Before their Forecastle show, it had been probably two years since I last saw the Black Keys. But unlike I do with some bands, I never once forgot how good they were live. I had their live DVDs and albums to tide me over; but even though they kept my love of the band going, those albums and DVDs mocked my inability to see the band live. But, thank God, I remedied that at the first day of the Forecastle music festival.

The thing I forgot, of course, is that the Black Keys are about ten time better live than they are on some old crummy DVD. From the moment Dan Auerbach picked up his guitar, I knew I’d somehow managed to underestimate a band whose live show I held in high esteem. They tore through their best singles with as much force as they did the ones I’d forgotten I loved. When you treat every song like it’s a hit, they all carry the weight of a single. And maybe that, along with their incredible power, is what makes the Black Keys’ show so great. Every song gets attacked full force and you’re never given a break.

Lots more photos after the break.