# El Camino Tour

The El Camino Tour was a worldwide concert tour by American rock duo the Black Keys in support of their 2011 studio album, El Camino. The tour, which spanned 129 shows, began on January 23, 2012, and ended on July 13, 2013. It was the group's first tour playing arenas as a headlining act. The tour grossed $12.7 million in 2012.

## Background

In December 2011, the Black Keys announced a 2012 concert tour, their first playing arenas as a headlining act. The tour opened in Europe on January 23, 2012 with three weeks of shows, before visiting North America from March to May. The tour made multiple return visits to Europe and North America throughout the year, while also visiting Australasia from October through November. In total, the group played 112 shows in 2012. Among the support acts that accompanied the band were Band of Skulls, Arctic Monkeys, and Tegan and Sara. After tickets went on sale, the Black Keys' concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City sold out in 15 minutes, resulting in the addition of a second date at the venue to satisfy demand. The tour ended on July 13, 2013, after 129 shows.
Just as it did on its previous tour, the group added bassist Gus Seyffert and keyboardist/guitarist John Wood as touring musicians in order to perform songs as close to their studio arrangements as possible. Guitarist Dan Auerbach explained the decision for the expanded live band: "It wasn't about the size of the venue. It was just that we could afford to do it and our songs deserved it. We wanted to finally present the songs like we'd written them." During the middle portion of each concert, Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney played older material as a duo without the backing musicians. Many critics singled these performances out as the shows' highlights.
The concert stage used an austere setup with a lighting system and video projections designed by Karl Lemieux. The lighting comprised four banks of on-stage vintage spotlights, along with two disco balls and a lighted sign bearing the band's name that were lowered for the encores. Lemieux's video, which was projected onto a white sheet at the stage's rear, incorporated black-and-white footage of junkyards, deserts, and open highways. Carney explained that the band was aiming for a retro aesthetic, saying, "We kind of wanted to make the whole stage look like an old-school rock 'n' roll show, as much as possible. We're referencing bands in the '70s, what they were doing when they were playing arenas." Moreover, the footage was meant to pay homage to the group's origins. Auerbach said, "We wanted it to represent our music and the Midwest where we're from, the Rust Belt and open spaces. We find that stuff beautiful and uplifting."

## Support acts

* Band of Skulls (Leg 1 & 3: Europe)
* Arctic Monkeys (Leg 2: North America)
* Tame Impala (Leg 2: Council Bluffs)
* Tegan and Sara (Leg 4: North America)
* Royal Headache (Leg 5: Australia)
* The Maccabees (Leg 6: Europe)
* Divine Fits (Leg 7: Las Vegas)
* The Flaming Lips (Leg 9: North America)

## Set list

* "Howlin' for You"
* "Next Girl"
* "Run Right Back"
* "Same Old Thing"
* "Dead and Gone"
* "Gold on the Ceiling"
* "Thickfreakness"
* "Girl Is on My Mind"
* "I'll Be Your Man"
* "Your Touch"
* "Little Black Submarines"
* "Money Maker"
* "Strange Times"
* "Chop and Change" (North America) / "Sinister Kid" (Australasia)
* "Nova Baby"
* "Ten Cent Pistol"
* "Tighten Up"
* "Lonely Boy"

### Encore

* "Everlasting Light"
* "She's Long Gone"
* "I Got Mine"
Source:

## Tour dates

| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| Leg 1: Europe ||||
| January 23, 2012 | Antwerp | Belgium | Lotto Arena |
| January 24, 2012 | Lille | France | Zénith de Lille |
| January 25, 2012 | Paris | France | Zénith de Paris |
| January 27, 2012 | Hamburg | Germany | Sporthalle |
| January 28, 2012 | Berlin | Germany | Arena Berlin |
| January 30, 2012 | Milan | Italy | Alcatraz |
| January 31, 2012 | Zürich | Switzerland | Maag Halle |
| February 1, 2012 | Eindhoven | Netherlands | Klokgebouw |
| February 3, 2012 | Nottingham | England | Capital FM Arena |
| February 4, 2012 | Edinburgh | Scotland | Corn Exchange |
| February 6, 2012 | Manchester | England | O2 Apollo |
| February 7, 2012 | Manchester | England | O2 Apollo |
| February 9, 2012 | London | England | Alexandra Palace |
| February 10, 2012 | London | England | Alexandra Palace |
| February 11, 2012 | London | England | Alexandra Palace |
| Leg 2: North America ||||
| March 2, 2012 | Cincinnati | United States | U.S. Bank Arena |
| March 3, 2012 | Detroit | United States | Joe Louis Arena |
| March 4, 2012 | Columbus | United States | Value City Arena |
| March 6, 2012 | Portland | United States | Cumberland County Civic Center |
| March 7, 2012 | Boston | United States | TD Garden |
| March 9, 2012 | Washington, D.C. | United States | Verizon Center |
| March 10, 2012 | Philadelphia | United States | Wells Fargo Center |
| March 12, 2012 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden |
| March 13, 2012 | Montreal | Canada | Bell Centre |
| March 14, 2012 | Toronto | Canada | Air Canada Centre |
| March 16, 2012 | Indianapolis | United States | Bankers Life Fieldhouse |
| March 18, 2012 | Grand Rapids | United States | Van Andel Arena |
| March 19, 2012 | Chicago | United States | United Center |
| March 20, 2012 | Cleveland | United States | Quicken Loans Arena |
| March 22, 2012 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden |
| March 23, 2012 | Norfolk | United States | Constant Convocation Center |
| March 24, 2012 | Charlotte | United States | Bojangles' Coliseum |
| March 31, 2012 | New Orleans | United States | Woldenberg Park |
| April 13, 2012 | Indio | United States | Empire Polo Club |
| April 20, 2012 | Indio | United States | Empire Polo Club |
| April 22, 2012 | Frisco | United States | FC Dallas Stadium |
| April 24, 2012 | The Woodlands | United States | Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion |
| April 25, 2012 | Austin | United States | Frank Erwin Center |
| April 27, 2012 | St. Louis | United States | Chaifetz Arena |
| April 28, 2012 | Tulsa | United States | BOK Center |
| April 30, 2012 | Broomfield | United States | 1stBank Center |
| May 1, 2012 | Broomfield | United States | 1stBank Center |
| May 2, 2012 | West Valley City | United States | Maverik Center |
| May 4, 2012 | Oakland | United States | Oracle Arena |
| May 5, 2012 | Sacramento | United States | Power Balance Pavilion |
| May 7, 2012 | Portland | United States | Rose Garden |
| May 8, 2012 | Seattle | United States | KeyArena |
| May 9, 2012 | Vancouver | Canada | Rogers Arena |
| May 11, 2012 | Calgary | Canada | Scotiabank Saddledome |
| May 12, 2012 | Edmonton | Canada | Rexall Place |
| May 14, 2012 | Winnipeg | Canada | MTS Centre |
| May 15, 2012 | Minneapolis | United States | Target Center |
| May 16, 2012 | Milwaukee | United States | Bradley Center |
| May 18, 2012 | Columbia | United States | Merriweather Post Pavilion |
| May 19, 2012 | Atlantic City | United States | Ovation Hall |
| July 20, 2012 | Dover, Delaware | United States | Dover International Speedway |
| July 21, 2012 | Dover, Delaware | United States | Dover International Speedway |
| July 22, 2012 | Dover, Delaware | United States | Dover International Speedway |
| July 28, 2012 | New York City | United States | Randall's Island |
| August 1, 2012 | Council Bluffs | United States | Mid-America Center |
| August 3, 2012 | Chicago | United States | Grant Park |
| August 4, 2012 | Toronto | Canada | Molson Canadian Amphitheatre |
| August 5, 2012 | Montreal | Canada | Parc Jean-Drapeau |
| Leg 3: Europe ||||
| August 9, 2012 | Gothenburg | Sweden | Slottsskogen |
| August 10, 2012 | Oslo | Norway | Middelalderparken |
| August 11, 2012 | Helsinki | Finland | Suvilahti |
| August 13, 2012 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Tap1 |
| August 14, 2012 | Hanover | Germany | AWD Hall |
| August 15, 2012 | Sankt Pölten | Austria | Green Park |
| August 17, 2012 | Biddinghuizen | Netherlands | Spijk en Bremerberg |
| August 18, 2012 | Hasselt | Belgium | Kempische Steenweg |
| August 19, 2012 | Leipzig | Germany | Störmthaler Lake |
| August 21, 2012 | Belfast | Northern Ireland | Boucher Playing Fields |
| August 22, 2012 | Dublin | Ireland | The O2 |
| August 24, 2012 | Leeds | England | Bramham Park |
| August 25, 2012 | Paris | France | Domaine National de Saint-Cloud |
| August 26, 2012 | Reading | England | Little John's Farm |
| Leg 4: North America ||||
| September 29, 2012 | New York City | United States | Central Park |
| October 1, 2012 | Fresno | United States | Save Mart Center |
| October 2, 2012 | Santa Barbara | United States | Santa Barbara Bowl |
| October 4, 2012 | San Diego | United States | Valley View Casino Center |
| October 5, 2012 | Los Angeles | United States | Staples Center |
| October 6, 2012 | Los Angeles | United States | Staples Center |
| October 8, 2012 | Anaheim | United States | Honda Center |
| October 9, 2012 | Phoenix | United States | Capital Centre |
| October 10, 2012 | Las Cruces | United States | Pan American Center |
| October 12, 2012 | Austin | United States | Zilker Park |
| October 14, 2012 | Mexico City | Mexico | Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez |
| Leg 5: Australia / New Zealand ||||
| October 21, 2012 | Newcastle | Australia | Newcastle Entertainment Centre |
| October 22, 2012 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| October 23, 2012 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| October 26, 2012 | Brisbane | Australia | Brisbane Entertainment Centre |
| October 28, 2012 | Joondalup | Australia | Arena Joondalup |
| October 30, 2012 | Adelaide | Australia | Adelaide Entertainment Centre |
| October 31, 2012 | Melbourne | Australia | Sidney Myer Music Bowl |
| November 1, 2012 | Melbourne | Australia | Sidney Myer Music Bowl |
| November 3, 2012 | Auckland | New Zealand | Vector Arena |
| November 5, 2012 | Wellington | New Zealand | TSB Bank Arena |
| Leg 6: Europe ||||
| November 27, 2012 | Lisbon | Portugal | Pavilhão Atlântico |
| November 28, 2012 | Madrid | Spain | Palacio de Deportes |
| November 30, 2012 | Lyon | France | Halle Tony Garnier |
| December 1, 2012 | Turin | Italy | Torino Palasport Olimpico |
| December 3, 2012 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Ziggo Dome |
| December 4, 2012 | Munich | Germany | Olympiahalle |
| December 5, 2012 | Düsseldorf | Germany | ISS Dome |
| December 7, 2012 | Newcastle | England | Metro Radio Arena |
| December 8, 2012 | Glasgow | Scotland | S.E.C.C |
| December 9, 2012 | Birmingham | England | National Indoor Arena |
| December 11, 2012 | Manchester | England | Manchester Arena |
| December 12, 2012 | London | England | The O$_2$ Arena |
| December 13, 2012 | London | England | The O$_2$ Arena |
| Leg 7: North America ||||
| December 30, 2012 | Las Vegas | United States | The Joint |
| December 31, 2012 | Las Vegas | United States | The Joint |
| Leg 8: South America ||||
| March 30, 2013 | São Paulo | Brazil | Jockey Club |
| April 2, 2013 | Montevideo | Uruguay | Teatro de Verano Ramon Collazo |
| April 3, 2013 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | Estadio Costanera Sur |
| April 7, 2013 | Santiago | Chile | O'Higgins Park |
| Leg 9: North America ||||
| April 28, 2013 | Kansas City | United States | Sprint Center |
| April 30, 2013 | Pittsburgh | United States | Consol Energy Center |
| May 2, 2013 | Atlanta | United States | Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood |
| May 3, 2013 | Nashville | United States | Bridgestone Arena |
| May 4, 2013 | Memphis | United States | Tom Lee Park |
| May 5, 2013 | New Orleans | United States | Fair Grounds Race Course |
| May 10, 2013 | Napa Valley | United States | Napa Valley Expo |
| May 18, 2013 | Irvine | United States | Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre |
| July 4, 2013 | Ottawa | Canada | LeBreton Festival Park |
| July 5, 2013 | Laval | Canada | Espace Montmorency |
| July 6, 2013 | Quebec City | Canada | Plains of Abraham |
| July 8, 2013 | Buffalo | United States | Buffalo Outer Harbor |
| July 9, 2013 | Hartford | United States | Comcast Theatre |
| July 11, 2013 | Raleigh | United States | Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion |
| July 12, 2013 | Greenville | United States | Charter Amphitheatre |
| July 13, 2013 | Louisville | United States | Louisville Waterfront Park |

### Box office data

| Venue | City | Tickets Sold / Available | Gross Revenue |
| Lotto Arena | Antwerp | 7,332 / 7,347 (99%) | $273,699 |
| Capital FM Arena | Nottingham | 7,129 / 7,129 (100%) | $236,989 |
| Manchester Apollo | Manchester | 6,816 / 6,816 (100%) | $226,239 |
| Alexandra Palace | London | 30,259 / 30,259 (100%) | $1,105,060 |
| Verizon Center | Washington D.C. | 12,625 / 12,625 (100%) | $616,434 |
| Air Canada Centre | Toronto | 14,887 / 14,887 (100%) | $792,991 |
| Van Andel Arena | Grand Rapids | 8,277 / 10,859 (76%) | $336,812 |
| United Center | Chicago | 14,386 / 14,386 (100%) | $687,274 |
| Constant Convocation Center | Norfolk | 6,789 / 6,789 (100%) | $310,786 |
| Maverik Center | Salt Lake City | 5,297 / 7,500 (71%) | $268,984 |
| Oracle Arena | Oakland | 12,744 / 12,744 (100%) | $630,828 |
| Power Balance Pavilion | Sacramento | 9,170 / 9,170 (100%) | $434,275 |
| Rogers Arena | Vancouver | 12,483 / 12,483 (100%) | $647,977 |
| Scotiabank Saddledome | Calgary | 12,180 / 12,180 (100%) | $637,145 |
| MTS Centre | Winnipeg | 6,856 / 6,856 (100%) | $356,750 |
| Bradley Center | Milwaukee | 7,460 / 8,000 (93%) | $274,070 |
| Mid-America Center | Council Bluffs | 4,897 / 6,000 (82%) | $227,711 |
| Save Mart Center | Fresno | 4,795 / 6,500 (76%) | $237,353 |
| Santa Barbara Bowl | Santa Barbara | 4,965 / 4,965 (100%) | $337,109 |
| Staples Center | Los Angeles | 24,821 / 26,990 (92%) | $1,246,127 |
| Honda Center | Anaheim | 10,518 / 13,228 (80%) | $435,824 |
| Entertainment Centre | Brisbane | 7,753 / 8,505 (91%) | $802,857 |
| The O2 Arena | London | 28,723 / 33,898 (85%) | $1,384,780 |
| The Joint | Las Vegas | 7,237 / 8,024 (90%) | $993,107 |