The Black Keys Bring Blues-Rock Firepower to Clearwater on the Peaches and Kreme Tour

Clearwater, FL. (July 28, 2026)

Some bands get bigger as the years go by. Others get tighter.

The Black Keys have somehow managed to do both.

More than two decades after Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney began making stripped-down blues records in Akron, Ohio, the duo continues to prove that longevity doesn’t have to come at the expense of authenticity. At BayCare Sound in Clearwater, Florida, the band delivered a nearly two-hour performance that balanced garage rock grit, soulful blues, arena-sized hooks, and enough deep cuts to satisfy longtime fans while still giving casual listeners every hit they came hoping to hear.

Touring behind their latest release, Peaches, on the appropriately titled Peaches and Kreme Tour, The Black Keys weren’t interested in leaning solely on nostalgia. The new material fit naturally alongside songs spanning nearly twenty-five years, reminding everyone just how remarkably consistent their catalog has become.

The picturesque waterfront setting of BayCare Sound only added to the evening. As the sun disappeared behind the Gulf Coast and a warm Florida breeze rolled through the amphitheater, the stage glowed with vintage-inspired lighting that perfectly matched the band’s analog aesthetic. Nothing about the production felt excessive. It wasn’t designed to overwhelm the music. Instead, every spotlight, every warm amber wash, and every burst of color reinforced what has always made The Black Keys compelling. The songs remain the stars.

Without much fanfare, the band walked onstage and immediately detonated into “I Got Mine.” The opening riff hit with all the swagger that made it one of the band’s defining songs, instantly pulling the audience to its feet. Auerbach’s guitar tone remains one of the most recognizable sounds in modern rock, simultaneously dirty and precise, while Carney’s drumming carried the same loose confidence that has defined the duo since the beginning.

Rather than spend time talking between songs, The Black Keys let the music do almost all of the communicating. That has always been part of their charm. They never feel the need to oversell themselves.

The opening run through “Fever,” “Have Love, Will Travel,” and “Just Couldn’t Tie Me Down” showcased just how broad their influences remain. “Fever” carried its infectious groove and polished hooks, while the Richard Berry cover reminded everyone of the band’s deep appreciation for classic rhythm and blues. “Just Couldn’t Tie Me Down” brought things back to their early garage-rock roots with snarling guitars and a wonderfully raw energy.

The chemistry between Auerbach and Carney continues to be fascinating to watch. They rarely need to acknowledge one another onstage because every cue feels instinctive. Years of playing together have eliminated any need for theatrical interaction. Instead, they trust the songs and each other.

The expanded touring lineup deserves considerable credit as well. While The Black Keys began as a duo, today’s live show is a much fuller musical experience. Additional guitar, bass, keyboards, and backing vocals gave the arrangements extra depth without sacrificing the stripped-down spirit that made these songs special in the first place.

The first massive singalong of the evening arrived with “Gold on the Ceiling.” The instantly recognizable guitar riff echoed throughout BayCare Sound before thousands of voices joined Auerbach on every chorus. Even after more than a decade, the song hasn’t lost any of its punch. Live, it remains one of the band’s most explosive performances.

Another cover, “She Does It Right,” fit seamlessly into the set. Rather than feeling like a novelty, it served as another reminder that The Black Keys have always worn their influences proudly. Blues, British pub rock, soul, garage rock, and classic rock all coexist naturally within their sound.

The middle section of the show featured “Next Girl,” “Lo/Hi,” “You Got to Lose,” and “Wild Child,” highlighting the band’s ability to shift between heavier grooves and radio-friendly melodies without losing their identity. “Wild Child,” one of the newer favorites, already feels like it belongs among the band’s classics, with its hypnotic rhythm and soaring chorus drawing one of the night’s biggest audience responses.

One of the evening’s undeniable highlights arrived with “Weight of Love.”

The studio version has always been expansive, but hearing it performed live revealed even more of its emotional depth. The song unfolded patiently, allowing every note to breathe. Auerbach’s extended guitar work wasn’t flashy for the sake of being flashy. Instead, every solo felt carefully constructed, building tension before releasing it in waves of sustained bends and blues-infused phrasing.

For several minutes, BayCare Sound became completely absorbed in the music.

That sense of dynamics carried beautifully into “Howlin’ for You,” which immediately shifted the energy back toward swagger and groove. Few songs in the band’s catalog generate such an immediate physical response. Heads bobbed in rhythm while fans danced throughout the amphitheater.

Rather than simply play through familiar hits, The Black Keys sprinkled in more traditional blues covers like “Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire” and “Heavy Soul.” These weren’t throwaway inclusions. They served as reminders of the musical DNA running through everything the band creates. Even after finding mainstream success, they’ve never abandoned the artists who inspired them.

“Everlasting Light” offered one of the evening’s smoothest moments. Its soulful falsetto floated effortlessly over warm keyboard textures, creating a welcome contrast before the concert began climbing toward its closing stretch.

If there was one song that perfectly demonstrated the band’s crossover appeal, it was “Tighten Up.”

The opening whistle drew an immediate roar from the crowd before thousands sang nearly every lyric back to the stage. Released during the Brothers era, the song remains one of modern rock’s defining singles, and its effortless blend of blues, pop, and alternative rock continues to sound timeless.

The momentum barely slowed during “She’s Long Gone,” which evolved into an extended jam that showcased just how comfortable the musicians are stretching arrangements live. Carney’s drumming became increasingly thunderous while Auerbach layered blues licks over a relentless rhythm section.

Then came one of the evening’s most unexpected moments.

The band launched into a ferocious rendition of “I Wanna Be Your Dog.” Their take on The Stooges classic was loud, filthy, and wonderfully unpolished. It wasn’t an attempt to reinvent the song. Instead, it felt like a respectful nod to another foundational influence, delivered with enough attitude to satisfy even the most devoted garage rock fans.

As outstanding as the entire evening had been, everything ultimately built toward “Little Black Submarines.”

The lights dimmed.

The rest of the band quietly exited the stage.

Dan Auerbach remained alone under a single spotlight, holding nothing more than an acoustic guitar.

The opening half of the song has always relied on restraint rather than volume, and Auerbach leaned fully into that tension. Every lyric carried extra emotional weight in the silence. Every chord rang with remarkable clarity. There was a quiet confidence to the performance that held the entire amphitheater captive. Thousands of people who had been singing and cheering throughout the night suddenly became almost completely silent, hanging on every word.

It was a masterclass in controlled emotion.

The restrained beginning only made what followed feel even more powerful.

As the song approached its dramatic midpoint, the rest of the band returned one by one before exploding into the electrified second half. The transformation was breathtaking. What had begun as an intimate acoustic performance suddenly became one of the loudest, most exhilarating moments of the evening. Guitars roared. Carney attacked the drums with controlled fury. The full band surged forward as if a dam had finally burst.

The contrast between those two halves is what has always made “Little Black Submarines” special, but witnessing it unfold live elevated the song to another level entirely. The release of all that carefully restrained energy created one of those rare concert moments that audiences remember long after the lights come up.

There could only be one way to end the night.

The unmistakable opening riff of “Lonely Boy” instantly transformed BayCare Sound into one giant celebration. Every seat emptied. Fans danced in the aisles, sang every lyric, and clapped along as the band delivered the hit with the same infectious enthusiasm it carried when it first exploded onto rock radio.

It was the perfect closer. Joyful, loud, and undeniably fun.

What continues to separate The Black Keys from many of their contemporaries is their refusal to chase trends. Their music remains rooted in blues, soul, garage rock, and vintage American songwriting, yet it never sounds dated. Instead, it feels timeless because it isn’t trying to be anything other than itself.

That authenticity was on full display throughout the Clearwater performance.

There were no elaborate costume changes. No unnecessary speeches. No gimmicks designed for social media clips. Just exceptional musicians playing exceptional songs with complete confidence in the strength of their catalog.

The Peaches material blended naturally with fan favorites from every era, proving that The Black Keys remain a band still creating meaningful new music rather than simply celebrating past successes. Few groups this deep into their careers can say the same.

As fans slowly filtered into the Florida night following “Lonely Boy,” there was little debate about what they had witnessed. The Black Keys had once again demonstrated why they remain one of rock’s most dependable live acts. They continue to honor the blues traditions that shaped them while delivering performances powerful enough to fill modern amphitheaters.

At BayCare Sound, they didn’t simply revisit their history.

They reminded everyone that the story of The Black Keys is still being written, one unforgettable performance at a time.