One assumes John Wesley Myers and Van Campbell decided to have the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach produce their new album, A Touch of Someone Else's Class, because he knows all about capturing a formidable sound emanating from just two musicians (either that or the similar band names did it). The Black Diamond Heavies got a perfectly fine result just barreling through songs live-in-the-studio, straight-to-tape on last year's Every Damn Time, but Auerbach's vintage gear-equipped studio gave them a warmer, more robust sound. The new album title fits: The slow-burning ballad "Bidin' My Time" features some swanky sax playing from Ralph Carney and—from Myers' usually raw throat—something approaching a suave croon. The Heavies have furthered their evolution from the Fat Possum-friendly punk-blues trio they were with guitarist Mark Holder into a joyful, Southern gutter R&B duo. And they sure-as-hell don’t need any help making it loud, filthy and funky.
Fri., Aug. 29, 9 p.m., 2008
