Black Keys at MSG: A No-Frills Rock Show at the World's Most Famous Arena

Usually when one graduates to the next level of success, they only get one formal ceremony. In the case of the Black Keys and their long-gestating rise to sold-out arena status, however, Thursday night served as their second round of pomp and circumstance at Madison Square Garden.

Tour companions Arctic Monkeys opened the show with a spirited romp through selections from their latest LP Suck It and See without skimping on hits like "Fluorescent Adolescent" and "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor". Although the U.K. outfit's brand of punk fused with danceable rock was somewhat lost in the occasionally unforgiving caverns of "The World's Most Famous Arena," their presence harkened back to years gone by when huge rock bands would team up for a crowd-pleasing tour. Despite their own relative popularity, the Arctic Monkeys seemed to have no issue performing warm-up duties as lead singer Alex Turner repetitiously posited, "Who's ready for the Black Keys?"

As the duo of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney made their way to the legendary Garden stage for the second time in less than 10 days, it quickly became clear what a Black Keys arena show would feature. With their experience as the foremost hard-touring, rarely-taking-a-break band, aside from Dave Grohl's Foo Fighters, the Keys went to work delivering a set worthy of those able to quickly sell out two shows at MSG. It was impossible to deny the near Zeppelin-sized, conquering hordes thump of hits like "Next Girl" and "Gold on the Ceiling" off their minivan-featuring latest, El Camino.

Frills and fireworks are left up to other acts of the Keys' status as the band opts to let the music do the talking in the arena setting. The only luxuries they allowed themselves was the occasional backlight flash and a large projection screen featuring Auerbach and Carney wailing away in different diffusions and animations that may or may not have been prerecorded. Much to the crowd's delight, the Black Keys shed their additional touring members mid-set and burned through some of their early classics, giving fans old and new a glimpse into what got the band to where they are today.

With the recent break-ups of acts like the White Stripes and R.E.M., the well-deserved ascension of the Black Keys may just be what roots-rock purists and FM classic rockers need to keep the torch burning that much longer. As Thursday proved, it's likely we'll be seeing the Black Keys selling out arena shows for a long time.


Watch Black Keys Perform 'Next Girl' on The Interface

Watch the Black Keys on The Interface

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