Scene - Blogs - CONCERT REVIEW The Black Keys at the BOK Center

CONCERT REVIEW: The Black Keys at the BOK Center
Published: 4/28/2012 11:36 PM
Last Modified: 4/28/2012 11:41 PM

The Black Keys. All photos by JAMES GIBBARD / Tulsa World

A ride with the Black Keys delivers blow-your-hair-back, thoroughly electrifying riff rock. Saturday's concert was one of the best yet at the BOK Center.

As far as arena shows go, the production was minimal -- no pyrotechnics, no elaborate catwalks, no dancing girls, no massive backing band. They were unnecessary. A Black Keys concert radiates with what every legendary rock show should: very nearly blasphemous, raw, unbridled energy.

“Howlin’ For You,” “Dead and Gone,” and “Lonely Boy” dominated the band’s early all-American rock ‘n’ roll-inspired set. Scorching and mesmerizing all at once, Dan Auerbach (guitar, vocals) and Patrick Carney (drums) lured fans into the night, each song a torch of fire.

The two-man act (and often with two backing musicians) filled the arena with larger-than-life bombast. Stories-tall screens amplified swaggering rock chords and chest-ripping, shotgun-blast drums.

Banter was minimal. The Black Keys played a straightforward set filled to overflowing with music and wasted no time in its 90-minute set.

Tunes included “Next Girl,” “Run Right Back,” “Same Old Thing,” “Gold on the Ceiling,” “I'll Be Your Man,” “Your Touch,” “Money Maker,” “Strange Times,” “Ten Cent Pistol,” “Lonely Boy,” “Everlasting Light,” “I Got Mine” and others.

At one point, half a dozen screaming girls hoisted themselves over the floor-level barriers and sprinted into the standing-room-only audience.

At least on fan blew an air-horn during short set pauses. "Oh, that's cool," yelled Auerbach. The horn howled again. The crowed squealed in reply.

The band’s on the road supporting its multi-million selling 2011 album release “El Camino,” which has finally brought the group into bigger arenas across the United States and into the mainstream.

Up front, several fans crowd surfed to "Lonely Boy," their arms and legs silhouetted against the bright stage lights behind them.

Fans even flicked their Bics in old-school, encore-demanding style before swapping them for the glow of their smartphones.

Though many may not know it, opening act the Arctic Monkeys are arena road dogs in their native England. As if Saturday’s set wasn’t proof that they know what they’re doing.

The band’s eclectic, garage- and surf punk-tinged British guitar pop rumbled hard in a set that easily held its own, filled with songs supporting its latest album release, “Suck it and See.”

Frontman Alexander Turner postured, right foot on the monitor in front of him, as he yelped and screamed. He jumped from the drum set platform, he threw his leather jacket to the floor and flailed as his band stood mostly in place behind him.

They rocketed through songs “Brianstorm,” “This House Is a Circus,” “Still Take You Home,” “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor,” “If You Were There, Beware,” “Teddy Picker,” “Crying Lightning,” “Suck It and See,”
“R U Mine?” and more.

Reader Comments

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ClanJoyWalkSig (10 months ago)

"She's Long Gone" is one of my all-time favorite songs... wish I'd been there!

tulsaluvr (10 months ago)

It was one of the best shows I have ever seen!! Hope they come back real soon!1

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Barrelhouse Beat

Barrelhouse: A colloquialism describing the low saloons at the turn of the century (19th) that served whiskey straight out of the barrel. It's also a reference to the type of music played in those venues. Ex: Barrelhouse music.

Beat: The time or timing. Ex: The band played with a solid beat. Also used as a term describing a reporters specific area of expertise. Ex: The music beat.

About me: I'm Okie born and raised, and have lived all over the state: Oklahoma City, Enid, Moore, Norman, Edmond and Tulsa. I am a music geek, writer, graphic designer and amateur photographer and videographer who's followed the Tulsa and regional music scene since I moved to Green Country more than 10 years ago. I've been enmeshed in Tulsa's varied and vibrant musical night life, what some of us affectionately call a modernized throwback to the Barrelhouse scene, since that time. I fell in love with it. I fell hard.

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Archive

Past Articles By Jennifer Chancellor

2/17/2013		Tulsan Johnny Polygon a rapper who delights in hometown crowd
2/15/2013		The Who brings nostalgia, ingenuity to BOK Center
2/15/2013		Lady Gaga tour is canceled
2/15/2013		Audio Adrenaline concert moves to April 7
2/14/2013		The Who brings 'other' rock opera to Tulsa's BOK Center
2/14/2013		Okies nominated for several top ACM awards
2/14/2013		Epic moments of rock 'n' roll history in Tulsa
2/14/2013		The Who talks about 'Quadrophenia' rock opera ahead of BOK show Thursday
2/14/2013		Shawnee songstress Samantha Crain to play Tulsa CD release show Friday
2/14/2013		Rick Springfield to play River Spirit Event Center on Saturday
2/14/2013		Local music roundup: Vaudvillian sideshows? Nerd nights? Live music? Parties? Yes, yes, yes and yes.
2/14/2013		Eli Young band coming to Brady Theater for first time

Jennifer Chancellor's Blog Archive:

2/2013	1/2013	12/2012	11/2012	10/2012	9/2012
8/2012	7/2012	6/2012	5/2012	4/2012	3/2012
2/2012	1/2012	12/2011	11/2011	10/2011	9/2011
8/2011	7/2011	6/2011	5/2011	4/2011	3/2011
2/2011	1/2011	12/2010	11/2010	10/2010	9/2010
8/2010	7/2010	6/2010	5/2010	4/2010	3/2010
2/2010	1/2010	12/2009	11/2009	10/2009	9/2009
8/2009	7/2009	6/2009	5/2009	4/2009	3/2009
2/2009	1/2009	12/2008	11/2008	10/2008	9/2008
8/2008	7/2008	6/2008	5/2008	4/2008	3/2008
2/2008	1/2008	12/2007	11/2007	10/2007	9/2007

Jennifer Chancellor
BarrelhouseBeat

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