For nearly a decade, it seemed like the Black Keys were going to be a career club band, the type of act that never plays a venue with more than 1,500 seats until its dying day.
So how exactly did this blues rock duo end up becoming a coliseum draw, one of the biggest names in rock, an act that will yet again headline KeyArena in Seattle, playing the venue at 8 p.m. Saturday?
Credit the group’s seventh album, “Brothers,” an alt-rock juggernaut that finally vaulted the pair into the lime light. That disc, which produced hit singles such as “Howlin’ for You” and “Tighten Up,” was followed in short order by two more huge albums, “El Camino” and this year’s “Turn Blue.”
Now, the little band from Akron, Ohio, has firmly established itself as one of rock radio’s surest hit makers. Its new single “Fever” reached No. 1 on the charts. Fans can expect to hear that song, as well as many more favorites, during the pair’s Seattle stop.
Tickets are $46.85 to $88.65 at ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000.
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Tony Bennett also returns to Seattle in the coming week, playing the Paramount Theatre at 8 p.m. Thursday.
Bennett has been back in the news in recent months thanks to his duets album with Lady Gaga, “Cheek to Cheek,” which topped the charts in September.
Now, somewhat improbably, the 88-year-old crooner is back on tour — improbable because, seriously, this is a guy who first landed on the charts in 1951. The stamina of this man helps make the title “living legend” well-deserved.
Gaga isn’t on this tour. Instead, his daughter, Antonia Bennett, is set to open the show with her own take on jazz and pop standards.
Tickets are $50 to $150 at stgpresents.org or 877-784-4849.
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The Showbox SoDo, meanwhile, will host B.o.B. at 9 p.m. Wednesday.
B.o.B. has become a big name by staying accessible to the masses. Though his roots are in Georgia’s hip-hop scene, the man often picks alt-rock collaborators to sing on his pop hits. He’s a musical fusion machine who signed his first record deal at age 17.
Now just days away from turning 26, he’s touring behind his latest pop amalgam, “Underground Luxury,” which finds him collaborating with T.I. and Chris Brown, among other big names. He’s calling the tour No Genre, which makes perfect sense.
Tickets are $29.50 at showboxonline.com or 888-929-7849.
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Four shows are also coming through the Showbox SoDo’s sister venue, the Showbox. St. Lucia kicks things off with a stop at the venue at 9 p.m. Saturday.
The Brooklyn-based synth-pop act is touring now behind its debut album, “When the Night,” which made some waves thanks to the tuneful single “Elevate.”
Tickets are $20 at showboxonline.com or 888-929-7849.
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Then rappers Method Man and Redman will bring their “Smoker’s Club” to the Showbox for a concert at 8:30 p.m. Monday.
The two hip-hop stars have been linked together for a long time thanks to well-loved albums like “Blackout” and stoner comedies such as “How High.” Their collaborations make it clear that these dudes like each other, and they also like weed.
Tickets are $30 to $76.50 at showboxonline.com or 888-929-7849.
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New Found Glory then play the Showbox at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The durable pop-emo band got its start in 1997 and has held on to its loyal following thanks to smart lyrics, hook-driven punk and high-energy shows.
Despite the fact that the group hasn’t scored a hit on the radio in about a decade, New Found Glory’s albums continue to crack the top 20. It’s touring now behind its latest studio album, “Resurrection,” which continued the band’s run of success this October.
Tickets are $21.50 at showboxonline.com or 888-929-7849.
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Finally, Deltron 3030 will play the Showbox at 9 p.m. Wednesday.
The underground hip-hop supergroup counts Del tha Funky Homosapien, Kid Koala and Dan “The Automator” Nakamura as its members.
After releasing its beloved self-titled album in 2000, the group went back underground, with its members staying busy with other projects. Eventually, the trio reconvened to record a hotly anticipated follow-up, “Event 2,” which saw release last year.
Tickets are $35 at showboxonline.com or 888-929-7849.
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