Indie rock duo to appear with Arctic Monkeys for sold-out performance
The Black Keys and Arctic Monkeys will travel to the historically blues-friendly town of St. Louis for a sold-out show at Chaifetz Arena on Friday, April 27 at 8 p.m.
The two bands are currently on a tour of the United States that will end in the middle of May. The Black Keys will then hop the pond to start a European tour, as the Arctic Monkeys continue in a U.S.-based direction.
“We have been really excited to have this show,” said Carly Susral, marketing coordinator for Chaifetz Arena. “This is a different genre of music than we usually have.”
Chaifetz Arena organized a luxury suite giveaway contest in order to provide one group of students the chance to attend the concert for free.
Residence hall floors, chartered student organizations and other student groups were encouraged to send a photo of themselves to be posted on the arena’s Facebook page.
The photo with the most likes and comments as of noon on Wednesday, April 25 was selected as the winner. Susral confirmed that the prize package has been awarded to the SLU Men’s Volleyball team.
“This contest was something exciting we could do to interact with the SLU community,” Susral said.
The Black Keys are seven albums into a 10-year career. Their early albums are filled with a raw blues-rock sound. Around the time of their fifth album, “Attack & Release,” they started to come into a sound that moves freely from blues-y, folksy and psychedelic tones.
The duo is currently riding high on their “El Camino” album, which made it to No. 2 on Billboard’s Top 200 list.
Arctic Monkeys released a purple 7-inch album in June 2011, entitled “Suck It and See,” which made it to No. 1 on British charts and No. 14 on Billboard’s Top 200.
Arctic Monkey’s sound has changed a great deal in their last two albums. “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not” and “Favourite Worst Nightmare” are witty, edgy, and have a danceable beat.
Their most recent, “Humbug” and “Suck It and See,” are atmospheric and mellow when compared to the first two. Early Arctic Monkeys is characterized by an almost constant use of British slang— a slang which is strikingly absent in newer albums.
It seems that Arctic Monkeys have moved from energy-packed beginnings, and perhaps found a larger audience for their music.
If this week’s show is anything like others this year, Arctic Monkeys are great openers, and will play songs that are well-received in the U.S. before transitioning to their newer catalog. The Black Keys will rock through their catalog, emphasizing their more recent hits. Stage effects will be awesome.
It’s an unwritten rule of concerts that you do not listen to the music of a band you’re driving to see. But, this concert is at the Chaifetz Arena, so you will likely be walking.
Regardless, don’t listen to “From the Ritz to the Rubble” from Arctic Monkeys’ early stuff, and “Don’t Sit Down Because I’ve Moved Your Chair” from their most recent album. Listen to “Busted” from The Black Keys’ first album to experience their early grit and grime.
Oh, and watch the music video to “Lonely Boy” from “El Camino” to get some dancing tips from some old guy.
