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The Black Keys were nearly buried by a brutal year. A new album seeks to ‘get things back on track’

BBG News

2025 finds The Black Keys eager to revert to their passion: creating albums and performing live, according to their preferred methods.

They’re finding a means to move past the catastrophe that was 2024: their album that performed poorly since 2006 in terms of sales, the abandonment of an arena tour due to slow ticket purchases, and the dismissal and public humiliation of iconic manager Irving Azoff along with their PR team.

In a chat prior to their performance at the Greek Theatre on Tuesday, Dan Auerbach (guitar) and Patrick Carney (drums) reinforced the uplifting message behind the title of their latest album, “No Rain, No Flowers.

Carney states, “This situation offers us a chance to escape from the high-pressure lifestyle of touring which we’ve come to understand is not sustainable, and it doesn’t seem beneficial for our fans or enjoyable for us.

“We like being an underdog,” Auerbach adds.

Grew up in Akron, Ohio, my friend and I honed our skills on wiffle ball fields and touch football pitches, but fate kept us a grade apart. It wasn’t until our brothers, who happened to be close pals, encouraged us that we started making music together. Our bonding moment was jamming, and it was there we discovered the raw power in our blues and rock. With time, we formed the Black Keys, but nurturing our friendship while chasing a career was an equally important task for us.

As a passionate film buff, I’ve got to share an interesting anecdote. You see, this friendship of ours hadn’t blossomed over parties or casual hangouts; instead, it was forged in the unique crucible of shared van rides to gigs. Looking back, I can’t help but marvel at how our bond grew, navigating a steep learning curve as we went along.

Initially emerging as a defining independent music group in 2001, with their debut albums recorded in Carney’s basement, they transformed into a thriving rock band by the end of the decade. Their hits “Brothers” reached No. 3 on the Billboard charts, “El Camino” climbed to No. 2, and “Turn Blue” brought them the top spot. These three albums earned them 11 Grammy nominations, leading them to sell out arenas and headline Coachella.

Initially, some early enthusiasts expressed displeasure as the band ventured beyond their low-fi sound. However, Carney recalls that just before ‘El Camino’, he thought this might be too rock-and-roll for our audience. Yet, to him, this change was a testament that we weren’t merely going through the motions.

Although they achieved great success, eventually the band exhausted themselves. At the peak of their commercial fame, they decided to take a break from performing. As Carney, one of the more talkative members, explains, “We aren’t contrarians, but we had accomplished so much, and it felt like the right time for us to step off the roller coaster.

During their separate periods, each man created art by different artists. Meanwhile, Auerbach took on additional projects, such as releasing an album with a fresh group known as The Arcs, along with a solo record. These releases received praise from critics yet had fewer sales compared to the Black Keys’ music.

In 2019, when they reconnected, it’s stated that their priorities had shifted. Carney explains, “We could aim to produce another No. 1 album, but the objective became evident: We cherish our unique bond, and for it to remain vibrant, the journey must be engaging to us.” He further clarifies that the rigors of touring 200 times and the persistent media commitments they had earlier were “unsustainable for us now, given our family obligations. It’s tough being away from our kids.

Despite rock music’s declining influence in popular culture, the band managed to make a comeback with “Let’s Rock” on the Billboard top 10. However, their subsequent releases, such as “Delta Kream,” an album of country blues covers, and “Dropout Boogie,” didn’t garner the same level of attention. Some fans even expressed disappointment, stating that they preferred the days of “Brothers” and “El Camino.

Carney notes that we’ve added a challenge to our situation. If we had merely produced ‘El Camino’ repetitively, or switched between it and ‘Brothers’, we might have filled up sports stadiums by now with our performances.

As a devoted film enthusiast, I’ve always aimed to emulate the great bands of my time, such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, who continuously evolved and pushed boundaries in their music. To put it simply, my bandmates and I are record collectors at heart, seeking that same level of innovation and versatility. We didn’t want to merely mimic our past work; instead, we strived for something fresh and unique with each new album we produced.

He explains that they share a passion for discovering lesser-known old songs and when they’re recording, their objective stays consistent. As he puts it, “It’s like stumbling upon a song you’ve never heard before that takes your breath away.” This is the kind of experience we aim to recreate when we work together in the studio – the exhilarating sensation that strikes deep within you.

Auerbach mentions that initially, it was only the two of them, working in seclusion, even in a basement in Akron. However, they discovered their passion for collaboration, teaming up with producer Danger Mouse on their most successful albums. More recently, they’ve been working with artists such as Beck, Noel Gallagher, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, and rapper Juicy J.

In essence, Carney asserts that regardless of who they collaborate with, their unique style will always be evident in their work at the final stage.

However, due to the evolving music industry and their pursuit of novel tones, their prominence appeared to be decreasing. Last year, “Ohio Players” reached a low point at number 26 on the charts. This was followed by a series of touring issues, which they largely attribute to Azoff – who has been under investigation by the Department of Justice for allegedly conspiring with Live Nation (previously managed by him) – claiming he placed them in unsuitable venues among other things.

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Carney expressed his frustration and used strong language on Twitter regarding the band being treated unfairly. However, he later removed those tweets to prevent potential lawsuits. In a subsequent interview with Rolling Stone, they admitted their naivety about how consolidation in the music industry was hurting bands. They described the European tour as poorly organized and Carney said, “we let go of Azoff’s company,” without explicitly mentioning Live Nation.

Originally, their newly appointed publicist contacted me earlier, requesting that I avoid discussing certain topics and instead let the band address them. However, when those issues were left unattended and time was running out, I decided to bring them up. The publicist attempted to halt the discussion, but Carney intervened, stating “It’s the L.A. Times; let’s do the interview.” He then spoke in a broad sense about the music industry being flawed, saying, “We’re just trying to create music and tour within an imperfect industry.

Carney explains that the band has become more hands-on when it comes to scheduling and planning their tours, being meticulous about tour duration and venue selection. He notes that smaller venues provide a superior fan experience at lower costs because they don’t require video screens typically needed for arena shows. On the other hand, Auerbach mentions that they are fine-tuning their setlists, acknowledging that with such a vast catalog, it’s impossible to satisfy everyone. However, he assures that when choosing songs, they always consider their fans’ preferences.

According to Carney, as they adjust their stance and regain their footing, the pair find themselves in a favorable position, despite the challenges of last year.

He expresses that our bond has never been more robust, “Our friendship has reached unparalleled strength.” We’ve faced and overcome a myriad of challenges, he adds, which equips us to tackle whatever comes next. Moreover, there remains immense delight in creating music together.

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2025-06-02 13:32

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