The Black Keys’ management recently asked fans via twitter about what type of merchandise fans would like made and would buy. It’s a great initiative. Everyone knows you can buy legitimate and authentic merch from the official site. Buying authentic merchandise anywhere else, however, is not nearly as clear cut.

The Black Keys Fan Lounge uses a feed from ebay.com to feature Black Keys-related merchandise on this site. You can see this here http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/merchandise/ Unfortunately, it sometimes picks up other non-related merchandise. This site would happily do away with it if there was an effective alternative. There are no feeds from the official website, the merch is controlled by a third party who doesn’t have the functionality.

In looking for an alternative affiliate system, it’s noticeable the growth in rip offs, fakes, autographs, limited editions, anything anyone can sell to Black Keys’ fans. I’d rather not be associated with promoting content I wouldn’t buy myself.

There’s a mutual interest for the band and fans to know what’s fake and/or authentic. Fan confidence in goods (quality) is important to maintain a desire to buy and the income stream is something that the band would want to protect. Merchandise is big business for any band, a core revenue stream. There’s a good general article about bands’ making money from merchandise here.

The Black Keys Fan Lounge understands The Black Keys’ management does target companies selling fakes or non-licensed merchandise. And so they should. But it’s a big, constant and seemingly un-ending battle, especially as the band grows in popularity and demand grows.

It’s pretty hard to tell for fans browing ebay.com to tell what’s real and what’s fake. Here are some common examples:

Exhibit A: Dan Auerbach has a custom range of guitar picks? I’d never seen them before. The Black Keys’ management tells me they are legit. The seller is reputable, Dan got a limited number made up many years ago but never really used them.

Exhibit B: An Attack & Release era custom pick necklace. Upon checking with The Black Keys’ management these picks are in fact fake. The seller didn’t bother replying when asked. They had already sold four of the same item.

Fans could generally take the word of the seller and the their reputation, but we all know life’s not that simple. The broader issue of popular success brings demand in all sorts of unintended ways. Those with something to sell will meet the demand of fans wanting to buy – nothing wrong with that if the goods are legitimate. Others will create supply with fakes, or take advantage of the demand.

Ideas for The Black Keys’ to help fans regarding merchandise:

• Register of all approved merchandise items or licensed content on The Black Keys’ official site. That would certainly prevent fans neding to enquire. Obviously it wont stop the unscrupulous faking items on the register.
• A public list of approved resellers. At least official merchandise re-sales or licensed goods could be sold by approved organisations. It would at least aid confidence. The buyer would necessarily need to continue to be beware of random fans selling goods. But it would limit the propensity of those individuals selling fakes in bulk.
• Create widgets and 3rd party reseller applications that could be embedded into websites to link back to The Black Keys’ official store where the buyer would actually make the purchase. This is pretty common technology. The Black Keys are one of the most blogged about bands, plenty of sites would love to help sell their merch (this site included) yet there’s no easy way to do so. Fan’s love spreading the word, engaging them might help.

What sort of things could The Black Keys do to make your merchandise buying experience better? Leave your comment below.

Related posts:

1. Signed Black Keys Concert Ticket
2. Blakroc Merchandise T-Shirts
3. Black Keys Tour Poster

The Black Keys have now played two free shows in 2010 thanks to sponsors, Mog and Kin (google them and you’ll see what they do).

They most recently played the Kin show at the Classic Car Club in New York where their promotional activities have been focused all thise week.

Whilst everyone has seemingly focused on the performances, many have forgotten about the free merchandise given to fans who lined up for hours to see the band.

Black Keys’ fan Anna was one of those people. She kindly shared this photo with The Black Keys Fan Lounge.

Mmm, poster, badges and t-shirt. Yum. The merch was, however, mostly Kin branded too (the green spot is their logo, sans text), no surprises there but some of the buttons just said “The Black Keys”.

The merch:

Kin folks promo reel:

Related posts:

1. The Black Keys’ Merchandise: Fakes or Authentic?
2. One Year Anniversary Of The Black Keys Fan Lounge Fan Forum / Message Board
3. Video: The Black Keys’ Set You Free @ Grimey’s, Nashville

With their newest record, ‘Brothers’, officially unleashed to the world, The Black Keys will surely continue the promotional campaign until mid-fall, coinciding with a headlining tour, numerous shows supporting the likes of Kings of Leon and The Flaming Lips, not to mention a handful of festival dates, all across North America and Europe. What better place to begin the heavy publicity than the media capital of the world – New York City?

Their current slate of NYC-centered activities all began with a free Microsoft Kin sponsored show on Saturday May 15 in Tribeca and will include an opening gig at the first of two sold out Pearl Jam concerts taking place in The World’s Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden. Then it is time for some national exposure consisting of a pair of late-night television performances on The Late Show with David Letterman (May 25) and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (May 26), both of which film in Midtown Manhattan.

While those events are certainly very exciting and prestigious for the band, one of the most interesting engagements is an intimate benefit performance on May 19 for Housing Works, a NYC non-profit charity that is fighting both homelessness and AIDS, at their SoHo-based Bookstore Café (126 Crosby Street, New York, NY). Corresponding with this “Live From Home” concert series performance, an exclusive Black Keys pop-up store will be open for three days, book-ending the aforementioned benefit and taking place at the same location.

Walking down Crosby Street to the Bookstore Café, signs in the windows are very visible indicating ‘Brothers’ has finally dropped. As I entered the store, I heard Blakroc playing out of the speakers and saw even more signage stating that this unassuming and charming bookstore has now been considerably taken over by The Black Keys. Their merchandise occupies up a modest amount of area, about a quarter of the main floor’s selling space. Also decorating the upstairs railings are huge photos that are featured in the deluxe edition of the new album.

A wide variety of products are available including CDs, DVDs, LPs, 45s, t-shirts, hats, and an even the Attack & Release koozie. Of course, tons of copies of ‘Brothers’ are waiting to be purchased, in all three editions (CD, double-LP, and Deluxe CD), and are given the most real estate. Prices at the store are very good and on-par with the band’s own web store, but let’s not forget that a portion of proceeds benefit Housing Works, so even if it is a little pricier than a major seller, it is for a great cause.  A few items stuck out at me: first, there was a handful of copies of the elusive, limited edition of 200, Devo/Black Keys Akron split 7” that was offered as a bonus via their announced Record Store Day 2010 12” single; secondly, the lithograph poster from the benefit performance taking place at the Café on May 19; and finally, many t-shirts that are currently not for sale on the band’s web store.

All and all, this “pop-up” store is a nice and unique tie-in The Black Keys/Nonesuch where able to pull together. Some fans will certainly be rewarded by making the trip downtown during the next three days if looking for the band’s catalog in all tangible formats, clothing merchandise, or even a rare vinyl product. If you are in NYC, or surrounding area, check out the store and buy some Keys merchandise to help support Housing Works.

Related posts:

1. El Camino: The Black Keys’ Album Release Concert – New York, Dec 5
2. The Black Keys’ Record Store Day Surprise 2010
3. The Black Keys’ Set Lists: Summerstage, New York, 2010

I came home from work today to find a brown 9” x 9” cardboard box waiting for me in the mail. It came from Aurora, IL, and it contained the free bonus 7” Devo/Black Keys split I had been not-so-patiently waiting for!

The 7″ was only available to the first 200 fans who replied to an inscribed email address on the Tighten Up/Howling For You 12″ vinyl release they bought on Record Store Day 2010.

The artwork has a vintage vacation postcard vibe to it and even reads “Greetings from Akron Ohio, Home of Devo & The Black Keys” across the front. It’s got a grainy/scratchy washed-out look to it (which adds to its charm), and a postcard snapshot of Akron, OH, on the rear cover.

There’s a typo on the back of the sleeve. It says “McMoore McLeest Publishing” but it should read “McMoore McLesst Publishing”, which the Black Keys named after the late Akron, OH artist Alfred McMoore. Alfred was a good friend of Patrick and Dan, and The Black Keys’ band name came from a term that Alfred coined.

Side-A has Devo’s “Human Rocket” on it, which sounds like, well, Devo – what did you expect? Although it’s not a cover song, it sounds a bit like Devo covering a Glenn Danzig tune to me. Check it out.

Side-B contains The Black Keys’ glorious gift to their home state – “Ohio”. And what a gift it is! With a sing-a-long chorus and a raging guitar solo that even Neil Young would dig, it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser. It’s got a fantastic head-bob inducing bassline and drums driving it, and sounds especially cool during the reverb-dripping outro. You can listen to Ohio here.

Lyrics:

Whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-Ohio! Hiyo!
Whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh whoa-Ohio! Hiyo!
Whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh whoa-Ohio! Hiyo!
Whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh whoa-Ohio! Hiyo!

Well the road it overtook me to the point where I was blind
My body was weak but not as much as my mind, oh my mind
I just can’t get, can’t get my fill of those hills, oh but still
No matter where I am in this land I feel alone, when I’m not at home

Whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-Ohio! Hiyo!
Whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh whoa-Ohio! Hiyo!
Whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh whoa-Ohio! Hiyo!
Whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh whoa-Ohio! Hiyo!

So if you, if you see me hunkered down in your town
I’m just watchin’ the clock on the wall
‘Til I can go to the place I love most of all

Radiate- just wait to die
Break your back and never, never wonder why
Get me home before I, ‘fore I lose my mind
I need some space to let my, my tape rewind

Whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-Ohio! Hiyo!
Whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh whoa-Ohio! Hiyo!
Whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh whoa-Ohio! Hiyo!
Whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh whoa-Ohio! Hiyo!

-Dan Auerbach

Related posts:

1. The Black Keys’ Record Store Day Surprise 2010
2. Alfred McMoore: The Inspiration For The Black Keys Band Name
3. The Black Keys unlock fans’ generosity

This past Saturday April 17th, 2010, marked the 3rd annual independent record store celebration known as “Record Store Day”. The Black Keys continued their streak of yearly participation and support with another great vinyl offering.

Back in 2008 (for the 1st annual Record Store Day), the ‘Keys put out a 7” single featuring “Strange Times” and the unreleased track “Something On Your Mind”. In 2009, they did a split 7” record on sea-green colored vinyl featuring The Flaming Lips covering Madonna’s “Borderline”, and The Black Keys with a larger-than-life version of Captain Beefheart’s “Her Eyes Are A Blue Million Miles”.

For Record Store Day 2010 the ‘Keys put out a limited (50,000 units) 12” single featuring two tracks from their upcoming (Brothers) album – the Gary-Glitter-esque “Howlin’ For You” and the Danger-Mouse-produced “Tighten Up”. Only this year, Dan & Pat decided to up the ante.

On the morning of this year’s Record Store Day at 8:21am (Akron time), The Black Keys posted a somewhat-cryptic update on their Facebook page which stated- “It’s record store day. Go buy some stuff. We have a new 12″ single out today and there is a surprise inside.” Later that morning, fan responses to their Facebook post seemed to indicate the surprise was a hoax – however, if one looked closely enough at the “dead wax” on each side of the record, the words “DEVO / THE BLACK KEYS” could be seen etched on the record, followed by an email address AKRONSPLIT7@WARNERBROSRECORDS.COM

The dead wax etching:

As it turned out, the first 200 fans to send an email to the address etched into the vinyl would receive an extremely limited free/bonus 7” split in the mail featuring Devo’s “Human Rocket” from their upcoming album, and the Black Keys track “Ohio” (a Brothers bonus track, available on/after May 18th exclusively through iTunes).

Within an hour of sending an email to the address on the record, I received a reply from Warner Bros with a link/code/instructions to claim my prize, as well as the following message:

Hello Lucky Fan!
Thanks for checkin’ the dead wax on either the Devo or The Black Keys spiffy Record Store Day 12″!!!!  Well, at least we hope you did.
Anyways, congrats on being one of 200 super fans to receive an incredibly limited Akron Split 7″ featuring Devo’s “Human Rocket” and The Black Keys’ “Ohio.”  These will not be for sale so please don’t ebay it…after all, the price will just keep going up!!!!! Happy listening.

So if you were lucky enough to be one of the first 200 to find the hidden message, congrats! Luckily (thanks for the guidance, Brandy) I made the cut and am anxiously waiting for my bonus record to arrive.

An update with more pics will follow once the 7″ is delivered. Until then happy listening,  indeed.

Tighten Up / Howling For You 12″ Vinyl cover art:

Related posts:

1. The Black Keys’ Record Store Day Surprise 2011
2. The Black Keys’ Record Store Day Bonus 7 Inch Vinyl Release
3. The Black Keys’ New York Pop-Up Store

The Black Keys official merchandise shop today added Posters for sale.

Interestingly enough, presently, they are only stocking Dan Grzeca poster prints.

I recently purchased 3 Dan Grzeca prints from Dan’s etsy store. It had been a long term aim to buy some of Dan’s Black Keys posters after I had first seen his posters and art last year.

I really like the artistic licence Dan takes and the cryptic, imaginative ‘creatures’ his imagination commits to printed form. I needed to know more and this past Black Keys Fan Lounge interview provides further insight into his perspective.

I’ve had the posters I bought framed up along with two other posters which I had procured in the past year.

Here they all are in their framed, glass reflective glory. I could take photos of them looking like gallery exhibits, but I like the sheen and glare of the camera since this is how I glimpse them around my house.

Now, if only I had wall space to buy more of them…

You can also see all The Black Keys posters for sale on ebay.com via the page tab at the top of this site.

Related posts:

1. Black Keys Tour Poster
2. Interview: Dan Grzeca – Black Keys Poster Artist
3. Dan Auerbach Tour Posters

Update: The sale is now over

**************************

There are some really cheap Black Keys T Shirts for sale over at their online merchandise shop at the moment.

Shirts from $5 or $8!

Free shipping for purchases over $45. Limited sizes available, while stocks last.

Sweet action.

Related posts:

1. The Black Keys’ Everlasting Light Video Props For Sale
2. Black Keys Tour T-Shirt 2008-09
3. The Black Keys Posters Of Mine

Whoever is making the Blakroc merchandise is keeping things real and going for the minimal, low-fi look.

They are obviously making a statement of intent with these offerings.

Clearly they are reflective of the focus of the Blakroc tracks: all-instrument, no samples, real music, rock meets hip hop meets rock.

Either that or they only have budget for one colour prints and that statement seemed like a good idea at the time.

The ‘Do You Ever…’ t-shirt harks back to the font and stylings of an earlier Black Keys hoodie range.

You can buy them over at The Black Keys merchandise store.

Related posts:

1. The Black Keys Merchandise Of Mine
2. The Black Keys’ NYC Free Kin Show Fan Merchandise
3. The Black Keys’ Merchandise: Fakes or Authentic?

I must say The Black Keys and Dan Auerbach always have cool tour posters.

Hopefully Dan will have posters for sale at his upcoming gig I’ll be going to.

Below are a couple of variations on Dan’s recent graphic theme.

Related posts:

1. The Black Keys Posters Of Mine
2. Dan Auerbach's Guitar Pick
3. Dan Auerbach Solo Australian Tour Dates 2009

A lot of people buy Black Keys merchandise. Often a higher price is attached to goods if it has Dan and Pat’s autograph on it.

Having said that, I doubt anyone would pay for a used Black Keys concert ticket with their signatures on it.

If you are buying something purporting to have been signed by The Black Keys you can now compare the  squiggles with the examples below.

Hmm, I’m pretty sure the scribble on the left of the ticket is Pat’s and the one on the left is Dan’s.

If you were buying some Black Keys merchandise, would you pay more for their signature on the goods?

Related posts:

1. Dan Auerbach Concert Ticket and Live Show Reviews
2. The Black Keys’ Merchandise: Fakes or Authentic?
3. The Black Keys, a Trivia Night, and a Signed Vinyl Copy of The Big Come Up