The Black Keys Fan Lounge

When I saw the iconography of the stage props at the recent Melbourne show – an inflatable Native American face and Dream Catcher – I started thinking about how The Black Keys represent themselves and some of the themes running through their music.

The dominant theme is that of the “outsider” which runs through the history of the band, their lyrics, influences, art and sound.

Why does this matter? I suggest it goes some way to explaining the formation of The Black Keys sound and belief in their approach. When you identify as an outsider you develop a singularity of purpose because nobody believes or understands you except yourself. You are likely to create something distinctive because you evolve away from what’s considered popular. You try things and establish your own vision, rather than bending to others. You break in, rather than being let in. Later you have empathy for others you identify as similar to your self.

The Native American experience of European settlement is not a story told with many happy chapters. But it does bring with it an alternative wisdom to the modern mainstream way of living. The Black Keys have certainly steered their own course and continue to do so.

The band’s 2009 tour t-shirt uses another classic outsider image that of the Roma, commonly described as Gypsy. The fortune teller image is both entrancing and iconic of the mysterious Other. The Roma of Europe are a classic story of a people disposessed, marginalised, but with tremendous spirit expressed through their musical heritage.

If The Black Keys musical style can be loosely described as Blues, this in itself is an outsider style of music. The Blues were, of course, forged in the slave and prison fields of the American South. One of Dan’s well known musical idols was Junior Kimbrough. He was the quintessential outlaw blues musician and influenced Dan enough for him to drop out of college and seriously pursue his musical career.

Dan’s family history speaks of musicians and artists. Consider this observation of and by Dan: “His father, an antiques dealer, had an eclectic record collection and a habit of blasting the stereo. “And the house was always filled with outsider art,” Mr. Auerbach said. “So even before I was a musician, I grew up appreciating things that were not perfect.”

Akron, Ohio, where both Dan and Pat hail from, might otherwise seem a strange place to be big fans of the Wu-Tang Clan as teenagers. Maybe everyone was into it at their high school, but I’m guessing they weren’t in the cool kids group with those tastes in the Mid-West. In any case, I doubt as many people would ever have heard of Akron OH if they were not Black Keys fans (Chrissie Hynde fans please don’t leave comments). So they come from outside the musical mainstream and are forcing their way in.

When they didn’t have money to record elsewhere they developed a DIY ethic to their recording. This meant they had control over the development of their sound which was critical to them bursting onto the scene as something raw and distinctive. It’s only the most recent Attack and Release album that was produced by someone other than themselves (Danger Mouse).

Even the band’s name comes from a schizophrenic Akron artist, who called the boys “black keys”, his phrase for people who weren’t quite right. Outsider status is therefore attributed to them by an archetypal outsider.

On Dan’s Nonesuch page he speaks about observing or lurking on the fringes:

I don’t know what it is, but that’s the kind of music I like—the dark side. Paranoia and pain, that’s what I’m into. Even songs that seem upbeat, like ‘My Last Mistake,’ have the most depressing lyrics. I wanted the album to flow like scenes in a movie. Like ‘When I Left the Room’—it’s a cha-cha about paranoia; ‘The Prowl’ is all about, well, stalking. I like that stuff. All the songs have that kind of lurking thing. I guess I could make a lot more money in music if I sang about happy shit, but that’s not me.

Without recounting ‘Keys lyrics it’s not hard to find other examples of observational writing from the outside looking in. Certainly the Blues, Native American and Roma icons provide plenty of paranoia and pain to draw from.

Black Keys poster artist, Dan Grzeca, made an interesting comment when he described thinking about how to represent the band in images. He said he thinks of them as “a great American rock band”. With this in mind maybe that fits with the outsider thinking too in a roundabout way. The USA has a grand vision to take in those down-trodden from around the world, to give them shelter and hope. It doesn’t always get it right (who does?), but it is an inclusive motif for a band otherwise standing on the outside looking in for inspiration.

Being an outsider has resulted in the The Black Keys being inclusive to others. The band’s relative success has allowed Dan and Pat empathise with and use their influence to help up and coming bands through production (they now have an interest in Audio Eagle Records, Polymer Sounds and Tangerine Sound Studios) and getting others a break like Hacienda who sent their demos hopefully off to Dan. Now they are his solo backing band.

What other outsider influences do you see? Or is there a more relevant theme?

Dan on stage with totem face and dream catcher, below.

Related posts:

1. The Best Black Keys Song Lyrics
2. The Black Keys Leavin Trunk vs Keep It Hid Song Lyrics
3. Was The Black Keys’ Track I Cry Alone Influenced By Little Willie John’s My Love Is?

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