Feature Songs: “Lonely Boy” / “Paint it Black”
Yes, it’s a two-for-one DUTC. I featured the British busking band, The Big Push, way back in August of 2023 with their hi-octane (actually, everything they do is hi-octane!) cover of another Rolling Stones song, “Sympathy for the Devil.” I had fully intended to feature them again before now, but that never happened, so when I came across their street performance covering two songs …well, better late than never!
“Lonely Boy” is a song by the American rock band, The Black Keys. The duo formed in Akron, Ohio in 2001 and consists of Dan Auerbach (guitar, vocals), and Patrick Carney (drums). They began as an independent act, recording music in basements and self-producing their records, before emerging as one of the most popular garage rock artists during what is known as the second wave of the genre’s revival in the 2000s. Their sound is considered raw blues rock, drawing heavily from Auerbach’s blues influences, including Junior Kimbrough, R.L. Burnside, Howlin’ Wolf, and Robert Johnson. The duo first met when they were eight years old and living on the same neighborhood, a couple of houses from each other. They both came from musical backgrounds, and while attending Firestone High School, they became friends, despite hanging out with different crowds – Auerbach was the captain of the high school soccer team, while Carney was a social outcast. They received encouragement from their respective brothers and began jamming together in 1996, as Auerbach was learning to play the guitar, and Carney owned a four-track recorder, and a drum set. The group’s commercial breakthrough came in 2010 with their album Brothers, which contained the popular single, “Tighten Up.” The album went on to win three Grammy Awards. Their 2011 follow up, El Camino, also received critical acclaim and lead to their first arena concert tour of their career, the El Camino Tour. This album, along with its hit single, “Lonely Boy,” won another three Grammy Awards. The song went on to become one of the group’s most successful songs, topping several rock radio charts.
The Rolling Stones…well, they are The Rolling Stones and what they have accomplished since forming in 1962 is nothing short of mind-boggling. Their first album, the self-titled The Rolling Stones, was released in 1964 and their latest (the 24th), Hackney Diamonds, was released 59 years later in 2023. The subsequent tour for this latest release began in April of 2024 in Houston, Texas, and ended in July of that year in Santa Clara, California. Both Jagger and Richards were 81 years-old on the tour! Do I need to say anything else? Didn’t think so. The featured song, “Paint it Black,” written by both Jagger and Richards, is considered a raga rock song with Indian, Middle Eastern and Eastern European influences and lyrics about grief and loss, It was released as a single on May 7,1966 in the US and a week later in the UK. Two months later, London Records included it as the opening track on the American version of the band’s 1966 album, Aftermath, although it is not on the original UK release. The song originates from a series of improvisational melodies played by Brian Jones on a sitar, with all five members of the band contributing to the final arrangement, although only Jagger and Richards were credited as songwriters. The song is a stark contrast to previous Stones songs with their straightforward rock arrangements, in that it has unconventional instrumentation, featuring the prominent sitar, as well as a Hammond organ and castanets. It matches many of the songs on the album however, and it was influential to the then burgeoning psychedelic genre. The reviews of the song were mixed at the time, with many saying it was an attempt to copy the Beatles 1965 release of “Norwegian Wood,” which also features a prominent sitar element.
The Big Push are four immensely talented and energetic musicians from Brighton, England who met while busking individually on Ship Street, which is just off the main drag that runs through the center of Brighton. They are a charismatic indie rock and roll collective fronted by Romain Axisa (guitar and vocals), Gorran Kendall (guitar and vocals), Ren (bass and vocals), and Glenn Chambers (drums). Although they have gone on to perform at different venues, busking is deeply embedded in the band’s blood, as they feed off the crowd’s close proximity to their eclectic and vibrant performances.
They perform both originals (written by the three front men) and covers, and when they started posting their videos on YouTube, earning them millions of views, the crowds for their busking shows grew exponentially. There is a great deal going on in their sound, and they have managed to build their own brand of rock and roll music that emanates from and embodies the raucous and passionate energy that they bring to their busking setups. This is certainly evident on their ten minute performance of the two feature songs. They take both of these tunes to a whole other level. While their cover of “Paint it Black” lacks a sitar, this is more than made up for by the lead guitarist’s riffs.
I am including two videos of “Lonely Boy. The first is the official video, which features Derrick T. Tuggle, actor, musician, and part-time security guard, dancing and lip-synching to the song in front of the Pepper Tree Motel in North Hollywood, Los Angeles. The second is a live performance for Zane Lowe’s BBC show in 2012. For this performance, the duo are joined by a bass player and a keyboardist.
Enjoy!
The Black Keys. “Lonely Boy” Official Music Video, 2011.
The Black Keys. “Lonely Boy” Zane Lowe Special 2012.
The Rolling Stones. “Paint it Black” Live 1966.
The Big Push. “Lonely Boy” and “Paint it Black” covers. Brighton Beach 2021.
Los Angeles 2025
Great picks! While I didn’t know or recall “Lonely Boy” by The Black Keys, it’s a fun song. “Paint It Black” by the Stones is a classic, in my book. It’s nice seeing Brian Jones on sitar in that clip. I also enjoyed watching The Big Push. I agree they seem to be talented. They also have great energy.
I LOVE both “Lonely Boy” (my favorite song by The Black Keys) and “Paint It Black”. (Funny story about that Lonely Boy video: it was initially shot, but the band later had an expensive, more elaborate video made for the single, which they ended up hating and decided to use this one.) The Big Push busking performance of the two songs is fantastic. Charismatic is right, and it doesn’t hurt that they’re all very attractive – though the guy in the “Cult Leader” shirt needs to fire his hair stylist.
Haha. Yup, that’s a pretty bad do!
Nice double header! I loved that first Black Keys video. To me that song stands on it’s own merits. Looks like a lot of fun to watch The Big Push in person!
Big time!