Customer Reviews

Black Keys Live at the Crystal Ballroom

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I can't believe there are only 3 reviews of this fantastic concert DVD. I own around 300 music DVDs and this one is easily in my top 10. It has it all.

The sound is powerful and clear. Dan's voice is in top form. He sings with real commitment and passion. His guitar tone is thick, aggressive and prominently featured in the mix. Patrick plays with all of the energy he is known for.

The show has a great set list with a mix of songs from throughout their career. Some real thought went into the pacing of this show. Everything rolls along energetically yet there is still time reserved for some truly soulful moments (especially You're The One, and All You Ever Wanted). All of your favorites may not be accounted for here, but believe me, you won't mind in the least.

Set List:
Same Old Thing
Girl Is On My Mind
Set You Free
Thickfreakness
Stack Shot Billy
Busted (w/ extended outro jam)
You're The One
Remember When (Side B)
Your Touch
Oceans And Streams (played on electric keyboard to great effect)
Strange Times
Psychotic Girl
10 AM Automatic
No Trust
I Got Mine
All You Ever Wanted
Till I Get My Way

The camera work and stage light show compliments and reflects the high energy of the band. In contrast to many music DVDs out there, this one does not have constant camera cuts that come at you like a strobe light. The camera actually lingers a resonable amount of time before changing angles. It makes for a very enjoyable viewing experience and it won't make you seasick.

The venue and crowd are perfect for the band. Visually it has classic theater character. It's big enough to avoid the small club atmosphere of their last DVD, but intimate enough that you can see and feel the energy of the crowd.

Lastly there are some video extras about the recording of Attack And Release as well as some behind the scenes footage of making the music videos. Of course the videos themselves are here as well. And yes, the packaging is typically understated.

When I was at TBK show in my town over the summer, the demographics of the crowd appeared to be very diverse (age as well as social status). The band has so many elements in their music that it naturally appeals to a wide range of music fans. This DVD is a great document of that appeal. I very highly recommend this DVD.

It's remarkable that two guys can produce powerful, blues rock music that continues to attract people of all ages. The Black Keys sound great live, perhaps even better their respective studio recordings. This is hard to say for many bands today. If you have never heard of the Black Keys, this concert is a great start. If you have, then don't hesitate.

Favorite moments of the concert include "Thickfreakness", "Girl is on my mind", and "You're the one"

As for the content, bonus features include a very odd "behind the scenes" making of Attack and Release which is really just Dan, Pat and their buddies goofing around with no structure or point behind it. I was actually hoping for some interesting tidbits, but oh well.

Three music videos are also thrown in: Strange Times (Hillarious), Just Got To Be, and Your Touch.

Enjoy!

Nobody playing today rocks as hard as The Black Keys! I stood in a jam packed crowd earlier this year to see these guys... and it was great. They generally mix in a couple of lower key songs... but mostly they rip and roar.

Nothing beats the real thing. If The Black Keys come to your town... go see them. But, this DVD can hold you over until then.

If you have the first live DVD... the presentation is about the same... but the song list is different, of course.

Great concert footage, audio and video quality is top notch. This features some great playing by Dan and Pat and is a must buy for any Black Keys fan.

Although this DVD concert film has the Nonesuch and Warner label on it, you might guess that it was bootlegged. As it were, it is a hell-bent-for-leather 65 minute performance by drummer Patrick Carney and everything else Dan Auerbach. They don't stop. They don't drink water. They don't wipe away sweat. They just motor on from song to song. The Portland, Oregon location is dark as you might expect, but this DVD looks pretty decent in the up-converted mode. The sound unfortunately is only 2.0 stereo which may be what the boys intended. Dunno, but kind of a disappointment in this day and age. One thing is certain. This is some fine rockin' blues played by a couple damn fine twenty something musicians.

It's a solid DVD, jam packed with all the tunes you want to hear from The Black Keys. I have no complaints but then again, if I didn't like the band I wouldn't have purchased the DVD!

I'm a huge fan of live music in all it's forms and while I admit to being a Black Keys fan, I still say that this is a great show! I can't recommend it too much.

If you have never been graced with seeing "The Keys" live, then you should probably pick up this DVD. I'm not sure it captures the emotion or heavy air of a real show, but its still a good watch.

I love the Black Keys! That being said, I have not been a long time fan, nor have I all of their recordings or any of the things that a hard core fan could say. It's just that I really love these guys. They have a passion and have this hard rockin/Bluesy thing goin on that I really dig. As for the DVD, I am very satisfied with the performance. Sound quality is good and there are some good videos and extrra stuff on there that I enjoyed viewing. I'm looking forward to seeing them when they come back thru LA in 2011.

If you like hard-rockin', scorching blues with a hint of modern punk that feels as if it's being played with a broken bottle, then this is for you. I know it's for me. Dan Auerbach's vocals sound like they're emanating from lots of mileage, reminiscent of a place to where I thought Jonny Lang might be by now. Pat Carney knows when to be subtle and when to throttle his drum set. Auerbach is not about speed, but rather precision deliberately made to sound jagged, raunchy and real. They work well together. Two of the songs I wasn't familiar with have become my two favorites by this two-piece powerhouse band. Although "Girl is on My Mind" and "No Trust" by themselves are worth the price of the DVD. Packed in with others such as "Busted" and "Your Touch," there's not one flat spot throughout their entire set.