The Black Keys’ long and winding road brought them back to Boston on August 16, 2025, for a triumphant and thunderous performance at the MGM Music Hall, the city’s newest premier venue nestled just behind historic Fenway Park. The duo, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, are currently on tour in support of their latest record, ‘No Rain, No Flowers,’ and their Boston stop proved to be a masterclass in modern rock and roll. It was a night that perfectly balanced their storied past with the vibrant energy of their present, offering fans both the stripped-down blues-rock they fell in love with and the big, boisterous sound of their arena-filling era.
The concert opened in an unexpected and wonderfully nostalgic fashion. Before the main stage curtain was pulled, Auerbach and Carney appeared alone in front of the massive drape. It was just the two of them, a guitar, a simple drum kit, and a palpable sense of history. For the first three songs, they transported the audience back to their origins, proving that even with two decades and countless sold-out shows under their belts, they could still command a stage with the raw, unfiltered power of their initial garage-rock years. This opening was a special nod to the fans who have been with them from the very beginning, a moment that felt both intimate and monumental.
As if to heighten the dramatic reveal, the first three songs were played as a quasi-medley, with the band sliding seamlessly from the grimy riff of “Thickfreakness” into the urgent stomp of “The Breaks.” The audience was captivated, hanging on every note. The trio of songs culminated with “I’ll Be Your Man,” a tune that built in intensity until its very climax. At the moment the final chord rang out, the curtain was drawn back, revealing a fully lit stage and the entire backing band. Without missing a beat, the expanded ensemble kicked into an early barnburner, “Your Touch,” and the energy in the hall exploded as if a dam had burst.
With the mood for the evening firmly established, the band proceeded to tear through a setlist that spanned their impressive catalog. The early highlights came fast and furious, with the crowd eating up every riff. Fan favorites like the recent single “Wild Child,” the iconic “I Got Mine,” the driving “Next Girl,” and the instantly recognizable “Tighten Up” all hit with a force that only a live Black Keys performance can deliver. The sound was tight, the grooves were deep, and the band moved with a practiced, unified swagger that showed they were at the peak of their collaborative power.
A particularly fun moment in the set was the band’s take on Canned Heat’s classic “On the Road Again.” Auerbach took the opportunity to lay down some impressive and soulful slide guitar, a skill he has honed to a masterful degree. The song was a perfect fit for the band’s blues-rock sensibilities, providing a welcome change of pace and a chance to showcase their musical versatility. The crowd was swaying along, clearly enjoying the detour into a vintage sound that felt right at home in the Black Keys’ universe.
The pace slowed slightly with the introduction of the new song, “No Rain, No Flowers,” which allowed the audience to catch its breath and soak in the band’s latest musical chapter. But this moment of calm was merely the calm before the storm. The band swiftly raised the temperature again, launching into the heavy, hypnotic groove of “Heavy Soul,” the fan-favorite clap-along “Howlin’ For You,” and the fiery “She’s Long Gone.” The trio of songs added gasoline to the fire, bringing the initial set to a scorching conclusion. Auerbach graciously thanked the audience before he and the band left the stage, leaving a ringing in our ears and a craving for more.
As the house lights remained low and the stage went dark, the audience’s roar grew into a unified chant for an encore. There was a buzz in the air, a collective sense that something truly special was still to come. After the intensity of the main set, everyone in the hall knew that the band would not disappoint, and the anticipation was electric. The wait, though short, felt like an eternity as the clamoring for the band’s return echoed through the hall.
The band returned and delivered an emotionally charged and powerful performance of “Little Black Submarines.” The song began with Auerbach alone under a hot, white spotlight, his voice a soulful and solitary croon. But just as the song’s tension reached its breaking point, Carney and the rest of the band came crashing in, their collective force turning the room into a swirling maelstrom of sound. The crowd ate it up, singing along at the top of their lungs and soaking in every moment of the song’s cathartic release. It was a perfect display of their dynamic range, from quiet intensity to full-throttle rock and roll fury.
To put the final icing on the cake, Auerbach stepped back to the mic and, with a knowing smile, stated simply, “I think you’ll know this next one,” before he played the opening riff to what is arguably the band’s most recognizable and beloved song, “Lonely Boy.” The venue erupted, and the entire audience sang and danced along, a sea of happy faces united by a simple, infectious blues riff. It was the perfect ending to a night that celebrated everything great about The Black Keys, from their raw beginnings as a duo to their status as rock royalty. They proved that no matter the size of the stage or the presence of a backing band, their core identity as two guys making incredible music remains fully intact.
