Grateful Dead Inspired New Dan Auerbach Solo Project

The Black Keys guitarist and lead singer Dan Auerbach announced a new solo project he’s calling The Arcs. Auerbach talked to Rolling Stone about the pending album that was inspired in part by his love for boxing and the Grateful Dead. Two singles, “Stay in My Corner” and “Tomato Can,” are being released on May 2 to coincide with the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao boxing match in Las Vegas.


“I just wanted to do my thing and get extra weird,” Auerbach told Rolling Stone. “I wanted everything to flow [and] be cohesive. A lot of the songs bleed one into the other, a lot like the Grateful Dead – my favorite records that they did. So I’ve got a lot of connected songs. It’s basically everything I love about music all wrapped up into one.”

The two singles are being issued by Nonesuch Records as a 7-inch vinyl exclusively at independent record stores. Details of who also appears on The Arcs debut LP  –expected to be issued later this summer –beyond “a whole bunch of different people – my favorites” were not yet revealed. Auerbach’s last solo album was 2009’s Keep it Hid. Auerbach next heads out with drummer Patrick Carney for a run of The Black Keys appearances at a number of festivals around the globe. 

The Black Keys Tour Dates

5/28 -Barcelona, Spain @ Primavera Sound      
5/30 -Athens, Greece @ Rockwave Festival     
6/5 -Cincinnati, OH @ Bunbury Festival    
6/6 -Hunter, NY @ Mountain Jam    
6/7 -New York, NY @ Governors Ball    
6/12 -Isle Of Wight, United Kingdom @ Isle Of Wight Festival     
6/14 -Aarhus, Denmark @ NorthSide     
7/16 -Pemberton, Canada @ Pemberton Music Festival     
7/18 -Colwood, Canada @ Rock The Shores    
7/31 -Montreal, Canada @ Osheaga Festival    
8/8 -San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands