citing a desire for new headspace with regard to their musical approach, The Black Keys went off the map shortly after the release of their 2014 album Turn Blue, which was their third Top 10 album in a row. Not surprisingly, the release of Let’s Rock in June reached the same milestone, giving fans a taste of their musicianship rooted in the instrumental form.
Despite the brief break, The Black Keys are thriving in the music world once again and their current Let’s Rock Tour is only solidifying their rightful place at the top of the modern rock scene. Scheduled to wrap on November 28 in Vancouver, the Let’s Rock Tour has hit nearly thirty cities since September, selling out virtually every seat along the way.
Thus far, The Black Keys have kept the setlist almost exactly the same since their kickoff two months ago. Gracefully combining their classics with newer hits in support of Let’s Rock, the duo has constructed the perfect setlist to please a Black Keys fan of any era.
Other than Let’s Rock, the four-time Grammy Award winners have pulled mostly from Brothers (2010) and El Camino (2011), while also throwing in a few tracks off of Attack & Release (2008) and Thickfreakness (2003), amongst one-offs from the rest of their discography.
From “Your Touch,” “Thickfreakness” and “Strange Times” to “Howlin’ for You,” “I Got Mine” and “Tighten Up,” The Black Keys have reassured audiences that their roots are here to stay, playing countless hits from their vast catalogue in every city.
However, don’t be shocked if Auerbach and Carney make some minor changes to the set here and there as they have also thrown a few curveballs in deep cuts. Performing “Hold Me In Your Arms” live for the first time since its debut in 2003, The Black Keys have so far proven that as predictable as they have been relative to the consistency in their setlist, they aren’t afraid to dish out a few surprises along the way.
Speaking of surprises, one of the coolest moments of the tour coincided with a guest performance by the legendary Wayne Newton in Las Vegas at the start of the run. Performing the opening track off of El Camino, “Lonely Boy,” Newton stole the stage with his fierce dance moves and air guitar proficiency. Talk about a surprisingly cohesive, but unlikely pairing.
See a recent setlist here!
With a purely rock-inspired production behind them, it’s easy to understand why The Black Keys have succeeded in creating yet another flawlessly-crafted tour. Deep into the latter half of the trek, there’s limited time left to catch the famous duo live. Check out a full list of upcoming dates below and don’t forget to grab tickets at LiveNation!
The Black Keys 2019 Let's Rock Tour Dates:
11/12 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center^
11/13 – Austin, TX @ Frank Erwin Center^
11/14 – Fort Worth, TX @ Dickies Arena^
11/16 – Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Arena^
11/17 – San Diego, CA @ Pechanga Arena^
11/19 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum^
11/20 – San Francisco, CA @ TBA^
11/22 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center^
11/23 – Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome^
11/24 – Vancouver, BC @ Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena^*with Modest Mouse and
^ with Modest Mouse and Shannon & the Clams
