THE BLACK KEYS, NICOLE ATKINS(Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside) The Black Keys singer/guitar player Dan Auerbach denies that he sold his soul to Satan, à la Delta bluesman Robert Johnson. But I don't know. The Black Keys' Ohio-born, lightning-blues, two-man rock sound is so potent and spellbinding that something must be going on. Maybe Auerbach is just renting Satan his soul with an option to buy. Or maybe it's just the power and hypnotizing momentum of a band at its peak. With the release of their sixth studio album, Brothers, peaking is exactly what Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney are doing. They've never sounded better, performed better, or had better presence. Now is the time to see the Black Keys. But you might want to wear a garlic necklace, or bring a chicken gizzard, whatever you use to ward off the devil—he might be sniffing around the club, looking to complete a sale. TRENT MOORMAN
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