The Arcs are an American

garage rock Garage rock (sometimes called garage punk or 60s punk) is a raw and energetic style of rock music that flourished in the mid-1960s, most notably in the United States and Canada, and has experienced a series of subsequent revivals. The style is ...

band formed by

Dan Auerbach Daniel Quine Auerbach (; born May 14, 1979) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer, best known as the guitarist and vocalist of The Black Keys, a blues rock band from Akron, Ohio. As a member of the group, Auerbach has ...

, the

guitarist A guitarist (or a guitar player) is a person who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of guitar family instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselve ...

and

vocalist Singing is the art of creating music with the voice. It is the oldest form of musical expression, and the human voice can be considered the first musical instrument. The definition of singing varies across sources. Some sources define singi ...

the Black Keys The Black Keys are an American Rock music, rock duo formed in Akron, Ohio in 2001. The group consists of Dan Auerbach (guitar, Singing, vocals) and Patrick Carney (Drum kit, drums). The duo began as an Independent music, independent act, record ...

. The band consists of Auerbach, Leon Michels, Nick Movshon, Homer Steinweiss, and formerly Richard Swift, who died in 2018. They released their debut album '' Yours, Dreamily,'' in 2015. Their second album, ''

Electrophonic Chronic ''Electrophonic Chronic'' is the second studio album by the Arcs, a side project of Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. It was released on January 27, 2023, under Auerbach's label Easy Eye Sound. Recording A second album was initially conceived by ...

'', was released in January 2023.

History

Auerbach announced this side project after performing on the Governors Ball in 2015. The group's first album, '' Yours, Dreamily,'' was released on September 4, 2015. Members include Leon Michels, Nick Movshon, Homer Steinweiss, and Richard Swift, along with contributions from Kenny Vaughan and Flor de Toloache. The Arcs performed at the 2016

Coachella Festival Coachella (officially called the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and sometimes known as Coachella Festival) is an annual music and arts festival held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Coachella Valley in the Colorad ...

along with Wayhome and Osheaga. Swift died in July 2018. A second album was first announced by the band while touring in 2015 but failed to materialize. On October 13, 2022, the band announced their second studio album, ''

'', which was released on January 27, 2023, through Auerbach's Easy Eye Sound label. The announcement coincided the release of the album's lead single, "Keep on Dreamin'". The album features the band's full original lineup, including Swift. It was recorded primarily before Swift's death, at Auerbach's Easy Eye Sound studio in Nashville,

Electric Lady Studios Electric Lady Studios is a recording studio in Greenwich Village, New York City. It was commissioned by rock musician Jimi Hendrix in 1968 and designed by architect John Storyk and audio engineer Eddie Kramer. It was completed by 1970. Hendrix ...

in Manhattan, and Michels' Diamond Mine studio in Queens, New York. It was co-produced by Auerbach and Michels. In the album's press release, Auerbach said, "This new record is all about honoring Swift. It's a way for us to say goodbye to him, by revisiting him playing and laughing, singing. It was heavy at times, but I think it was really helpful to do it."

Members

Current members *

– lead vocals, electric guitar (2015–present) * Leon Michels – farfisa organ,

synthesizer A synthesizer (also synthesiser or synth) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis a ...

, electric guitar, drum pads (2015–present) * Nick Movshon – bass guitar (2015–present) * Homer Steinweiss – drums,

percussion A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a percussion mallet, beater including attached or enclosed beaters or Rattle (percussion beater), rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or ...

, bass guitar (2015–present) Former members * Richard Swift – drums, percussion, keyboards, drum pads, backing vocals (2015–2018; his death) Contributors * Flor de Toloache – lead vocals, backing vocals, trumpet, violin,

vihuela The vihuela () is a 15th-century fretted plucked Spanish string instrument, shaped like a guitar (figure-of-eight form offering strength and portability) but tuned like a lute. It was used in 15th- and 16th-century Spain as the equivalent of t ...

* Kenny Vaughan –

baritone guitar The baritone guitar is a guitar with a longer scale length, typically a larger body, and heavier internal bracing, so it can be tuned to a lower pitch. Gretsch, Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, ESP Guitars, PRS Guitars, Music Man, Danelectro, Sche ...

, electric guitar

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

Music videos

* "Outta My Mind" * "Put a Flower in Your Pocket" * "Keep on Dreamin'"

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arcs American garage rock groups American indie rock groups Musical groups established in 2015 2015 establishments in the United States Nonesuch Records artists Warner Records artists