Geoff, I'm glad you reposted this story. I remember back in 2003 (long before I'd heard of Joe) I was heading down a blues exploration, and I was in my local record store Fopp when I suggently heard this superb music. Soulful bluesy vocals, dirty slide guitar and powerful drums I did not know what it was and when I was told I bought Thickfreakness which was the band's second album (along with a Howlin' Wolf CD). I saw them in a small club a few months later, and several times since each time in a larger venue. Despite being only two they have a really rich sound and they do a superb job of taking the blues styles of the south and combining with indie rock to get a sound of their own. I got the new album at the weekend and I agree, it's a cracker!
This looks like a great year for the band, with two UK visits, some larg outdoor shows and their largest venue tour so far in October.
Wed 23 Jun The Black Keys
Roundhouse
London
Thu 24 Jun The Black Keys Rough Trade (East)
London
Fri 25 Jun
Glastonbury Festival:
John Peel Stage:
Groove Armada + The Black Keys + Mumford & Sons + Ellie Goulding + Kele + Bombay Bicycle Club + Tegan & Sara + TBA + De Staat + Chapel Club Worthy Farm
Glastonbury
Wed 30 Jun Kings Of Leon + The Black Keys + The Drums + The Whigs + The Features
Hyde Park
London
Mon 5 Jul The Black Keys
O2 Academy Birmingham
Birmingham
Tue 6 Jul The Black Keys
Manchester University
Manchester
Wed 7 Jul The Black Keys
Colston Hall
Bristol
Thu 28 Oct The Black Keys + The Walkmen
O2 Academy Glasgow
Glasgow
Sat 30 Oct The Black Keys + The Walkmen
O2 Academy Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Sun 31 Oct The Black Keys + The Walkmen
O2 Academy Leeds
Leeds
Tue 2 Nov The Black Keys + The Walkmen
O2 Academy Brixton
London
Thu 4 Nov The Black Keys + The Walkmen
Rock City
Nottingham
Sat 6 Nov The Black Keys + The Walkmen
O2 Academy Liverpool
Liverpool
Sun 7 Nov The Black Keys + The Walkmen
O2 Academy Bournemouth
Bournemouth
"The recently formed Edinburgh Blues Club has identified an appetite for the personal communication between musicians and audience that the blues long ago perfected." The Herald Newspaper (Scotland)
http://www.edinburgh-blues.uk