#NEWMUSIC: THE BLACK KEYS NEW ALBUM “OHIO PLAYERS” OUT NOW

The Black Keys released their highly anticipated 12th studio album, Ohio Players, today, alongside a new music video for the album track “On The Game,” co-written with Noel Gallagher, via Nonesuch/Warner Records. Listen to the album here and watch the new video here.

The music video for “On the Game” further highlights the album’s nature of fun, serving as a check-in on fan-favorite Derrick Tuggle, who was the breakout star of the music video for the band’s 2011 single “Lonely Boy.” Also making a special appearance is skateboarding legend Tony Hawk.

Rolling Stone said of the album, which was inspired by band members Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney’s recent “record hang” parties, “Whether they set their retro-rock wayback machine to Memphis in the Sixties, the Midwest in the Seventies, or Manchester, England, and L.A. in the Nineties, it all flows together like a beautifully paced DJ set,” calling it “arguably the sharpest collection of songs the Keys have come up with.” Ohio Players is a fresh departure from the band’s previous releases, invoking brand-new influences while still maintaining the signature, well-loved sound they are best known for. With an emphasis on collaboration, the album features contributions from friends and colleagues, including Beck, Noel Gallagher, Dan “The Automator” Nakamura, Greg Kurstin, Juicy J, Lil Noid, and others.

Mojo states that Ohio Players is “the sound of a band rejuvenated,” echoing Carney’s thoughts on the record: “We had this epiphany: ‘We can call our friends to help us make music.’” Auerbach adds, “No matter who we work with, it never feels like we’re sacrificing who we are. It only feels like it adds some special flavor. We just expanded that palette with people we wanted to work with.”

“We’d never worked harder to make a record,” he continues. “It’s never taken us this long to make an album. We took our time and did it right.”

“What we wanted to accomplish with this record was make something that was fun,” Carney says. “And something that most bands 20 years into their career don’t make, which is an approachable, fun record that is also cool.”

Earlier this week, The Black Keys announced a 2024 North American headline tour in support of the new album. Ahead of this leg of the tour, The Black Keys will also head to Europe to debut their brand-new live show. Tickets for all shows are on-sale now.

Ohio Players – Tracklist:

1. This Is Nowhere
2. Don’t Let Me Go
3. Beautiful People (Stay High)
4. On The Game
5. Only Love Matters
6. Candy and Her Friends feat. Lil Noid
7. I Forgot to Be Your Lover
8. Please Me (Till I’m Satisfied)
9. You’ll Pay
10. Paper Crown feat. Beck & Juicy J
11. Live Till I Die
12. Read Em and Weep
13. Fever Tree
14. Every Time You Leave

The Black Keys – 2024 North American Tour

Date City Venue

April 7 Phoenix, AZ Hance Park (NCAA March Madness Music Festival)

April 27^ Manchester, UK Co-Op Arena

April 30^ Cardiff, Wales Utilita Arena

May 3^ Dublin, IE 3Arena

May 5 Amsterdam, NE Ziggo Dome

May 7^ London, UK Brixton Academy

May 8^ London, UK Brixton Academy

May 9^ London, UK Brixton Academy

May 12 Paris, FR Zénith De Paris

May 13 Paris, FR Zénith De Paris

July 6 Chicago, IL Grant Park (NASCAR Street Race)

September 17* Tulsa, OK BOK Center

September 18* Austin, TX Moody Center

September 20 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center

September 21* Houston, TX Toyota Center

September 24 Denver, CO Ball Arena

September 26* Phoenix, AZ Footprint Center

September 27* Los Angeles, CA Kia Forum

September 28* Palm Desert, CA Acrisure Arena

September 29* Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre

October 2 Portland, OR Moda Center

October 3 Seattle, WA Climate Pledge Arena

October 10* Pittsburgh, PA PPG Paints Arena

October 11* Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena

October 12* Cleveland, OH Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse

October 13* Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena

October 16* Charlotte, NC Spectrum Center

October 18* Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena

October 19* Atlanta, GA State Farm Arena

October 21* Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center

October 23 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center

October 24* Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena

October 26* Indianapolis, IN Gainbridge Fieldhouse

October 27* Knoxville, TN Food City Center

October 30* New York, NY Madison Square Garden

November 1 Boston, MA TD Garden

November 2* Baltimore, MD CFG Bank Arena

November 3 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena

November 7* Chicago, IL United Center

November 9* Milwaukee, WI Fiserv Forum

November 10 Minneapolis, MN Target Center

November 12* Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena

• With supporting act The Head and The Heart

^ With supporting act Circa Waves

#BRITS: EMELI SANDÉ WINS TOP HONOURS AT 2013 BRIT AWARDS

The 2013 BRIT Awards took place tonight at London’s 02 Arena and walking away with top honours tonight was last year’s Critics’ Choice Award Winner Emeli Sandé.  The Singer/Songwriter won British Album of the Year for her Disc, Our Version of Events and also won British Female Solo Artist. Meanwhile, 25-year-old Folk Artist Ben Howard was also a big Winner, victorious in the categories of British Breakthrough Artist and British Male Solo Artist, a feat accomplished last year by Crossover Sensation, Ed Sheeran.

Surprising many, Lana Del Rey was awarded International Female Solo Artist defeating the likes of Taylor Swift, Alicia Keys and Rihanna.   Meanwhile, Frank Ocean was awarded International Male Solo Artist.

22-year-old Folk Artist Tom Odell also was awarded what surely is predictive of future success as we can see from Sandé, the Critics’ Choice Award.

Hot on the heels of their four GRAMMY wins recently, The Black Keys were awarded International Group.

Click here for a complete list of Winners.

Early last year, I had the pleasure of meeting Sandé who was just visiting Toronto for the first time:

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Mr. Will Wong)

#GRAMMYS: THE BLACK KEYS LEAD THE WAY WITH FOUR WINS

The Music Industry’s Who’s Who gathered at Staples Center in Los Angeles tonight for the 55th annual GRAMMY Awards. Ohio-formed Band The Black Keys came away the Evening’s top Winners with a total four Grammys tonight including Best Rock Album, El Camino and Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance with Lonely Boy. Dan Auerbach who comprises one half of the Duo, won Best Producer, Non-Classical also; prior the Band had won three Grammys.

Winning coveted Song of the Year were New York-based Newcomers  fun. featuring Janelle Monáe with their Hit Single, We Are Young. Oddsmakers at Ladbrokes nailed it, making the Tune the odds-on choice to win in the Category.  The Trio also won Best New Artist.

Australian Sensation Gotye also won big tonight for Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with his massive Hit Somebody That I Used to Know (ft. Kimbra), while also taking home Best Alternative Music Album for stateside debut, Making Mirrors.  Typically, the Winner of Song of the Year wins Record of the Year, so this was a breaking of  the mold.

British Folk Sensations Mumford & Sons won Album of the Year with their Disc Babel and also, Best Long Form Music Video for Big Easy Express.  The Disc is also nominated for Album of the Year at the forthcoming BRIT Awards in their native UK.

Although she didn’t win Song of the Year with her hit What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger), a recently-engaged Kelly Clarkson wins her third Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album for her  2012 Disc, Stronger.   Equally a Powerhouse Vocalist, Adele won her ninth Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance with Set Fire to the Rain from former Album of the Year, 21.

Jay-Z and Kanye West as their Duo Watch the Throne won three Grammys for their Collaboration, N***s in Paris for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance and also No Church in the Wild (ft. Frank Ocean and The Dream) for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. Ocean also won for Best Urban Contemporary Album with his Channel Orange, while Mrs. Carter herself Beyoncé, won Best Traditional R&B Performance with Love on Top. Toronto’s Drake was awarded Best Rap Album for Take Care, his sophomore effort.

American Idol Winner Carrie Underwood added two more Grammys to her collection, winning Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song for Blown Away.

Check-out some of the fashion from the Grammys tonight below!  Clearly Rihanna was the Belle of the Ball in Azzedine Alaia.

 

 

 See the full list of Winners here.

 

(Photo credit: Getty Images)