Rev’s Lightning 100 DJ Pick of The Week this week is “I’m With the Band” by The Black Keys ft. Beck!
Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney have built enough of a legacy for themselves that they can comfortably go after side quests at this point. Comfortably ingrained into their new home in Nashville circa 2010, the rockers have cycled through a few passion projects. Following their hiatus post El Camino mania, it’s been a steady stream of old fashioned rock and roll. The band has nothing left to prove, which allows them some stylistic freedom. This year’s Ohio Players featured the Keys’ first jump into collaborations, with appearances from, oddly enough, Juicy J and Lil Noid. And they haven’t stopped since, with all post Players singles featuring major guest spots. The most likely of the bunch is alt legend Beck on “I’m With the Band”.
The track sounds like, well, exactly what a Black Keys + Beck track would sound like. But that’s a great thing. Crunchy, bluesy riff rock is the batter and Beck’s undeniable off-color melody is the icing. The tongue-in-cheek retro feel is both a testament to Auerbach’s production skills and the ability of all three musicians to capture the energy and spirit of crate-digger gems. It’s an easygoing, rolling chunk of roots rock marked by the songwriting wisdom of storied veterans.
Only partially subscribing to the mysterious, elusive indie rock archetype, The Black Keys frequently make appearances in niche corners of both Nashville and the midwest. Outside of performing pop-up DJ sets at bars in East, they’ve shown face at comedy sets, studio parties, and NFL games. Additionally, other tracks included in the Ohio Players Trophy Edition feature Alice Cooper and Musica Mexicana artist DannyLux. Check out their KROQ performance below and listen for “I’m With the Band” on Lightning 100!
Tune in to 100.1 FM or lightning100.com all day to hear “I’m With the Band” by The Black Keys ft. Beck, Rev’s DJ Pick of the Week! Share your thoughts on the track by tagging #L100DJPicks on Twitter!
