Hey my friends, so Spring hasn’t even sprung yet and here I am sharing the news about a sure to be exciting concert tour for those of you who are fans of The Black Keys. I’ve discussed them here on “The Chronicles” in the past but really haven’t been able to do much with their music since I am often buried by Metal and Geek stuff over on PIercingMetal.com – Anyway, I am always glad to help promote a tour to you fine readers so let’s get down to business with the details about this run.
The Press Release:
Today, The Black Keys confirm their 35-date “Let’s Rock” summer tour with performances in cities including Seattle, Dallas, Boston, New York, Tampa & Jacksonville (full dates below). Produced by Live Nation, each date on the tour will feature special guest Gary Clark Jr., with the exception of the July 10th Berkeley show which will feature support from Allah-Las. Jessy Wilson, The Marcus King Band, and Yola will each open select dates. Tickets for all dates will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, February 28th at 10am local time here. Citi is the official presale credit card of the “Let’s Rock” 2020 Summer Tour. As such, Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets beginning Tuesday, February 25 at 10am local time until Thursday, February 27 at 10pm local time through Citi Entertainment®. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com.
The Black Keys’ ninth studio album, “Let’s Rock,” was released on June 28 via Easy Eye Sound/Nonesuch Records. Auerbach says, “When we’re together we are The Black Keys, that’s where that real magic is, and always has been since we were sixteen.” “Let’s Rock” has received critical praise, with Paste saying, “If you want something you can crank up at backyard barbecues or in the car with the windows down, well, The Black Keys have two words for you, and they’re in the album title.” and The Wall Street Journal adds, “The Black Keys have mastered the form of guitar-based music, and the craft at work on these dozen songs is something to behold.” The band also is featured in The New York Times Sunday’s New York Times Arts & Leisure section and were profiled on CBS This Morning, which can be seen here. “Let’s Rock” is available on all formats here.
Acclaim For “Let’s Rock”:
“This is an album by the Black Keys called “Let’s Rock.” That’s what it does.” – Pitchfork
“Singer-guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney bring a heightened purism too, emphasizing the power-duo force of their early records”
-Rolling Stone
“In an era of blatantly computerized pop, ‘Let’s Rock’ flaunts basics from yesteryear: guitars, drums, vocals.” – New York Times
“The Black Keys are rock royalty and to the relief of many, they aren’t quite ready to relinquish their reign.” – Associated Press
“The Black Keys have mastered the form of guitar-based music, and the craft at work on these dozen songs is something to behold.” – Wall Street Journal
“A fast, fun slice of blues-rock … A return to what The Black Keys do best. These songs are tightly focused, their pleasures immediate … Brilliant.”
-Uncut
“Let’s Rock” Track Listing:
1. Shine A Little Light
2. Eagle Birds
3. Lo/Hi
4. Walk Across The Water
5. Tell Me Lies
6. Every Little Thing
7. Get Yourself Together
8. Sit Around And Miss You
9. Go
10. Breaking Down
11. Under The Gun
12. Fire Walk With Me
The Black Keys – “Let’s Rock” 2020 North American TOUR
July 7: Seattle, WA @ White River Amphitheatre*
July 8: Portland, OR @ Sunlight Supply Amphitheater*
July 10: Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre%~
July 11: Irvine, CA @ FivePoint Amphitheatre*
July 12: Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre*
July 14: Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre^
July 15: Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre^
July 17: Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion^
July 18: Houston, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion^
July 19: Austin, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater^
July 21: St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – STL^
July 22: Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center^
July 24: Indianapolis, IN @ Ruoff Music Center^
July 25: Chicago, IL @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – CHI^
July 26: Detroit, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre^
August 11: Cleveland, OH @ Blossom Music Center#
August 12: Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage#
August 14: Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lake Amphitheater#
August 15: Syracuse, NY @ St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview#
August 16: Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center#
August 18: Bangor, ME @ Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion#
August 19: Hartford, CT @ XFINITY Theatre#
August 21: Boston, MA @ Xfinity Center#
August 22: Camden, NJ @ BB&T Pavilion#
August 23: Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center#
August 25: Gilford, NH @ Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion#
August 26: Wantagh, NY @ Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater#
August 28: Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion#
August 29: Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater#
August 30: Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park#
September 1: Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion#
September 2: Birmingham, AL @ Oak Mountain Amphitheatre#
September 4: Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre#
September 5: West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre#
September 6: Jacksonville, FL @ Daily’s Place#
* w/ Gary Clark Jr and Jessy Wilson
% w/ Allah-Las and Jessy Wilson
^ w/ Gary Clark Jr and The Marcus King Band
# w/ Gary Clark Jr and Yola
~not a Live Nation date
About Gary Clark Jr.:
Clark achieved global impact following his first Grammy Award in 2014 winning Best Traditional R&B Performance for the track “Please Come Home” from his Warner Records debut album Blak And Blu, and seemingly never left the road. Throughout 2019 Clark ascended to greater heights with the release of This Land – his third full-length studio album which bowed at #6 on the Billboard Top 200, marking his third consecutive Top 10 debut. The album and single of the same name attracted acclaim from the likes of The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork and more. He has performed on Saturday Night Live, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Late Show with James Corden, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Good Morning America, CBS News Sunday, CBS This Morning, The Today Show, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, The Howard Stern Show, WTF with Marc Maron and more. Clark’s domestic tours became instant sell outs and his international profile found him topping bills at legendary festivals around the world and venues including the Hollywood Bowl, along with multiple appearances in stadiums supporting and sharing the stage with The Rolling Stones. Most recently, Clark won three more Grammy Awards including Best Rock Performance “This Land,” Best Rock Song “This Land,” and Best Contemporary Blues Album THIS LAND. Clark also performed his award-winning single “This Land,” backed by The Roots at this year’s Grammy Award ceremony and released their version of the track. To date, Clark has been nominated for six GRAMMY Awards® and won four. Clark is currently working on his follow-up to THIS LAND.
About Yola:
Yola released her critically acclaimed debut album Walk Through Fire in 2019 and established herself as the queen of country soul from the very first note. Nine months later, she received four GRAMMY award nominations including Best New Artist. The album, produced by Dan Auerbach, is a contemporary twist on a traditional sonic tapestry of orchestral strings, fiddle, steel, and shimmering tremolo guitars. The album received accolades including Rolling Stone’s Artist You Need To Know and NPR Music’s Artist To Watch in 2019 who said Yola is “an artist sure to stun audiences for years to come.” Yola’s has performed with Kacey Musgraves, Mavis Staples and will open for Chris Stapleton on his 2020 tour, including a performance at Madison Square Gardens in New York. Yola will soon feature in The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s The Unbroken Circle exhibit paired with Dolly Parton.
About Marcus King:
Marcus King’s debut solo album, El Dorado (produced by Dan Auerbach) is a contemporary exploration of southern R&B, country-soul, classic rock and blues. King’s arresting vocals feature as the lead instrument, taking center stage alongside subtle acoustics, bright pedal steel, raucous electric guitars and blistering solos – vocals which have quickly defined the 23-year-old phenom as one of the most soulful voices of his generation. King and his Marcus King Band will perform dates across Europe and Australia, as well as performing at Sweetwater 420 Festival and opening for Chris Stapleton on his US 2020 tour.
About Jessy Wilson:
Prior to launching her solo career, Jessy Wilson’s resume included musical theater, international tours as an backup singer with Alicia Keys and John Legend, fronting the acclaimed duo Muddy Magnolias and GRAMMY-nominated songwriting collaborations with everyone from Usher and Kanye West to Faith Hill and Macy Gray. 2019 saw the release of her debut solo release, Phase, which was written and recorded with producer Patrick Carney, drummer for the Black Keys. In addition to her own album that year, Wilson appears prominently on 6 tracks on Tyler, the Creator’s #1 GRAMMY-winning album, IGOR. She has toured extensively in support of Phase including tours with The Black Keys and Modest Mouse, Gary Clark Jr., Michael Franti, Ben Harper and Trombone Shorty, and Michael McDonald and Chaka Khan, as well as supporting The Heavy across Europe. Many of Jessy’s songs have been synced in television, films and commercials around the world.
*** end of transmission ***
Piercing Ken Thoughts: Now truth be told I’ve not really listened to a lot of The Black Keys but I’ve seen a number of live clips and interview stuff and feel that they might be interesting to support one of these days if I can work out the proper arrangements to do so. I am also rather curious about Gary Clark Jr. since he is a smoking guitar player that looks like he does a great set on the live stage. The rest of the support I don’t know too much about and if its possible to shirk my PiercingMetal duties when they all come through in August, I will be sure to give you a proper concert review and photos like you are used to over on the other site. What do you folks who might be fans of the band think? Will you be hitting one of the shows or maybe even a couple of them? Chime in down below in the comments section and I will see you again soon.
Official Websites:
The Black Keys: https://theblackkeys.com
Gary Clark Jr.: https://www.garyclarkjr.com/
Yola: https://www.iamyola.com/
Marcus King: https://marcuskingband.com/
Jessy Wilson: https://www.jessy-wilson.com/
Allah-las: https://allah-las.com/