The Black Keys and Nathaniel Rateliff Pay Homage to Richard Swift at Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Photo Credit: Todd Moffses
Last night, The Black Keys honored the late Richard Swift alongside their guest, Nathaniel Rateliff, while playing at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colo. During the encore, they landed on a cover of Swift’s 2018 track “Broken Finger Blues.”
Following an 18-song single set performance, The Black Keys broke into their encore with 2011’s “Little Black Submarines” off the group’s seventh studio album, El Camino. Then, the evening’s guest arrived on stage to assist on the cover.
“Broken Finger Blues” was released on Swift’s final project, the posthumous LP, The Hex, which dropped on Dec. 7, 2018, just months after the musician succumbed to his addiction to alcohol. Before his untimely passing, Swift had played bass with The Black Keys and sat in as a touring member with the troupe. He was also a member of The Arc, with The Black Key’s Dan Auerbach.
Apart from Swift’s deep roots with The Black Keys, he also produced Rateliff’s self-titled debut album, which was released in 2015. Swift also took on Rateliff’s follow-up, producing 2018’s Tearing at the Seams. After the artist’s death, Rateliff honored his friend with the 2020 LP, And It’s Still Alright.
Before the musicians launched into their cover, Auerbach took to the mic and proclaimed to the Red Rocks crowd: “We’re gonna play a special tune for you guys. One we’re never played before.” Then, he added, “We lost a good friend of ours not too long ago. His name was Richard Swift, and we’re gonna play a song of his. And we’re gonna ask another one of Richard’s friends to come out here and help us–give it up for Nathaniel Rateliff, let’s hear it for him!”
Following the touching tribute, Rateliff departed the stage, leaving The Black Keys to take on their final song of the night. They returned to their El Camino repertoire with “Lonely Boy” to cap the night and their time in Colorado.
After last night’s show, The Black Keys will take a day off the road before returning to the stage on July 15 at Hollywood Casino in Maryland Heights, Mo. Tickets are still available and can be purchased here.
Watch a fan-shot clip of the cover below.
The Black Keys
Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, Colo.
July 13, 2022
Set: I Got Mine, Howlin’ for You, Fever, Tighten Up, Your Touch, It Ain’t Over, Gold On The Ceiling, Stay All Night, Coal Black Mattie, Goin’ Down South, Poor Boy Long Ways From Home, Crawlin’ Kingsnake, Have Love, Will Travel, Lo/Hi, Next Girl, Wild Child, Ten Cent Pistol, She’s Long Gone
Enc: Little Black Submarines, Broken Finger Blues*, Lonely Boy
Notes:
* With Nathaniel Rateliff
Setlist via Setlist.FM
