Junior Kimbrough
If you are a fan of The Black Keys then you are most likely a fan of the blues, a genre that is not in short supply of incredible and seasoned musicians. But, for the sake of not overloading you with new music, let’s focus on one blues legend from which The Black Keys drew inspiration. A man that they liked so much that they actually recorded a full album of covers as tribute. The album “Chulahoma” is a collection of covers of songs by Fat Possum Records bluesman Junior Kimbrough, who died in 1998. Above is both Junior’s original version as well as the Keys' version of "Meet Me in the City."
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The Hacienda
These dudes rock, and some of their sound is so similar to the Keys that it honestly sounds like Auerbach is in there playing guitar. Check out the first single "Savage" from their debut album "Shakedown."
Patrick Sweany
In the '90s, before the formation of the Keys, Dan Auerbach was one of a rotating cast of members in Sweany's project "The Patrick Sweany Band," helping him get a foot in the blues music scene. Since the rise of The Black Keys, their roles have switched. Auerback recorded and produced two of Sweany’s albums, and now Sweany in turn tours with the Keys as a support artist.
The Dead Weather
The Dead Weather is a side project of Jack White of White Stripes fame, Alison Mosshart from The Kills fame, Dean Fertita of Queens of the Stone Age, and Jack Lawrence of The Raconteurs. A textbook supergroup, their sound pulls elements from each band mentioned above. However, they ultimately channel a blues vibe, bringing them into the ring with the Keys. Check out a new single they released just a few weeks ago.
Band of Skulls
Lastly, an English trio: Band of Skulls. They’ve got a big sound, and a-more-than-occasional blues hook throughout their two full-length releases. Their debut album is still a favorite of ours, and it has a fantastic name: “Baby Darling Doll Face Honey.”
