The Black Keys have broken their silence after cancelling the entirety of their upcoming North American tour, explaining to fans a more “exciting, intimate experience” than the arenas that were scheduled.
- READ MORE: The Black Keys – ‘Ohio Players’ review: familiar rock bangers with help from Noel Gallagher and Beck
Fans were dismayed to learn online over the weekend that the run of dates that were due to kick off in September had been pulled. Many on Twitter/X were speculating that this was due to low ticket sales.
Now, the rock duo of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney have taken to social media to tell their followers that the ‘International Players’ tour – in support of 12th album ‘Ohio Players‘ – was scrapped and re-planned in favour of smaller theatre venues as featured on their recent European dates.
“The band wants to assure everyone that Dan and Patrick are alive and well,” their statement began.
“Following the recent run of shows in the UK and Europe, including stops at iconic venues like Brixton Academy and the Zenith in Paris, we have decided to make some changes to the North American leg of the ‘International Players’ Tour hat will enable us to offer a similarly exciting, intimate experience for both fans and the band, and will be announcing a revised set of dates shortly.”
Following the recent run of shows in the UK & Europe, including stops at iconic venues like Brixton Academy and the Zenith in Paris, we have decided to make some changes to the North American leg of the International Players Tour
— The Black Keys (@theblackkeys) May 26, 2024
Everyone who had purchased tickets and/or VIP to the initial tour dates will be fully refunded – and when the new plans are announced, will be the first to be able to buy tickets.
— The Black Keys (@theblackkeys) May 26, 2024
Thank you for your understanding and apologies for the surprise change… We’re pretty sure everyone is going to be excited when you see what we have in mind though, and look forward to seeing everyone soon.
— The Black Keys (@theblackkeys) May 26, 2024
They continued: “Everyone who had purchased tickets and/or VIP to the initial tour dates will be fully refunded – and when the new plans are announced, will be the first to be able to buy tickets.
“Thank you for your understanding and apologies for the surprise change… We’re pretty sure everyone is going to be excited when you see what we have in mind though, and look forward to seeing everyone soon.”
‘Ohio Players’, meanwhile, contained collaborations with the likes of Noel Gallagher and Beck and included the singles ‘Beautiful People (Stay High)’, ‘I Forgot To Be Your Lover’ and ‘This Is Nowhere’.
The Black Keys, 2024. Photo credit: Jim Herrington
The album peaked at Number 26 on the US Billboard chart, and Number 13 in the UK.
In a three-star review of the album, NME wrote: “It feels like it’s about impact over depth, tamping down flyaway elements into a homogenised whole that more closely resembles last year’s ‘Dropout Boogie’ than any of the seven inch singles that got an airing during the writing process. The Black Keys might have a killer record collection, but ‘Ohio Players’ is the work of a band who are perhaps too good at being themselves.”
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