The legendary venue Brixton Academy has just reopened and let modern blues-rock legends The Black Keys shake its walls! Live report.
They’ve got three sold-out evenings there. Everything is adjusted and thought of, from lights to sound, even for their opening act. It’s the 8th of May that we’ve got unexpectedly to the venue’s new front row. Four additional bright yellow barriers have been installed in the middle of the pit, permanently. They’re part of a larger scheme to increase the venue’s security and allow its grand reopening – and they’ve already convinced concertgoers to settle there with their drinks.
Once again, this is not the only change for the Academy, though. Security is incredibly enhanced and nothing is left to chance. And that’s understandable given the mortal tragedy that occurred and the almost definitive closure the venue could’ve faced. With these now in place, the legendary setting can welcome the music heavy-weight that are The Black Keys.
LIGHTS FOR THE OPENING
Circa Waves is in charge of the opening. Song after song, the Liverpool-based band warms up the audience and it works. If, for me, it’s Be Your Drug that nails it – because it’s a track that’s been on my liked list since it came out, brought to another level live – the rest of the audience loves Jacqueline, Wake Up and T-Shirt Weather. The light direction is simple yet actually good here. And for an opening act, it’s rare enough to be noted. The band is visible under the light and interacts well with the audience. It’s a fun warm-up!
BLUES MASTERS
When it gets dark again, the venue is full and ready to go. The Black Keys get on stage with a pretty recognizable smell (it’s rosemary, of course…). All of them are wearing sunglasses – truth be told, it gives them a certain flair and it’s pretty cool. Only their bass player is removing them. But as he’s set at the back of the stage, with other very talented musicians, he’s not the one that gets all the focus and attention.
Frontstage are the famous duet, Pat and Dan, ready to go. Drums, guitar and vocals. The formula is simple, yet proven efficient. It’s with that recipe that they start I Got Mine, as a reminder of the early days. Years have gone by, and it shows, their style is refined and mastered now. If it feels more professional, it remains textured. They follow that first track with Gold on the Ceiling and turn on the screen that serves as a backdrop. The audience is already won over.
COOL-ECTION
The Black Keys are cool. They do play with the notion a lot on their socials with comedic reels. And for the International Players Tour – to support the release of Ohio Players – they’ve put together a very, very cool setlist. A lot of it is made of their album Brothers – it’ll be giving the most tracks to it, oddly enough. It’s an avalanche of dopamine on the first notes of Tighten Up, Next Girl and Howlin’ For You, of course. However, they don’t forget other classics like Your Touch and Heavy Soul.
Other tracks impress me as they get better live than on their studio version, like Fever and its green setting, and Wild Child. But of course, the tracks I’m expecting most are those of Ohio Players. If This Is Nowhere is a treat, flowing naturally through it all Beautiful People (Stay High) is slower than its studio version. It’s still a nice one, but it might have a touch too much rosemary around for it to reach its full potential live.
AN ALMOST-SURPRISING GUEST
The set goes on, the lights are still amazing, and the son is close to perfection. The duet is incredibly charismatic, although not too chatty, and has a pretty chill attitude throughout their show. They’re on the same page and manage to get the audience on it too. Their spotless technique and clear connection to their music help. Even when they’re calling none other than Noel Gallagher on stage for the encore, the atmosphere stays the same. So, for him to be here is not exactly a surprise. He was there the day before – and the day after too – and has left a significant mark on the record. With him, they play Only Love Matters and On The Game. Gallagher and his Epiphone are in the centre of the stage and… are here for backing vocals mainly. Without much more of a word, he’s already leaving.
The last track is obviously pretty epic. Again, no surprises here, as they’re starting Lonely Boy to close the show. Some mosh-pits are forming – and despite the huge barriers mentioned previously, they’re going for it. It’s kinder than it could be, but it exists. The audience is unhinged, the band bows, says a little thank you, and it’s already over. Pat and Dan are closer to simple friends playing in their garage and to music icons, and yet… But that’s thanks to the way they present themselves on stage. Two friends from Ohio, playing blues and rock music. They are cool, but they keep it simple. Or maybe it’s that simplicity that makes them cool.
To sum it up, The Black Keys is a band that left a mark and are absolutely worth seeing live.
PHOTOS
