The Black Keys Live in Edmonton June 3rd 2026

  Last Wednesday my buddies Buzzard, Cuz, Nazz and I went to see The Black Keys at Rogers Place in Edmonton. The Black Keys are currently on the road promoting their newest album Peaches!. We got tickets for $30 on the Ticketmaster summer ticket sale, so we figured at that price, why not!

 Opening the show was Jeremie Albino a musician from Toronto who is a singer/songwriter that plays a roots rock style of music. I had never heard of him before but after learning he was the opening act for this show I checked out some of music on a streaming service. His latest album Our Time In The Sun was actually produced by Dan Auerbach who is the guitarist and singer of The Black Keys, so I can see how Jeremie got the opening slot. I thought his album was alright but nothing overly special. But still wanted to check him out. And have to say that I am glad I got there early to see him. Jeremie Albino and his band were great, they rocked the hell out with a great groove and energy. I'd be very interest in seeing him in a club setting. I see he is actually playing the Edmonton Folk Music Festival this August here in Edmonton. I'd recommend seeing him live.

Jeremie Albino.

 Next up was Akron, Ohio's The Black Keys, this would be my third time seeing them in concert. I was hesitant about seeing them again as I haven't cared for their last few albums. But after listening to their newest album Peaches! their fourteenth album which is an all covers album of old blues songs, which sees the band getting back to their roots, I was in. I really like the new album, and the price of the tickets helped too.

 The Black Keys started as a duo back in 2001 led by Dan Auerbach on guitar and vocals and Patrick Carney on drums who were in good form all evening. They now tour with a full band and have for a while now. Their stage set up was pretty basic with The Black Keys lighting up the back of the stage with a full screen with psychedelics going through out the show. They opened with the song "I Got Mine" from their 2008 album Attack & Release and we were off to a good start. With a vast catalog of music they played songs from their whole discography, with a good selection from their 2010 album Brothers "Howlin' For You", "Next Girl" and "She's Long Gone" and a couple of others I believe. The second song of the night was from what was one of their most popular albums El Camino playing the song "Gold On The Ceiling". I was happy to hear "Just Couldn't Tie Me Down" from the 2004 album Rubber Factory. They did do some old blues covers such as "Where There's Smoke, There's Fire" an old Willie Griffin song, "She Does It Right" an old Dr. Feelgood song and "You Got To Lose" by Earl Hooker all songs from the Peaches! album. I thought they did a great job on all these songs. Cool choices for covers, old blues songs that you don't hear too often.

 For the encore they did two songs from the El Camino album "Little Black Submarines" and their biggest song "Lonely Boy". All and all I thought it was a great show, a small appreciative audience of I'd say around 5-6,000 seemed to enjoy it as well. Good times!!!

The Black Keys.

T-shirt front.

T-shirt back.

May 12th

  May 12th, 2012 was The Black Keys with opening band English rockers Arctic Monkeys at Rexall Place in Edmonton. This was a great double bill to see. The Black Keys were touring for their album El Camino.

22 Years Ago Today...June 29th

It was twenty-two years ago today that I saw the local metal band Mary Prankster play at the Riviera Rock Room here in Edmonton.

Also on this day ten years ago, I saw Wilco with Neko Case play in Montreal at the Metropolis.

Also on this day seven years ago, I saw Wilco with opening band Elliott Brood play the Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton.

As well on this day, two years ago I saw the Black Keys play at Edmonton at Rexall Place.

In concert news...Elliot Brood will be playing in Edmonton on Sunday July 28th as part of the Interstellar Rodeo Festival at Hawrelak Park. Also Neko Case will be playing in Edmonton at the Edmonton Folk Festival on Friday August 9th.

25 Years Ago Today...May 12th

It was twenty-five years ago today that I saw Aerosmith play in Edmonton at Northlands Coliseum.





And it was a year ago today that I saw The Black Keys play Rexall Place here in Edmonton.

The Black Keys with Arctic Monkeys in Edmonton May 12th 2012

To cap off the weekend my buddy Buzzard and I went to the Black Keys and Arctic Monkeys double bill at Rexall Place Saturday night. This was a last minute decision, Buzzard picked up the cheapest tickets we could get, which were in the nose bleeds, but we had a plan.

After a few frosties before the show, we got there in time to catch the openers from England, the Arctic Monkeys. I really liked there first album 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not'. So I figured they would be worth checking out. We sat in out shitty seats for the Arctic Monkeys, the band was alright, nothing special, they got a pretty decent crowd reaction, but overall I think they would have been better in a club setting. They played for almost an hour, which is long for an opening band. I knew a few of their songs from the first album, like the song 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor' which is where I wish I was. But we stuck it out in the boonies.

Told you our seats sucked for the Arctic Monkeys.

During the intermission, I ran into a co-worker who also works at Rexall (Alex) whom upgraded us to seats on the players bench, which is basically on the floor without the hassles of dealing with knobs. These were great seats to have, maybe 5 of us on the bench, so no one bothering us,and a place to put our drinks without them getting kicked over. As well, you weren't allowed drinks on the floor, so this worked perfect for us. Great seats, sight lines and the sound was good as well.

This was my second time seeing the Black Keys. As I had just seen them 11 months ago here in Edmonton as well. So twice within a year. Where the hell were you guys for the first ten years of your career, nonetheless, here they were again. This time touring for their album 'El Camino'. They played for an hour and a half this time, about 20 minutes longer then last summer and to a few thousand more fans. I would say about 12,000 people.

The Black Keys started the show with a full band this time instead of just the two main guys Dan Auerbach on guitar and drummer Patrick Carney. They opened the show with the song 'Howlin' For You' and 'Next Girl' from their album 'Brothers'. Then of course a few new songs from their latest release. A third of the way through the show, they scaled down to just the two of them for three or four songs. It felt like they were more comftorable with just the two of them on stage and if you can believe it, it seemed more rocking too. One of my favorite songs of the evening was the song 'Thickfreakness' from their 2003 album of the same title. That's some raunchy fuckin' blues playing there. Another highlight for me was the song 'I'll Be Your Man' from their first album 'The Big Come Up'.

The biggest reception of the evening was for the song 'Lonely Boy' people went off during this song, and for good reason, it's damn good song. A great night of music and good times!!! Thanks again to Alex for the huge upgrade in the seats.

Setlist for the Edmonton show.

Howlin' for You
Next Girl
Run Right Back
Same Old Thing
Dead and Gone
Gold on the Ceiling
Thickfreakness
Girl Is On My Mind
I'll Be Your Man
Your Touch
Little Black Submarines
Money Maker
Strange Times
Ten Cent Pistol
Tighten Up
Lonely Boy

Encore:
Everlasting Light
I Got Mine