The Black Keys Want to Take Tegan and Sara Out to Tim Hortons

After years of toiling as a cult act playing earnest, blue-collar R&B -- in this case, Rock & Blues -- Akron, Ohio's the Black Keys finally found a winning formula with their sixth album, last year's 'Brothers.'

For their victory lap, singer-guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer-producer Patrick Carney -- who have recently started experimenting with variations on their classic sound, including 2009's hip-hop collaboration album 'Blakroc' -- are bringing their musical touch to the world of comedy. They're appearing on 'Saturday Night Live' this weekend – where they may follow in the recent steps of Paul McCartney and Arcade Fire by appearing in a 'Digital Short' – and will perform their song 'She's Long Gone,' featured on the soundtrack to the Vince Vaughn vehicle 'The Dilemma.'

But first, they'd like to take another musical pair out for a classy date.

"I'd like to take Tegan and Sara out to Tim Hortons," Carney tells Spinner with a sly grin, name-dropping the famous Canadian duo and famous Canadian doughnut shop. "I like them both, I like them together."

Watch The Black Keys Perform 'Tighten Up'
Seeing as how Tegan and Sara are both gay, Carney's chances for anything beyond witty conversation with the sisters are extremely slim. Perhaps Auerbach is hoping that's just false advertising as he discovered with Tim Hortons.

"The funny thing about Tim Hortons is that it's a Canadian company owned by an American company," Auerbach laughs, before starting what could be a stand-up routine, likely hoping to shift the focus from what might have been an awkward discussion.

"What a stupid name, 'Tim Hortons!' That's like saying lets go to 'John Smith's!'" he begins, apparently unaware that Tim Horton was a hockey legend who clocked 24 seasons in the NHL. "But Canada isn't all bad, they've got some great bands and some bad bands featuring guys with funny names. We think the name Geddy Lee is hilarious!"

Thanks folks, he'll be here all week.