Dan Auerbach

Dan Auerbach
Dan performing with The Black Keys in Memphis, TN. 14 December 2006
Background information
Birth name	Daniel Quine Auerbach
Born	14 May 1979 (1979-05-14) (age 30) Akron, Ohio, U.S.A.
Genres	Blues-rock, garage rock Rap Rock
Occupations	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, keyboard, drums
Years active	2000 - present
Labels	Alive Records, Fat Possum Records, Nonesuch Records, V2 Records
Associated acts	The Black Keys, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Blak Roc
Website	Official website
Notable instruments
Gibson SG Harmony H77

Daniel Quine Auerbach (born May 14, 1979) is a multi-instrumentalist best known as the guitarist and vocalist for The Black Keys, a blues rock band from Akron, Ohio.

Childhood and early life

Auerbach grew up in a family with strong musical roots. His cousin is the late Robert Quine. Auerbach became infatuated with blues music after listening to his father's old vinyl records during his childhood.^[1] He was influenced early-on by his mother's side of the family, notably his cousin who played bluegrass music. He was heavily influenced by Junior Kimbrough in college, eventually resulting in him dropping out to pursue the guitar more seriously. "I've listened to him so much, it's just how I hear it... I studied him so much... Getting F's in college, when I should've been studying, I was listening to Junior Kimbrough's music instead".^[2] Other major influences include: Robert Johnson, Robert Nighthawk, T-Model Ford, Hound Dog Taylor, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Kokomo Arnold.

Recording career

The Black Keys

In 2001, Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney formed The Black Keys in Akron, Ohio. The band released their first album, The Big Come Up in 2002, followed by Thickfreakness in 2003, Rubber Factory in 2004, and Magic Potion in 2006. Their fifth album, Attack & Release, was released on April 1, 2008 and was produced by Danger Mouse. Prior to forming the Black Keys, Auerbach regularly performed in the Akron area with his band The Barnburners. The Barnburners was a three-piece consisting of Auerbach on guitar and vocals along with a drummer and bass player.

Solo recordings

Auerbach's debut solo album Keep It Hid was released February 10, 2009 on Nonesuch Records. The album was recorded in Auerbach's Akron Analog studio using mainly analog and vintage equipment.^[3] Guests on the album include Auerbach's uncle, guitarist James Quine (first cousin of the late NYC-based guitarist Robert Quine), and protégé Jessica Lea Mayfield.

On tour Dan is usually joined by the band Hacienda along with Patrick Hallahan of My Morning Jacket to fill out the band. They are also known as the fast five.

Engineering & Producing

In recent years, Auerbach has set up his own recording studio in Akron called Akron Analog where he has engineered and produced recordings from Buffalo Killers (Cincinnati, OH), Radio Moscow (Story City, IA), Brimstone Howl (Lincoln, NE), Patrick Sweany (Massillon, OH), as well as the well received With Blasphemy So Heartfelt album by Dan's 19 year old protégé Jessica Lea Mayfield from Kent, Ohio. Also backing up is Hacienda based in San Antonio, TX.

Musical Equipment

In a technique similar to many early blues players, Auerbach often uses a fingerpick on his index finger along with his thumb to play chords. Dan claims to prefer vacuum-tube amplifiers over solid-state^[4][5]. Besides guitar Auerbach also plays a Rhodes Electric Piano.

Guitars

• Fender Jerry Donahue Telecaster with DiMarzio twin-blade humbuckers.
• Teisco Del Ray seen in the video for 10 a.m. automatic.
• Ibanez Lawsuit SG with Maestro Tremolo, used on the Magic Potion tour, although the guitar has three pickups, only two are active.
• Ibanez Lawsuit Rocket Roll Sr. a Gibson Flying V replica.
• Silvertone seen in the video for Just Got To Be.
• Silvertone 1454 late 60's model.
• Harmony H77 three pickup model from the late 60's
• Harmony Rocket used during recordings.
• Harmony Stratotone H47, also called Harmony Mercury, modified with two P-90 pickups
• Gibson Firebird VII, frequently used for recent live shows.
• Gibson Les Paul Standard with Bigsby.
• Gibson SG Junior (2008-2009 tours, solo tour)
• Gibson Les Paul Gold Top used during 2008 and 2009 tours.
• Rickenbacker 360 with Bigsby.
• Rickenbacker 360/12, seen in solo, in-studio performance of Trouble Weighs a Ton with his uncle James Quinn.
• Eastwood Airline Tuxedo
• Reverend Club King RT
• Reverend Flatroc
• .011, .015, .020, .030, .039, .049 strings, bought individually, not as a set.

Effects

Amplifiers

Discography

The Black Keys

• (2002) The Big Come Up
• (2003) Thickfreakness
• (2002) The Moan - EP
• (2004) Rubber Factory
• (2006) Chulahoma - EP
• (2006) Magic Potion
• (2008) Attack & Release

Solo albums

• (2009) Keep It Hid

References

• Real Detroit Weekly - Dan Auerbach [1]

External links

• Cold Steel in the Midnight Hour: An Interview with Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys
• Black Keys - Interview
• Pentatonic for the soul: Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys
• The Black Keys Fan Lounge
• Keep It Hid Review
• Dan Auerbach live review on Citizen Dick
• Dan Auerbach on Obscure Sound
• The Black Keys Official Web Site
• The Black Keys Official Myspace page