After a long-awaited tour return to Louisville (12 years to be exact), the blues/garage rock band The Black Keys hit the stage at The Louisville Palace. The Palace, known for its ornate detailing and historic architecture, was the perfect venue for this magical night.
The Black Keys, fronted by guitarist and vocalist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney, rocked out a 90-minute show with a 22 song set list. They opened with “Busted” from their debut 2002 album The Big Come Up; a fantastic beginning, calling back to the band’s beginning.
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The first third of the show consisted of songs from the band’s earlier days, dating from the beginning of their careers through 2011, with the ultimate hit “Gold on the Ceiling” from the album El Camino. Some standouts include “Tighten Up” from Brothers and “Psychotic Girl,” also from their debut album.
The visuals were a groovy addition to the overall atmosphere of the show, utilizing lights and projected images to portray the energy of each song. They were the perfect balance, not too distracting as to where you were watching them and not the band, but just enough to help the audience lean into the ambiance.
The lights and images shifted into a passionate and intense red for “Lo/Hi” from their 2019 album Let’s Rock. The transitions were smooth and made the concert feel seamless despite the vibe change between the different parts of the show.
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The second part of the show consisted of more modern The Black Keys songs, spanning from 2010’s Brothers to their brand new album Peaches!. This part of the show also featured an emphasis on the fan favorite album from 2014, Turn Blue, which is a psychedelic-focused sound compared to other records from the band.
The encore felt more like a true encore than any show from the past 20 years. The energy felt still, leaving the audience questioning whether they were really going to come back on. Right when one began to have doubts, The Black Keys returned to the stage. It felt like the classic Rock n Roll from decades past.
The band closed out with three songs. Two from El Camino and a cover, “It Is So Nice to Get Stoned” by Ted Lucas. The crowd was energized by the performance, and the excitement palpitated, even as the lights turned on and everyone exited.
The Black Keys poured their hearts and souls into the show, rocking out hits and deeper cuts from all parts of their career and through the span of their 14 albums. It was a phenomenal showcase of who they are, have been, and will be as a band. Their return to Louisville is heavily anticipated and welcomed with open arms.
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This article appears in April 24-May 7, 2026.