Review: The Black Keys @ Madison Square Garden

The Black Keys @ Madison Square Garden - March 22, 2012
Review: Mariel Marelli

Long ago, in the middle of 2003, I was sitting in a college class at Ohio University when a classmate stood up and awkwardly announced “Hey everybody, my friends who are staying with me this weekend are in a band called The Black Keys. They’re playing a show if anyone can make it.” That is where I first learned of the guitar and drums duo that is Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney. A year or so later, I was back in school, this time in Orlando, and my friend excitedly tells me that this band he really likes is coming to town and we have to go. Again, that band is The Black Keys. I remember it being a great show in a small venue and that’s where I truly fell in love with their music.

When it was announced this year that they were playing the almighty Madison Square Garden, I was scared! Was that venue too big for the duo? Would that many people want to see them? Apparently, everyone wants to see them, because not only did they sell out MSG, they then added another show and sold that out too! They showed me!

Review: Motorhead & Megadeth @ Madison Square Garden

Gigantour 2012; Megadeth, Motorhead, Volbeat, Lacuna Coil @ The Theater at Madison Square Garden - January 28, 2012
Review: Dave Bolton

If you were an eleven-year-old boy and this was your first concert ever, then the only word that would describe the Gigantour show at Madison Square Theatre would be awesome. On the other hand, if you happened to be a forty-somethingmetal-head who was still queuing for a $10 can of Dutch beer as Lemmy came onstage at 7:58 p.m. and growled his customary “We’re Motorhead, we play rock and roll”, then awesome is not the word that springs to mind.

Ever since Sharon Osbourne came up with the idea of milking her husband’s name even further with a travelling “festival”, these events have become very popular. Take four bands - two possible headliners, two that will only ever play the second stage at any metal festival – and send them out on the road together. Give it a brand, print the t-shirts and start it at a ridiculously early hour, so that you bring in the kids that can’t drink and annoy the adults that can.

Gigantour is Dave Mustaine’s “affordable” travelling metal show and the gig on Saturday night was sold out, not surprising when you have Dave’s Megadeth and Motorhead on the same bill. The fact that both Mustaine and Lemmy are still around in 2012 to rock our socks off shows an endurance level far beyond any D-List celebrity who think that they party hard; these boys have been hitting the road long before rehab became fashionable.

LCD Soundsystem To Release Final Concert DVD In Early 2012

Seminal dance-punk band and hometown heroes LCD Soundsystem broke many a heart when they disbanded earlier this year - mine included, as I've stressed many times. But of course, they bid their goodbye on April 2 by rolling into Madison Square Garden and putting on one of the greatest concerts I've ever had the pleasure of attending, the memories of which continue to get me awesomely verklempt every time it's brought up. Like now.

Which is why I'm extremely happy to share that frontman James Murphy provided an update this morning on the status the official DVD of the show. He's been flying back and forth between here and London to get everything perfected, and estimates it'll finally be out by early next year. We'll obviously provide more details as they arise, and we fully expect to appear in the credits as "Those People Who Were Totally Losing Their Minds From The Awesomeness Of The Show." Maybe we'll ask him about it when he spins at House of Vans next week.

In the meantime, re-familiarize yourself with the amazingness via the below YouTube video, why don't you.