The Black Keys Light Up the Greek Theatre with a Career-Spanning Set
On a cool Los Angeles night, the Greek Theatre was transformed into a raucous rock ‘n’ roll cathedral as The Black Keys delivered a show that reminded everyone in attendance why they’ve remained one of the most essential bands in modern American rock for over two decades. With a setlist that spanned their entire discography — from gritty early cuts to chart-dominating hits and fresh tracks from an eagerly anticipated new album — it was a night of sheer, unapologetic energy.
From the moment Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney stepped onto the stage, the energy was dialed up to ten and never let up. The crowd, packed to the rafters and spilling into the aisles, was instantly on their feet, singing along to every lyric like it was a hometown reunion. It’s not every night you get to see a band whose fans know the words to every single song, new and old, but that was exactly the atmosphere at the Greek — a communal, electric exchange between band and audience that felt as intimate as it was explosive.
The Black Keys pulled no punches, rolling through a catalog that’s become the soundtrack to countless late-night drives, backyard parties, and heartbroken mornings. The hits came thick and fast, and every single one landed like a punch to the gut — gritty, soulful, and loaded with blues-drenched swagger. But what made the night particularly exciting was the debut of new songs from their forthcoming album, No Rain, No Flowers. Even hearing them for the first time, it was clear these tracks are destined to sit alongside the band’s best work — instantly catchy, fuzzed-out, and built for big stages and even bigger singalongs.
The production matched the energy onstage. The lighting and visuals were stunning, with dazzling color washes and sharp, cinematic visuals that elevated every track without overpowering the band’s stripped-down, guitar-and-drums rawness. At times the visuals felt almost psychedelic, at others stark and moody — a perfect mirror to the shifting moods of the set.
What’s perhaps most impressive is how sharp The Black Keys still sound. After all these years, Auerbach’s guitar work remains both ferocious and melodic, effortlessly threading gritty blues riffs with modern rock hooks, while Carney’s drumming continues to be the band’s heartbeat — thunderous, precise, and relentlessly propulsive. There’s a tightness and ease to their chemistry that can only come from a lifetime of playing together, and it radiated from the stage.
At a time when many legacy acts are content to coast on nostalgia, The Black Keys proved they’re still evolving, still hungry, and still capable of delivering one of the best live rock shows around. The Greek Theatre, with its natural acoustics and open-air intimacy, was the perfect setting for a band that’s always balanced stadium-size anthems with dive-bar grit.
It was a night that celebrated everything great about rock music: undeniable songs, exceptional musicianship, and a room full of people shouting every word like their lives depended on it. The Black Keys are far from finished — if anything, they’re just getting started on their next chapter.
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