Dec. 03--Dan Auerbach had his head swimming in the sounds of the 1960s Wednesday at a crowded Vic. Performing the first of a two-night stand with his new side project, the Arcs, the Black Keys guitarist/vocalist used his opportunity apart from his main duo to pursue lush musical currents befitting a larger ensemble. While several sequences in the 80-minute set stalled, Auerbach's seemingly unquenchable thirst for creativity -- and the group's live chemistry -- hinted the Arcs may evolve into something more than a one-off fling.
Indeed, Auerbach recently stated the quintet, which includes friends and colleagues, is close to completing another album despite the fact its debut only saw release in September. The Arcs also just issued an EP. At his current pace, Auerbach -- who owns a recording studio and produces, too -- stands in line to become his generation's Jerry Garcia, another restless front man who could never take a break.
The Ohio native's enthusiasm for trying different ideas came through in the diverse mix of songs and his modest disposition. Nothing about Auerbach suggested he makes up half of a festival-headlining band. He appeared uninterested in repeating the past, instead turning his attention toward the present and, via the guise of a few unreleased tunes, the future. The Arcs followed his all-for-one vibe by stretching out with hazy, elastic fare less dependent on Auerbach's guitar and more concerned with teasing out gauzy, slow-cooked grooves.
Joined by three-quarters of the opening quartet, Mariachi Flor de Toloache, the Arcs put a modern stamp on soul, funk and pop strains that echoed back to an era when psychedelia began infiltrating the mainstream. Rattling tambourines, girl-group backup vocals and chiming rhythms transformed "The Arc" and spaghetti-western "Pistol Made of Bones" into revue-style numbers. "Keep on Dreamin' " slithered to sun-warped notes that matched the trance-inducing feel of the retro lighting.
Primarily singing in a falsetto, Auerbach relished his role as big-band leader. Not everything clicked. His attempt at blue-eyed soul crooning failed to carry "My Mind." The jagged clatter of "Velvet Ditch" proved a mismatch with the mariachi horn accents. Such misfires are to be expected from a group getting its legs. But if brand-new material like "Work It Out" proves any indication, it won't be long before the Arcs shed the side-project label.
Bob Gendron is a freelance critic.
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