The Black Keys

Grammy award-winning indie blues-rock from Ohio? Really!? The Black Keys. I have been into this band for about two months now, and they continue to grow on me, like a deep raw fungus. [?]

It's hard to describe the Black Keys any better than I just did.  They are a deep raw fungus, with some smooth bluesy beats and electrifyingly simple riffs.  They cut your soul with a butter knife made of diamonds and minced garlic (if you are a vampire).

The Black Keys

A two man band, the Black Keys have the same hurdle that other duos have: creating interesting songs with primarily two instruments.  Many of their songs include other instruments, but they primarily rely on their heavy, deep drum and buzzy guitar lines.  In this regard, they are similar to The White Stripes.  However, unlike The White Stripes, the Black Keys don't suck ass.

Lead-singer Dan Auerbach gets me with his skinny tie.

Dummer Patrick Carney looks gawky. 

They are simple and un-produced, straightforward rock, poured from a canned of distilled bluesy whoop-ass.  So basically, you can bet your top dollar that these bad boys will make your iPod catch on fire, and the rubber on your shoes melt.  You will not have a better time anywhere else getting electrocuted by awesomeness.

Looks like heaven, or any random grungy

pollution-filled American city -- you decide.

Lo! Hyperbolic metaphors abound!

P.S. See this video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLSpj7q6_mM, for a rare cross between two features on The Good, The Bad, and the Badass (the hot Tricia Helfer, and The Black Keys).

The Best of the 2011 Grammys

I've put together a list of videos of the performances I enjoyed the most during tonight's Grammy Awards. These include the tribute to Aretha Franklin, Esperanza Spalding, Barbra Streisand, Mick Jagger and Raphael Saadiq, Bruno Mars, B.o.B, Janelle Monae, Lady Antebellum, and Cee-Lo Green and the Muppets (without Gwyneth Paltrow, can't remember her actually).

The best surprise of the night was Esperanza Spalding's win in the Best New Artist category. I was rooting for her so much, couldn't be happier for her! What an artist!

Mick Jagger and Raphael Saadiq were a great duo on stage, they really worked it! Would be nice to see them again collaborating on something else.

I was also thrilled to see Lady Antebellum win so many awards, they play so well together. Great vocals, great songs, and great music.

The Pre-GRAMMY Telecast was also great, lots of very talented artists were rewarded. Among these include Mavis Staples and Herbie Hancock. Mavis Staples also performed with Cyndi Lauper, Maria Muldaur, and Betty Wright during the Pre-GRAMMY Telecast. Super funky Trombone Shorty was also phenomenal, make sure to check him out!

New Aretha Franklin Box-Set & Grammy Awards Honor

 

Sony Music commemorates the 50th Year Anniversary of Aretha Franklin's first Columbia Records album release, and ascent into the pop music scene, with TAKE A LOOK: ARETHA FRANKLIN COMPLETE ON COLUMBIA (Available March 22 – www.arethafranklin.net). 

The Undisputed Queen of Soul will be honored at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards® Ceremony this Sunday 2/13 with a star-studded musical celebration including performances by Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Yolanda Adams, Martina McBride, and Florence Welch!

TAKE A LOOK: ARETHA FRANKLIN COMPLETE ON COLUMBIA 

•11CD + 1DVD box set presents Aretha's entire Columbia output in one package for the first time in replica LP artwork: 7 original Columbia albums, 2 CDs of studio sessions, and 2 new CD compilations. 

•Includes master takes, unissued performances, rare mono mixes and studio conversations. 

•DVD presents a breath-taking Aretha singing 5 songs on the Steve Allen Show (1964).

•explores how Aretha Franklin’s musical and aesthetic development at Columbia Records set the path for her later hits at Atlantic – how the “Queen In Waiting” became the Queen of Soul.

Aretha Franklin - To be Honored with Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Martina McBride, Yolanda Adams and Florence Welch will all participate in an homage for the one and only Aretha Franklin! The soul singer will be the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award this Sunday.

The special segment which will start the show is set to feature individual and collective performances of classic hits of the Queen of Soul. Esperanza Spalding will also perform with members of the Grammy Jazz Ensembles. Although Aretha Franklin would have like to be there, she needs to take some time off due to medical issues. However, she does say that she is fine and can't wait to get out there again! "I will be at home, I won't be there, but I will be in the middle of the telecast." "I'm feeling super, absolutely super," Franklin told CNN Tuesday. "I'm doing very well, and I can't wait to get back out there."

Aretha Franklin is up for an award with Ron Isley for best R&B performance by a duo/group for their collaboration on You've Got a Friend.

Mick Jagger - Set to Perform in Honor of Solomon Burke @ Grammy Awards

For the first time in his career, Mick Jagger will perform at the Grammy Awards on February 13th. He will honor gospel and blues singer Solomon Burke along with Raphael Saadiq and his band.

In 1965, Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones covered Solomon Burke's hit "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love". A song which was later covered by Wilson Pickett, and in the movie "The Blues Brothers".

During the 55 years that he performed professionally, Burke released 38 studio albums on more than 17 record labels and had 35 songs that charted, including 26 songs that made the Billboard R&B charts, including "Got to Get You Off My Mind" that was #1 in the summer of the 1965, and an additional 9 songs that were only listed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including 1964's seminal “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love”. Burke had over 30 songs make the Cash Box R&B charts, with "Got to Get You Off My Mind" reaching #1, and 23 that charted on their pop chart hits, with seven making Cash Box's Top 40.

In 2001, Burke was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a performer. His album Don't Give Up on Me won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 45th Grammy Awards in 2003. By 2005 Burke was credited with selling 17 million albums.

The Rolling Stones are rumored to go on tour this year, according to a statement that Keith Richards gave last year. However, due to a lawsuit with their former 2007 tour manager the band is now stating "We've got no firm plans to tour".