DC’s Verizon Center was packed floor to ceiling for The Black Keys last Thursday, with every fan deeply engrossed in the band's full sound. But though the staging was energetic, the crowded venue was not ideal for the Black Keys, whose style is more conducive to intimate performance settings.
The Black Keys’ concerts belong in venues such as The National in Richmond, Virginia or The Jefferson in Charlottesville — small venues where performers can connect with their audience and, regardless of seat numbers, share with them the same experience.
Limited standing room at the Verizon Center allowed only a select few to jump and dance along to their favorite songs, and even seats close to the stage were compromised by yet more seats ahead. It seemed as though the band itself was trying to create a smaller venue atmosphere by only taking up a minimal portion of the stage, filling the excess back and sides with lighting equipment.
Poor as the venue was for the band, The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney proved they remain incredible musicians. Though they barely said anything during the concert — Carney did not speak a word, giving only a modest wave upon entering and exiting the stage — the music spoke for them.
Every song sounded better than its recorded counterpart. The experience was not only auditory, but sensory — the ground literally shaking with the intensity of the music.
With just a guitar and a drum, these Ohio musicians created a wall of sound. Though they were accompanied by two supporting musicians — a bassist and a keyboard player — they were only minimally supplemental to Auerbach and Carney’s sound. This dynamic duo resembles Matt and Kim in their ability to create incredible music with only two people — one of which is a drummer.
Some songs by The Black Keys, while not slow, are not typically considered dance songs, perhaps inducing only a slight head bob. Still, the crowd was clearly moved by the music to some capacity. Even without prompted hype by the musicians, there was excitement in every melody. When Auerbach and Carney played “Gold on the Ceiling,” the crowd erupted at the familiar first few notes, and the lights flashed gold. It seemed everyone knew the song, and everyone was feeling like gold.
Overall, the concert experience felt immensely positive — even within an enormous venue. The Black Keys, proving to be true musicians, adapted to their environment — and their performance did not disappoint.
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