The Black Keys close Latitude 2014

Guitar and drums are two of the most simple elements when it comes to making music; it’s hard to believe the effect the two can have on one another. The Black Keys, Latitude 2014’s closing headliners, have come to learn all too well how great a couple they are.

Making the massive appearance just a month and a half after the release of their latest album, the anticipation in the crowd is tangible as the band ready themselves for the stage. Lit up against the night, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney emerge to unexpected carnage in the crowd; their music might not seem like the most rowdy at times, but with the amount of bodies flying over the barrier, it feels like a fully fledged rock show.

Diving headfirst into their musical well of bluesy garage rock, roars go up with every song. Their ‘El Camino’ cut ‘Gold On The Ceiling’ of course opens up the dance floor, but more unexpectedly, there’s the occasional mosh pit hiding within the Southwold scenery.

Debuting a handful of new tracks along the way, the lulls are non-existent, as Auerbach swaggeringly leads his enamoured crowd. This set is more than just a festival slot; it’s proof that even the most intimate of projects can become bill-toppers. Two really is the magic number.

Photos: Emma Swann.