Rooted in Delta Blues

The White Stripes are often credited as the original garage punk duo to incorporate Delta blues into their sound, but The Black Keys perfect the crossover balance.

Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach became friends when they were eight years old, and began playing together in 1996. The two shared a passion for music, though each had distinct tastes.

"I'm not really a fan of the blues at all," said drummer Patrick Carney. "I'm more of a rock 'n' roll, indie rock, and hip-hop fan. Dan [Auerbach] is the fan of old blues music. That's the great thing about playing with him, though. He comes from a different place than I do and that allows us to add our own touches to the music."

In high school, the two guitarists began exploring how the puzzle pieces of those sounds fit together. The two would piggyback off of each other's ideas, recording raw demos on their four-tracks. It was not until Auerbach asked Carney to play drums that the two actually became a band.

That moment led to a whirlwind of delightful surprises. The band released a demo in a single day, were promptly signed to a record contract, began touring, and received critical acclaim.

Rolling Stone ranked The Big Come Up as the Best Debut Album of the year, and Magnet Magazine and Village Voice called it one of the best five records of the year. Mojo Magazine ranked it at 25th within their Top 40.

The duo's second album, Thickfreakness, was a big step forward and they began playing bigger arenas and wowing larger audiences. As the hype grows, so does their energy and enthusiasm. They show no signs of stopping any time soon.

"We're just taking it as it comes," began Patrick Carney. "Hopefully this time next year we'll be releasing our third record."

New and unexpected challenges come with the territory, though.

"We're really anxious to do that but it's hard to find the time with so much going on with this tour," continued Carney. "It's difficult to switch from performing mode to creative writing mode in between shows."

As the band evolves, so does their sound, incorporating new influences like soul without overly complicating or reinventing their songwriting process. One of the remarkable things about The Black Keys is their rawness. The guitar tone is open and fuzzy. The licks are simple, catchy, and never derivative. The drums are heavy and commanding. Auerbach's voice is a gritty, howling callback to Delta blues that comes straight from his gut and sends shivers down your spine.

Their sound is unlike anything a burgeoning act is producing today. However, they receive inaccurate and sometimes lazy comparisons.

"It's an unfortunate matter of circumstance that the press compares us to The White Stripes just because we have two members," said Carney. "They are a great band and they have opened up rock 'n' roll to a bigger audience, but we sound nothing like them. Dan [Auerbach] was always into two-piece blues bands like T-Model Ford and T. Rex."

The Black Keys' sound is unmistakably raw, and best understood by hearing it for yourself. Thickfreakness is a breakout album and proof their climb to stardom is well underway.

This article was originally published in the Colorado Daily in 2003.