Black Keys’ 11th album packs treat

Legendary ZZ Top guitarist featured on a track

If there is one thing above all else that American rock duo the Black Keys have done during the pandemic, it’s keep their evergrowing multitude of fans satiated.

It is said that good things come in threes and that is certainly the case with the Back Keys.

Firstly, the Black Keys released their 10th studio album Delta Kream, which celebrates the band’s roots and their early inspiration.

Secondly, it was the turn of El Camino — or more correctly the stunning 10th-anniversary edition four-CD set of their seventh studio album El Camino. Featuring a remastered version of the original album, a previously unreleased Live in Portland, Maine concert recording, a BBC Radio 1 Zane Lowe session from 2012, a 2011 Electro-Vox session and an extensive photo book — this was a must-have for the fans and a brilliant introduction for those about to experience the magic of the Black Keys for the first time.

Then, just when you thought it couldn’t get any better — along comes their 11th album Dropout Boogie — and we have two copies to give away.

Featuring the singles Wild Child and It Ain’t Over among it’s 10 stellar tracks, it’s got more than a few surprises in store for fans and, just like the anniversary edition of El Camino, is sure to draw in more than a few curious outsiders — especially when one of the artists guesting on the album, performing on track five, Good Love, is none other than legendary ZZ Top guitarist Billy F. Gibbons.

As a point of interest Billy and ZZ Top have just been confirmed as the headline act at the forthcoming 2023 Summer Concert Tour — will they bust out Good Love as a nod of respect to the Black Keys? There’s only one way to find out — be there. Tickets and full event information from www. greenstoneentertainment.co. nz.

Meanwhile, back to the Boogie.

Bluesmen recognise their kin; and back when the Black Keys were years away from arena status and touring their third album Rubber Factory, Billy F. Gibbons was in a small crowd watching them play.

“He came to one of our first shows, when we were touring Rubber Factory ,” the Keys’ Dan Auerbach recalled in an interview.

“He came to a show in New Mexico. There were 30 people in the audience. And one of them was Billy Gibbons.”

But he remained a distant admirer for a while.

“He didn’t even say hello to us,” adds Auerbach.

“He came to the show, we were done, and he left. I didn’t see him. Everybody was like, ‘Man, Billy Gibbons was here.’ He told everybody he loved it. So he’s been a supporter for a long time.”

Fast forward and the duo of Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney are recording their new album Dropout Boogie and Auerbach now has Gibbons on his phone’s contact list.

“I knew he was in town so I sent him a text, very off the cuff. I said, “If you’re free later, stop by, Pat and I are in the studio,” explains the guitarist/ vocalist.

“He just showed up. He brought a bottle of red wine, no guitars. I handed him a guitar he had never played, and an amp he never played. He plugged it straight in, turned it all the way up, and it sounded exactly like Billy Gibbons.

“Pat brought that up the other day. Everyone goes on and on about what special gauge strings Billy uses, his holy grail Les Paul. Man, whatever that guy picks up sounds like him. It’s awesome”.

Awesome is right. Pick up a copy and you’ll see what we mean — the Black Keys at their brilliant best — along with their very special guest.