THE BLACK KEYS with The Rubens – Vector Arena, Auckland

The merchandise stand was busy, the bar held long queues as always, and I found my shoes wet with spilled drink. Welcome to The Black Keys, comprised of singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney.

Sydney-siders The Rubens opened the show at 8:15 sharp. Describing it as the “best fucking day of our lives to date,” the blues-rockers launched into a beautiful, soulful set of ten songs that definitely got the crowd warmed up. Frontman Sam Margin’s powerful voice really carried the set, which was raw and full of energy. With the excellent sound-mixing and the unusually sharp clarity of Scott Baldwin’s drums, it was an opening act fit for the Akron band we were all there to see.

I was impressed by the punctuality of the night’s headliners. Auerbach and Carney, along with backing band John Wood on keyboards and bassist Gus Seyffert, took to the stage at the advertised time of 9:30 PM. Auerbach thanked the crowd for their coming out and the band launched their set with “Howlin’ for You,” off their sixth album, Brothers.

The band moved through the set fairly quickly, covering material from all of their seven studio albums bar the very first. Despite this swift progression from song to song with a few pauses to address the audience, the show was energetic and went from strength to strength, especially when Wood and Seyffert departed the stage to allow for the core duo to perform their older songs.

The show was complemented in amazing style by the lighting rig: four wall-mounted variety lights comprising of various-sized spotlights as well as four stands holding five-or-six vintage lamp-like spotlights each. This was part of the band’s first big arena tour since the commercial success of Brothers and now El Camino, and no expense felt spared. In an isolated country such as New Zealand where many bands only transport a stripped down version of their entire touring kit, it felt good to be able to witness the entire setup.

The set ended with screaming rendition of the hit song “Lonely Boy” which had the seated punters on their feet dancing and fist-pumping along with the floor audience. After the band disappeared into a five minute darkness, cheering and clapping accompanied the hollering for an encore. Upon their return, a giant disco ball was lowered from the rafters and slowly rotated around during a crooning serenade of “Everlasting Light,” producing the most stunning white light show over the entire arena. And towards the end of “I Got Mine,” the disco ball was replaced by a large light sign spelling out the band’s name, which went as wild and crazy as everyone in the arena (band included) as the Black Keys wrapped their show.

Move over, lasers and spotlights, the Black Keys know how to put on a concert. Don’t miss them the next time they come down under!

Set list:
Howlin’ For You
Next Girl
Run Right Back
Same Old Thing
Dead and Gone
Gold on the Ceiling

Thickfreakness
Girl is On My Mind
Your Touch
Little Black Submarines
Money Maker
Strange Times
Sinister Kid
Nova Baby
Ten Cent Pistol
She’s Long Gone
Tighten Up
Lonely Boy

Encore
Everlasting Light
I Got Mine

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