The Black Keys / the Velveteers @ Choctaw Grand Theater, Durant, OK

Words and photos by Duane Clawson

What’s better than seeing The Black Keys for a third time you ask? How about opening night of the No Rain, No Flowers Tour in Durant, Oklahoma at Choctaw Casino’s Grand Theater! Or how about listening to songs performed that haven’t been played live in fifteen years! And for kicks how about the debut of two new songs being played live for the first time. This show will surely have old and new fans smiling!

Outside of the Goodyear Blimp, the Black Keys are the most famous thing to come out of Akron, OH (maybe I should throw in DEVO and Chrissie Hynde as well). This summer they will release their thirteenth album No Rain, No Flowers. For those not familiar with the Black Keys story it began back in 1996 when guitarist/vocalist Dan Auerbach began hanging out with drummer Patrick Carney. Most will agree the true formation did not occur until around 2001.

Over time Auerbach has become a respected producer, songwriter, and musician. He has worked with everyone from Ol’ Dirty Bastard to Ray LaMontagne. And tonight’s opening act? You guessed it, he produced them as well. If I had heard The Velveteers for the first time in my ear buds, I would have never guessed the connection between the two, then again what do I know? Now after hearing them live, I understand the potential he saw in them!

The Velveteers are a three-piece garage rock unit hailing from Colorado. Demi Demitro (lead vocals/guitar), Baby Pottersmith (drums), and Johnny Fig (drums). The powerful connection between Pottersmith and Fig is where all attention is focused until Demitro’s voice hits the microphone.

At times this is a pop band, other times a grunge group, sometimes a punk band, but all the while very captivating. Their all too short eight-song set was highlighted with an audience participation segment during the closer, “All These Little Things.” Pottersmith detached a riding tom from his drum kit, and had a gentleman in the front row hold it, while he pounded it into submission! All very cool and most certainly a way to get new fans to remember your name!

You could feel the air of the theater thicken with anticipation, as the Key’s crew made final stage preparations! Carney’s small but intimidating drum set is placed stage right, flanked by a small amp rig and Auerbach’s guitar stage left. The anticipation explodes as the duo tears into Act 1 (The Basement Medley), consisting of “Thickfreakness”, “The Breaks”, and “I’ll Be Your Man.” “The Breaks” has not been played live since 2011. Midway through the medley the large red velvet curtain behind the duo opens, revealing a large backing band that will complement the rest of the evening.

Act 2 (The Rain Curtain) involves tunes that put them on the list of who’s who in the music business. “Your Touch”, “Howlin' for You”, and “Gold on the Ceiling” have the Choctaw audience singing in unison with Auerbach. It’s at this point where I need to give kudos to their sound crew, it is really dialed in for an opening night! Auerbach’s interaction with the crowd is brief, one is more apt to remember what was done, not said.

Act 3 (TV Studio) contains three songs that in some ways were recognized or associated with TV. “Fever” nominated by MTV Music Awards for Best Rock Video, “Wild Child” for its use by World Wrestling Entertainment, and “I Got Mine” which was used by HBO. Throughout Act 3 the video production is top notch, as the band name is put in place by cranes, hoists, and forklifts. At one point I had to do a double take to decide if this was really taking place or was it video?

Act 4 is where the audience sees the Keys at their finest. This act appropriately has no name due to the mixed bag of material. This is also where we find the new stuff. First up “The Night Before” which leans toward a pop song but still has that Black Keys' something. Next the namesake of this tour and the new album, “No Rain, No Flowers.” Personally, not my favorite of the night, as I felt this song needed a bit more polishing before it was pushed out for consumption.

The gems of here, “Psychotic Girl” last played live in 2010. This received quite a reaction from the diehard fans in attendance! Not to be missed their cover of “Heard It Through the Grapevine”, a performance Marvin Gaye would have been pleased! And finally, “She’s Long Gone” dusts off the rafters of the Grand Theater! The Black Keys seem to always make their audience work for an encore. Tonight, the fold out seating was shaking as people were stomping their feet, attempting to summon the band back to the stage!

The acoustic notes of “Little Black Submarine” are met with approval when they return some five minutes later. Auerbach and Carney are at the height of their glory as they bring the house down with “Lonely Boy!” As the buzz of the exiting crowd spills into the lobby I’m compelled to buy a t-shirt. While in line I hear a group of audience members singing the chorus to “Lonely Boy.” The t-shirt contains 21 simple block letters, but it tells you all you need to know, THE BLACK KEYS AKRON OHIO.

A huge thank you to the Black Keys for allowing MTC MAG to be front and center. And as always thanks to Choctaw Casino for hosting another great show!

Photos of the show are below:

The Velveteers