Sky Blues, Delta Blues: The Morning Benders and The Black Keys

Earlier this week, it was announced that spring break-out act The Morning Benders would spend part of their summer touring with blues-rock revivalists The Black Keys, including two performance at Central Park's Summer Stage in late July.  (Full Morning Benders and Black Keys tour dates can be found here and here respectively).  The two bands might seem like unlikely bedfellows: The Morning Bender, whose second full-length The Big Echo (produced by Grizzly Bear bassist Christ Taylor) was released in March, write Beach-Boys-via-The-Shins pop music.   The Black Keys, whose new record Brothers is due out May 18th, owe a lot more to Robert Johnson than to Brian Wilson.

The tour is unusual by today's standards when genres are hyper-defined and bands tend only to tour with like-minded artists.  For those willing switch modes of listening during a show, the tour should be thrilling.  Make sure you make your way out to Central Park on 7/28; in the interim enjoy the music below.  Included are a stunning performance by Morning Benders and friends of their song "Excuses;" an MB cover of the Roy Orbison song "Crying;" The Black Keys new single "Tighten Up," produced by Dangermouse; and "Psychotic Girl," from the Keys' previous record Attack and Release.

The Morning Benders - Excuses (begins at 0:50)


The Morning Benders - Crying (Roy Orbison Cover)


The Black Keys - Tighten Up


The Black Keys - Psychotic Girl

Sky Blues, Delta Blues: The Morning Benders and The Black Keys