Walking down a dirt road, kicking rocks, its hot. So hot that its hazy, 100 degrees hot. The heat rising from the blacktop, the shoulder dust blowing whenever the wind picks up. Where am  I going? The question is where have I been? I’m at the city limits of Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

I want to play my guitar. I’m good, I think? The tent i brought with me i picked up at a local army depot, said it was leftover from the forgotten war. I was too young to join. The building isn’t what i expected it to be. I’ve heard stories of this place, i just assumed it was bigger. They say Florence,AL is the birthplace of the blues. I’ve been known for strumming together a few good licks.

The town is kind of a run down little thing. I seen a hotel but i think I’m going to sleep outside under the stars. I don’t want to miss who’s coming and going. The people in the bible belt don’t take kindly to me though.Hippie was the nicest thing I’ve been called since hanging outside this studio.Hall has told me to leave a few times. I keep hearing music playing inside. This guitar needs new strings, I’ve been playing constantly for the entire week I’ve been here. Pickett has offered me strings, i couldn’t just take them. Instead we bartered a bit. I told him i would teach him “Hey Jude.” I didn’t see it as a fair trade, but he seemed kin on the idea.

August 21 1968: Duane Allman

Muscle Shoals is one of those phrases that to the occasional music listener means nothing. The Black Keys are not for the occasional music listeners. When first announced by Rolling Stones writer via twitter, anyone who knows anything about American music history is familiar with Muscle Shoals. The original studio FAME Studio’s started the revolution. Later, the rhythm section of FAME started their own studio, Muscle Shoals Sound Studio’s. This is where The Black Keys have chosen to record their new album do out in May.

I feel wrong even writing this article in a basement on a computer. Authentic: Muscle Shoals had it, The Black Keys are reinventing it. I need a pencil, paper, a bottle of Jack, a record player spinning Eat a Peach. That would feel authentic. Instead I decided to go with a set of white ear buds, media player open, Chulahoma on repeat. Chulahoma, what i feel is the best album of The Black Keys, isn’t even their own songs. A collection from Junior Kimbrough is raw, truthful, and stripped; everything you could ever want from a blues album.

That is the anticipation of this new album titled “Brothers.” Mark Neil, the producer who inspired Auerbach to create his own studio, Akron Analog, had this to say about the session:

“Everything that you’ve read so far about this album, about it being heavy and dark, their best record yet, that’s not spin, that’s not jive, those were honest assessments from people who were involved. If I have any clout in all of this, which I hope I do after making really good records for a long time, I really do believe The Black Keys are unique in their being brave enough to make a record that is this emotionally raw.”

Pat (Carney) and Dan (Auerbach) have been playing music together for a long time. Since high school, the guys seemed to click on what they wanted out of music. Even though they aren’t brothers, they sure do feel they are. Even when both decides to go their own ways on solo projects, it wasn’t an end on bad terms. They supported each other. Pat formed Drummer, a collection of drummers from Ohio, while Dan did a solo act that included the members of Hacienda as the Fast Five.

This article was written out of my love of music, but rather for the love of music. Understanding the history that makes each song deep, emotional. Understanding that not everything in today’s music scene is recorded in a fancy L.A. studio. Proud musicians using old tried and true analog equipment to produce high quality new music. I say new loosely, this has been the cycle of life for music since its beginning. However, in a clutter, radio heaved, Itunes dropping world, its nice to know that there is still a little bit of hope for music after all.

Bands on the up and coming from this scene:

Buffalo Killers

Lissie


Hacienda