The Black Keys Started on Beachland’s Tavern Stage

In 2002, The Black Keys played their first live show in the Tavern at Cleveland’s Beachland Ballroom & Tavern. The smaller room matters here: the duo’s beginning belongs to the Tavern stage, even when histories shorten the venue’s name to Beachland Ballroom.

Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney had formed the band in Akron. Beachland became an early point of support beyond their hometown. The Cleveland Arts Prize credits owner Cindy Barber with helping them find their first booking agent and manager.

That first performance also survived on tape. Nonesuch later announced a vinyl release of the full show for Record Store Day 2023. The recording gives listeners a way back to the band’s opening chapter, before its audience could fill much larger rooms.

Explore Beachland Ballroom & Tavern on CouchLot.

Sources: clevelandartsprize.org; nonesuch.com.