The Black Keys Review: Electrifying Night at The Tabernacle

The Black Keys brought the Peaches ‘n Kream World Tour ’26 to The Tabernacle on April 26, turning the historic Atlanta venue into a packed, blues-driven rock room for the night. With fans filling the floor and balconies early, the setting matched the band perfectly, intimate, loud, and built for this kind of show.

Formed in Akron, Ohio, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney built The Black Keys from a stripped-down garage blues duo into one of the most recognizable rock acts of the last two decades. Even as their sound has expanded over the years, the core of it still comes down to Auerbach’s riffs and Carney’s steady, driving drums.

Two guitarists performing on stage, leaning forward passionately. Dim lighting, drums in the background. Sign reads "BL" partially visible. — Miles Kane photo by Chris Collett

Miles Kane opened the night with a straight-ahead rock set that got the crowd moving quickly. His presence carried over into the main set as well, with Kane and his band returning as The Black Keys’ backing band. That added layer gave the live show more depth without taking away from the raw feel that defines them.

The band came out with “Busted” and rolled straight into early cuts like “Your Touch,” “Heavy Soul,” and “I Got Mine.” Auerbach stayed loose up front, letting the guitar work lead the way, while Carney held everything together with a consistent rhythm that kept the set moving without overcomplicating it.

Drummer performs energetically on a stage with "The Black Keys" drum kit. Dim lighting, colorful drum, and toy tiger in foreground. — The Black Keys photo by Chris Collett

The current run, tied to the Peaches ‘n Kream era, leans into a groove-heavy, more polished take on their blues rock sound. That translated well live, especially during “Gold on the Ceiling” and “Tighten Up,” which drew some of the biggest reactions of the night. “Everlasting Light” and “Howlin’ for You” gave the set a slight change in pace before things picked back up.

Later in the set, the focus shifted back toward their blues roots with “Crawling King Snake” and “Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire,” bringing things back to a rawer sound. The encore closed strong with “Little Black Submarines,” followed by “It Is So Nice to Get Stoned” and “Lonely Boy,” sending the crowd out with the energy still high.The Black Keys – Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire (Official Music Video)

If this Atlanta stop is any indication, the Peaches ‘n Kream World Tour ’26 is worth catching while it’s still making its way through the U.S., especially in rooms that fit the band’s stripped-back style like The Tabernacle.