aaamusic | On 18, Jan 2012

HE BLACK KEYS EMBARK ON SOLD OUT EUROPEAN TOUR

ACCLAIMED NEW ALBUM EL CAMINO OUT NOW

INCLUDES NEW SINGLE ‘GOLD ON THE CEILING’

‘Tremendous, hook-laden, all-killer-no-filler, by some distance the most powerful, compelling rock album of the year.’ – Independent

‘Sometimes, a CD scratches an itch you didn’t even know you had, and El Camino is that record.  It’s a summer record released in the winter, a dance record that just happens to rock.  It’s a party record, a driving down the highway, ‘I’m in love with rock and roll, and I’ll be out all night’ record.  Really, the only question is whether, this late in the year, this constitutes the best rock album of 2011 or 2012.   It’ll probably be both.’ – Los Angeles Times

The Black Keys embark on a sold out tour of Europe in January and February to coincide with the release of their critically acclaimed new album, El Camino, including dates in Nottingham, Edinburgh, two in Manchester, and three at London’s Alexandra Palace (see below for details).   Released to widespread critical acclaim in December on Nonesuch Records, El Camino debuted at # 2 on the Billboard Top 200 and has already been certified Silver in the UK, Gold in Australia, and Platinum in Canada.  Produced by Danger Mouse and The Black Keys, the 11-track album was recorded in the band’s new hometown of Nashville during the spring of 2011.  El Camino includes the hit single ‘Lonely Boy’, the video for which has been viewed over six million times on YouTube, as well as the forthcoming ‘Gold On The Ceiling’, which will be released on March 5.
Describing the sound of the album, drummer Patrick Carney tells Rolling Stone, “Every record, we figure out the mood and stick with that.  With Brothers, we were listening to a lot of hip-hop and old R&B and drawing from that.  This is the first record we’ve made where it’s all rock & roll.”  And in an interview with Spin singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach says, “I’ve never been into guitar solos.  I really like when every instrument in the band is a rhythm instrument.  This record has a lot of that going on – guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards all working together as a rhythm instrument.  But unlike Brothers, which has more of these slower songs with an open feeling, [the new LP] is definitely fast.”
El Camino follows the most successful two years in The Black Keys’ career.  In May 2010 they released their breakthrough album, Brothers.  It won three Grammy Awards and an MTV Video Music Award, and topped numerous year-end lists.  Brothers, which included the hit singles ‘Tighten Up’ and ‘Howlin’ for You’, has been certified Gold in the US and UK, and Platinum in Canada.  Worldwide sales are now over one million and counting.

 

The Black Keys – Akron, OH natives Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney – released their debut album, The Big Come Up, in 2002, followed by Thickfreakness (2003) and Rubber Factory (2004).  In 2006 they signed to Nonesuch Records in the US and released their fourth album, Magic Potion, which was followed by the Danger Mouse-produced Attack & Release in 2008.  El Camino is the first Black Keys album Nonesuch released worldwide.

European Tour Schedule – January & February 2012

Mon Jan 23       Lotto, Antwerp, Belgium

Tue Jan 24        Zenith, Lille, France

Wed Jan 25       Zenith, Paris, France

Fri Jan 27          Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany

Sat Jan 28         Arena, Berlin, Germany

Mon Jan 30       Alcatraz, Milan, Italy

Tue Jan 31        Maag Hall, Zurich, Switzerland             .

Wed Feb 1        Klokgebouw, Eindhoven, Holland

Fri Feb 3           Capital FM Arena, Nottingham, UK

Sat Feb 4          Corn Exchange, Edinburgh, UK

Mon Feb 6         Apollo, Manchester, UK

Tue Feb 7          Apollo, Manchester, UK

Thu Feb 9          Alexandra Palace, London, UK

Fri Feb 10         Alexandra Palace, London, UK

Sat Feb 11        Alexandra Palace, London, UK