Victoria and I love seeing live music. When we were in Ohio, it was tough to see the shows we were excited about. Most big bands/acts didn’t come to Columbus, instead hitting Cleveland and maybe Cincinnati on their way too or from Chicago.
That said, The Black Keys, who are from Ohio, did make it to Columbus pretty regularly. But whenever they were in town there would be a conflict with our schedules and we couldn’t make it. So when we saw there were tickets still available for their gig at the Target Center, we jumped on it.
We arrived in downtown Minneapolis early, hoping to grab a bite to eat before the show. All of the area restaurants were packed (the Twins had a game that night as well) but we managed to grab a table at Gluek’s for a tasty meal.
At dinner before the show, wearing a cycling hat that makes me look like a pinhead.
photo by Victoria Malawey
The Arctic Monkeys opened for The Black Keys, and I was eager to see them live as well. They did not disappoint. Their lead singer, Alex Turner, is a true front man, charming the crowd with his witty English banter before blowing us away with his vocals.
They were just as good live as they are on their recordings and made for a fun opening act. By the time they were done the arena was nearly full of folks waiting for the main event.
Dan and Pat (and a couple other musicians) took the stage and immediately began to rock, bringing everyone to their feet. The lighting and staging for the show was excellent. There were a few screens behind the band that would show cool film footage, or monochrome footage of the performance.
The Black Keys really are just two guys, Dan Auerbach on guitar/vocals and Pat Carney on drums. Their first several albums consisted of just those two instruments – guitar and drums – and thoroughly rocked. On their last two albums – far and away the most commercially successful stuff they’ve released – they used a full band to round out their sound. While they began the show with the full band, a few songs in they ditched the extra guys and Dan and Pat played some of their older stuff. It was AWESOME!
A few songs before the fake end of the show, everyone returned to the stage to blast through some of their biggest hits.
Then came the real end of the show 
The Black Keys were incredible live – go see them if they come to your city. It was easily one of the best live shows I’ve seen in a while…they absolutely rock.
i LOVE the black keys. great photos!
Yes…the Black Keys are great. I saw them here in Norfolk, Virginia a while back and took a few pics you can see here -> http://www.flickr.com/photos/hipsterapproved/sets/72157628911876869/
Oh my goodness I saw them play in Newcastle in 2010, they were amazing!
Super photos
I love the photos, too! I’m a regular concert attender as well.
Great Pics! Did you take those on a phone?
And congrats on Freshly Pressed!
Nope, no camera phone. I used a Fuji X100, which is a nice little camera.
wow! That must have been one hell of an experience!!
These guys are really cool. I would like to see them. Thanks for the post and photos!
Interesting post. I’m not actually familar with,The Black Keys, but it sounds like the show was a lot of fun. The pictures were nice, I really liked a couple of them.
Good job!
God Bless,
Donna
Amazing pictures! I got to see the Black Keys at a festival called Wanee in Florida a few years ago, before they became big. It was amazing there were only a few people in the crowd. I heard later that they were upset about the turnout, but I loved it, it was like seeing a private show.
I was onto them before they became big and never got to see them at any of those smaller gigs. Now I’m kicking myself cause it would be amazing to see them like that.
My wife and I saw The Black Keys on Saturday in Columbia, MD and it was the best show I have ever been to. I will definately plan to see them next time they roll through town. You’re photos from the show look awesome!
Awesome stuff. The Black Keys is what the music industry needs more of today. Glad you had a lot of fun and thanks for posting the cool pictures.
X100 is such a great performer! Love the photos!
It is an amazing little camera. I love it. The venue specifically said, “small cameras only, no professional equipment” so I wasn’t about to try to bring my D700. I could throw my X100 in my bag and still get some excellent photos, even at crazy high ISOs (many of these shots are at 4000). It would have been nice to have a longer lens, but they cropped pretty well so I’m happy with the results. The guy in front of me had the X10 – first time I’ve seen one of those out in the wild.
That’s what I like so much about X100 too. So small and portable all the while providing us with top notch performance
Impressive for ISO 4000!
Although I do wish that auto ISO setting can go up as high as 6400 (which is how I use on my D700
)
I heart The Black Keys much thank you for the post
~
shine on
Great shots! Saw them live with an audience of no more than 130 a few weeks back at the BBC studios. Incredible doesn’t even come close.
I bet that was unreal!
Love them!
Ha…love your hat — not a pinhead at all!
The Black Keys deserve much more attention — thanks for blogging about ‘em.
Thanks – I really like it too, I just think it makes my head look tiny. Better than crazy hair though!
This looks like a spectacular concert! Thank you for posting your pictures! I saw a story on 60 Minutes a few weeks ago about the Black Keys, and they seem like a couple of guys who just like to jam! I’m glad to hear that it was a fun concert!
Great quality, I wonder if you could wander around the arena, get some side shots, next time?
Oh yeah, I agree wholeheartedly. To be honest I was there really to enjoy the show and just happened to throw my camera in my bag at the last minute. But you’re right, for the full experience I should have mixed it up a little bit.
Congrats on being FP – YAY!!!
The Black Keys are great. Thanks for writing about them!
PhiI was supposed to see them in Philly a few years ago and passed on the chance in order to see The Mountain Goats a second time. While the show was great; now I wish I hadn’t missed my window.
I’m pretty jealous. The Black Keys and Arctic Monkeys are two of the very few newer bands I even listen to. Actually, Pat and Dan are my favorite current band period. Glad you had a good time and got some good shots to share.
Awesome post, great bands and me jealous in the best way. Thanks Kate.
The Black Keys rock! caught the Chicago show from the second row. AMAZING!
Congrats on being freshly pressed. You rock and so do your photos and so do the black keys.
I love Black Keys… world tour maybe? Visit Asia..
Nice photos! I’ve heard from many people that the Black Keys put on an amazing show. I’ll have to make it a point of checking them out now. =)
I’m an Ohioan and have caught the Keys a couple of times. Always a super show. It was before their recent commercial successes and have never seen them with a full band. I’m with Kathleen , pleeeease come to Asia!
I love Black Keys……they are all of my life!
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
awesome pics!
Great piccies! I’ve got tickets for their Sydney show in Oct…Bliss! Yay!
The show looks amazing! I had a chance to see them at The Edge Fest in Frisco, TX but I had to work. Those lights look awesome!
The Black Keys Kill… Yes Kathleen I think they will eventually visit Asia. Great people and culture, just came back from a 10 day vacation in Japan. There CD’s are popular there.
Awesome pics!
I love “The Black Keys”, Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
I saw the Black Keys a couple of years ago in a mid-sized venue in the UK. Amazing. They were so intense, I was hanging on every note. Their earlier albums are insanely good, considering it’s just two instruments.
Reblogged this on RadioMaxMusic Internet Radio.
nice shots! the pair of bands just rolled through here (maryland) last week for a show at the merriweather post. it’s strange to think of the arctic monkeys as opening for someone else. i guess that’s when you realize you’ve hit a level of superstardom (as the black keys obviously, and rightfully have).
Reblogged this on After Ride and commented:
Howling for You. . .
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
the black keys are seriously amazing. all that sounds from two guys! wowza.
Great review and you have some really great photos from the concert
Nice pic. BUt i have never heard of the band
i saw this show a couple weeks ago and loved it!! your photos are so great, way better than my sad blackberry shots! thanks for the post!
Very cool. I have never been to anything this size how amazing. The energy there must have been spectacular. I’d love to see you around my page. http://annlivingston.wordpress.com/
It’s not long time that I listen Black K., they are rock, raw rock and in their music I meet the roots of blues and passion…I like this…now I’m listening Sigur Ros but tomorrow when I’ll go to work the black k. will be with me
Awesome you finally got to see them! Never seen the Black Keys live before, but the Arctic Monkeys definitely rock live.
Some says this band really ROCKS! I think they are right.
You’ve piqued my interest. Congrats on your inclusion in freshly pressed.
Fantastic pics! Black keys are such fun. I’ve decided to see more shows this summer myself–may borrow your idea and post a review.
so cool thanks for sharing with all of us.
Thanks for introducing me to the Black Keys! I checked out their website. I love their old classic rock style. Takes me back. I’ll keep an eye out for them if they ever perform in my neck of the woods (closest this year are 5 venues in CA, which really isn’t close).
Congrats on a cool post, cool pics and being Fresh Pressed!
Awesome. First time I heard of The Black Keys was on The Joe Rogan Podcast Experience. Now I want to check out The Arctic Monkeys.
I enjoy their radio hits & have been tempted to try to get cheap seats to their show here in SoCal in Oct! Fantastic pictures you got:)
interesting post like it very much…
great post! Thanks dude1
peace
My niece just put me on to The Black Keys last week. I’m sure it was a great show. Congrats on being Pressed!
Love the Black Keys. It is amazing what can just two guys play
We saw them in Winnipeg on May 14th which happened to be Dan’s birthday. For the whole show he wore a funny little button and ribbon that said “Birthday Boy”!
My teenage daughter introduced me to the music of the Black Keys a few months ago. I really like their sound AND they are from my home state OHIO!! Great photos of the concert, I am sure it sounded great too!
Reblogged this on subailong.
Great post!! I would love, love, love to see them live. I’ve loved them ever since I heard them on Austin City Limits years ago!
http://eventheartichoke.wordpress.com
Reblogged this on 8BIT.
The are coming to ACL this year in Austin
They came by here for Edgefest. They don’t come to Texas that often. So i had been waiting for years!!! I love them. No joke. lol. they put on an awesome show!
Agreed, best show I have seen in a long time. We saw them in Tulsa on 4/28
I wanna see The Black Keys live too! I love their music so much.
LOVE the Black Keys!
Superb photos
I’ve just got into the Black Keys this year and love them. I’m not yet 40 and yet I bought there last album for my 65-year-old Dad who loved it too. There’s always room for real musical talent. Great to see shots of them in concert. Thanks for posting.
Zeff
A friend of mine turned me on to The Black Keys. I wanted to go see them earlier this month, but never got around to it. Love their latest album. Good stuff.
Reblogged this on Rendezvous Magazine.
I wish they would come to my city someday! I love the Black keys for a few albums now… Hey, great pics!
thanks for sharing such powerful live colorful photos. cheers
Great pics! I saw them live back in February in London. They were absolutely amazing, and they played longer than most groups here. I love live music. Thanks a lot for sharing this!
Great photos, and story. The Black Keys are one of my favorite bands, have yet to see them live though! Cheers
Reblogged this on Three Men & A Red Head.
I’ve seen them last year here in CO and the concert was a blast. The crowd looks amazing as well on the photos.
———————-
colorado springs divorce lawyers
My son saw The Black Keys in SLC. He said it was a great concert. You have fabuous pictures. What kind of camera? The son Lonely Boy is mesmerizing to listen and the video is quite unique!
These photos were taken with a Fuji X100. Thanks for checking them out! (PS – I love the video for Lonely Boy)
I am grateful for having stumbled upon your blog. I am not very familiar with The Black Keys, but have heard a great deal about them, all of which was good. This was a cool insight into the band through the eyes of a fan. Thank you very much. (::)PEACE(::)
You’ve got some pretty amazing photos here! The Black Keys are great, wish I could watch them live someday. You’re pretty lucky.
Thank you for your post! Was just deating on whether to buy tickets to see them play here in Ireland in august, my mind’s made up now!
I Might even write a blog entry about it, like you have done so well! 
Conor (http://getyerwitsoutforthelads.wordpress.com)
Excellent photos. Very informative as well. Much appreciated review!
I work at the Arena here in Vancouver and they did an incredible performance! great post
Love it and can’t wait to see them again. I’ve got tickets to back to back shows in Melbourne later in the year.
very nice! I’ve seen them a few times and I think they are very hit or miss live unfortunately …glad you got a good show!
nice article
I am so ready to go….LOVE THEM!! Great photos! Thx!
A co-worker just introduced me to this band a few days ago!!!!! Had to borrow the cd of The Rubber Factory. Awesome stuff….very Jimi Hendrix influenced, imho.