In-demand Black Keys return to Akron for biggest show here yet

by John Soeder/Plain Dealer Pop Music Critic

Wednesday October 08, 2008, 10:00 AM

James CarneyWould you buy a hot dog from these guys? The Black Keys -- Dan Auerbach, left, and Patrick Carney -- are ready to give Chrissie Hynde's Akron eatery a run for its money. Possibly.

PREVIEW:
The Black Keys
When: 8 p.m. Saturday.
Where: E.J. Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., Akron.
Tickets: $28.50 at the box office and Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone, 216-241-5555 (Cleveland) or 330-945-9400 (Akron).

A few years ago, Black Keys singer-guitarist Dan Auerbach's girlfriend dragged him to see a production of "Rent" at E.J. Thomas Hall.

"I wanted to kill myself the whole [expletive] time," he recalled.

Nonetheless, Auerbach is looking forward to returning to the scene of the crime Saturday night with his partner in gutbucket rock 'n' roll, drummer Patrick Carney. The homecoming concert will be the biggest local gig to date for Akron's Black Keys.

On their latest tour, they've been playing to larger crowds in larger venues from coast to coast.

"It's pretty crazy. ... But it's all really good," Auerbach said by phone last week before a show in New Orleans.

The duo released its fifth album in March. Recorded at Suma Recording Studio in Painesville with producer Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton (of Gnarls Barkley fame), "Attack & Release" embellishes the Black Keys' sound with everything from banjo to vintage synthesizers, as well as guest appearances by guitarist Marc Ribot and Carney's uncle, multi-instrumentalist Ralph Carney.

"It was a natural progression," Auerbach said. He's 29; Patrick Carney is 28.

They've been invited to a jam session later this month by ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, in hopes of sparking new songs for the latter band's next album.

"We love ZZ Top's first four records and would love to make some music like that with these guys -- real funky recordings," Auerbach said. "Who knows if it's going to work. But we're going to give it a try."

The Black Keys maintain a bustling extracurricular schedule.

Auerbach has kept busy recently producing releases by the Buffalo Killers, the Black Diamond Heavies and Kent's Jessica Lea Mayfield. Up next for Auerbach is a recording date in Georgia with gospel artist Theotis Taylor.

Carney runs the indie label Audio Eagle Records, home to Northeast Ohio groups Houseguest and Gil Mantera's Party Dream, among others.

One thing Auerbach and Carney won't be doing is opening a vegetarian restaurant in their hometown, a la the Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde -- although they haven't ruled out a different food-service venture.

"We've been on eBay, looking at hot-dog carts," Auerbach quipped.

They have the perfect location picked out for their cart, too: Highland Square, near staunch vegan Hynde's apartment.

"It's a dream of ours," Auerbach said, laughing.