Black Keys Stubby Holder 2009

Beer tastes better in a Black Keys stubby holder!

Here’s a stubby holder I picked up at a recent gig, below.

I guess now that I have two Black Keys stubby holders I can be righteous and say I’ve got a collection.

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The Black Keys Fan Lounge on MySpace

I don’t know why I didn’t get round to creating a MySpace page for TheBlacKeysFanLounge.com earlier. It’s set up now.

Check out: http://www.myspace.com/theblackkeysfanlounge

It’s a good way to present the videos I’ve recorded over time and which first appeared on this site.

The background face image is from a photo I took at the recent Melbourne show of one of the band’s inflatable stage props. No doubt I’ll keep pimping and adding to the page over time.

If you have a MySpace account it’s well worth subscribing to Pat’s MySpace page blog. Hilarious. He really lets his quirky humor shine.

On the Black Keys MySpace page there’s an option to sign up for a Black Keys newsletter.  From what I can tell this option only exists on this MySpace page.

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Dan Auerbach Solo Australian Tour Dates 2009

Update 22/2/09 Tour Dates released:

3 April 2009
The Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
4 April 2009
The Zoo, Brisbane
6 April 2009
The Basement, Sydney
7 April 2009
The Annadale Hotel, Sydney
9 April 2009
The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Read a review of this show here
10 April 2009
East Coast Blues and Roots Festival, Byron Bay
11 April 2009
Boogie Festival, Tallarook, VIC

The story The Black keys Fan Lounge told 28/1/09 below:

It hasn’t received much press here, and hasn’t been officially acknowledged elsewhere that I can find, but it seems Dan Auerbach will be making some solo appearances in Australia much sooner than expected to support his new solo album ‘Keep It Hid’.

I was casually reading the Melbourne street press today and there was an ad for the Boogie festival held over the April 10,11 and 12 (Easter) weekend, 2009, near Melbourne. To my surprise it noted on the bill: “Dan Auerbach from Black Keys (USA)”.

Looks like a pretty cool boutique style festival and line up. Eddy Current Suppression Ring is headlining and we reported here in June 2008 that The Black Keys had name checked them in an interview so perhaps Dan wanted to be playing at the festival with them.

No doubt this date and others will be up on Dan’s MySpace soon. Concert promoters here have obviously got a jump on the offical word in an effort advertise their festival. Dan will probably be playing a stand alone show in Melbourne , Sydney and Brisbane around this date. Hacienda will be backing Dan in Australia like will be in the USA before this tour and appearing seperately it seems.

I suggest Dan will also be appearing at the East Coast Blues and Roots Festival, Byron Bay, which is held over the same weekend. It makes obvious sense if he is around for the Melbourne gig and only the first round of acts have been announced for this festival so far. The Black Keys have, of course, played the Blues and Roots festival before. It really will be stellar line up at one of the worlds premier Blues and Roots festivals.

Looks like I’m going to have to change my holiday plans around this unexpected and welcome visit. Wicked. Stay tuned for further tour dates in Australia as they are announced…

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The Black Keys Roadie Revealed!

One of the great mysteries for this Black Keys blog in 2008 was, who is The Black Keys Roadie?

His identity can now be revealed. Pat told me after the recent Melbourne gig that he is their Australia-only Roadie and his name is: MATTRIX

That’s surely a cool name for a Roadie. I’m not entirely sure whether Pat was taking the piss with the name. Pat confirmed the ‘TT’ spelling so I’ll take his word for it until I can get corroborating evidence.

He looks like a pretty tough hombre. I did try to ask him a question after the show while he was clearing up the gear on stage. He gave me a look that would have maimed a weaker blogger. Cleverly, I got him to throw Dan’s guitar pick to me before I tried talking to him.

Cheers, Mattrix (if that be your name).

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Dan and Pat Meet Australian Fans

After the recent 11 January 2009 Melbourne show at the Palais Theatre, a few loyal fans waited outside the band entrance of the venue for an hour or so after the gig hoping to meet The Black Keys.

Dan and Pat were kind enough to make the effort to pose for photos, sign autographs and chat to fans before they departed to an after-party at the local Prince front bar in St Kilda.

Pat told a funny anecdote about appearing on the bill at a festival with Shaggy which I wish I could recall.

He also told me about someone else who had a blog about The Black Keys for 2 years and had never been to a live concert. When he did go to a gig he stopped writing the blog! No chance of that happening to me.

Being the music enthusiast that Pat is, he was able name Greville Records in Melbourne as a favourite place to shop when in town, although he didn’t have a chance to visit on this trip.

More than likely, Pat said, the band won’t be back in Australia until 2010.

Below are some photos of the band with fans. You’ll also see the pressure of getting a good photo at the end of the short review video I put together about the gig.

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