The Black Keys Fan Lounge has long enjoyed the live sessions recorded for the This Morning Becomes Eclectic show on KCRW radio in the USA.

You can hear The Black Keys on the show in 2003 and 2008 here.

Here’s a new document for the file. The two sets and interview brings us up to date wth the Brothers offering with the addition of Chop and Change and the ever fiery Your Touch. The interview is hilarious at times. Would you expect anything less?

The version of She’s Long Gone is fantastic, as it always is live, before effortlessly segueing into a moody Ten Cent Pistol.

Enjoy.

Setlist:

• Everlasting Light
• Next Girl
• Chop and Change
• Howling For You
• (interview)
• Tighten Up
• She’s Long Gone
• Ten Cent Pistol
• Sinister Kid
• Your Touch

Listen here:

Watch here:

Related posts:

1. Listen: The Black Keys Live on KCRW Radio 2003 v 2008
2. Video: The Black Keys’ Coachella Festival Live Performance
3. Listen: The Black Keys’ On NPR World Cafe Session and New York Times Popcast Live

Before The Black Keys’ new album is released in April 2010, it’s maybe worth looking back at two live snapshots of The Black Keys when they had a live hook up with the studios of 89.9FM KCRW Radio, Southern California’s leading National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate, on the Morning Becomes Eclectic show in 2003 and 2008.

These live in studio performances really capture the band with something to prove. The audience listening at the time is probably hearing many of these tracks for the first time. The years between recording adds to the understanding of the growth of the recorded sound and band’s development.

Fans will enjoy the subtle differences between the album and these live versions.

The recordings are more than just a live set though, both include an interview with host Nick Harcourt. As ever, listening to an interview is so much better than reading one. The 2003 interview is so fresh and unaffected about their early influences, not to mention Pat’s ubiquitous dry humour. The 2008 interview is quite insightful about the recording process for the ‘Attack and Release’ album.

On July 25, 2003, The Black Keys had just finished opening for Beck when they were recorded. The seminal ‘Thickfreakness’ album had only been released a few months earlier. The recorded sound is really raw and fuzzed out. The 2008 recording is much better in sound quality. The rarely played  cover of  ‘She Said, She Said’ by The Beatles off The Big Come Up album is a treat to hear.

On March 31, 2008, The Black Keys were previewing new tracks from the ‘Attack and Release’ album but also playing some favourites. There’s an interesting version of ‘Girl Is On My Mind’ thrown in. The recording of the Captain Beefheart track ‘Here I Am, I Always Am’ they were playing live at the time is a real beauty and rarity.

Enough chatter, the music speaks for itself, turn it up…

2003:

2008:

Hat tip to fan James McIntosh.

Related posts:

1. Listen: The Black Keys Live on KCRW Radio 2010
2. MP3: The Black Keys’ Radio Recordings 2007-2008
3. Blakroc: Listen to Pat Carney on Triple J Radio