Shashank Jejurikar, Contributor, ’13

On Friday, March second, The Black Keys and Arctic Monkeys performed at the US Bank Arena in front of near-sold out crowd. And for more than two and a half hours, they showcased a dazzling lights show and a consistent flow of fantastic rock music. So much so that our confinement to the back seats of the stadium did little to disrupt my enjoyment of the show as the energetic and bluesy music filled the entire hall.
Virtuosity was the standard throughout the night, whether through the tight indie rock sound and clever lyrics of the Arctic Monkeys or the energetic blues of

The Black Keys.
The Arctic Monkeys came out as the last audience members were finding their seats. For about half an hour, they played a variety of songs which reflected genres from alternative to math rock, playing many classics such as “When the Sun Goes Down,” “Crying Lightning,” and “Florescent Adolescent.” The band’s live sound impressively resembles that of their studio records, from the driving bass to the driving drums to the casual vocals. Despite the audience’s disappointingly lackluster reaction to their set, the Arctic Monkeys maintained their energy, satisfying the few fans (such as myself) that were enthusiastically cheering them on.
After a short intermission, The Black Keys started playing. The two-piece from Akron, consisting of guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney, opened with a series of songs from their fantastic new record, El Camino. Heavily influenced by both 70s hard rock and the blues that preceded it, the album’s songs set the energetic tone, filling the stadium with the sweet sound of blues rock.
As the night progressed, the band shifted to classics from their most critically acclaimed album, Brothers, before returning to their new record with a fantastic performance of “Little Black Submarine.” They initiated the Stairway-to-Heaven-esque ballad with smooth guitar noodling. The entry of an escalating drum beat and reserved bass built up the energy, culminating in a breathtaking Auerbach solo. The band followed up with scintillating performances of “Lonely Boy,” “Tighten Up,” “Gold on the Ceiling,” and “Dead and Gone.”
Having delivered nonstop musical mastery throughout the night, The Black Keys finished with a bang, cranking it up for the encore as two massive disco balls descended from the ceiling. It provided the perfect ending to an exciting night.