The Black Keys Selling Shirts for Hometown Little League Baseball
The Black Keys are stepping up to the plate for their childhood baseball league: The popular blues-rock duo are selling newly designed T-shirts and hoodies on their website, with all profits benefitting the West Akron Baseball League in their Ohio hometown.
The 50 Best Albums of 2011: the Black Keys, ‘El Camino’
Last year, the band sponsored a team, donating $300 to the West Akron Orioles (who played with the words “the Black Keys” printed on the back of their uniforms). But now Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney have hit an even bigger charitable homerun: According to MTV, profits from the new attire – designed by the band’s creative director, Carney’s brother Michael – will help the league purchase uniforms, replace benches and backstops, upgrade equipment and minimize registration fees. Buyers have two options to choose from: a grey hoodie (for $39.99) and a navy T-shirt (for $24.99), both sporting “THE BLACK KEYS AKRON OH” on the front.
“Dan and I played little league when we were kids before we got into music; it was a really positive hobby that kept us from sitting around watching TV,” Carney says. “We are proud to be sponsoring W.A.B.L. to hopefully offset some of the league’s expenses and get more kids outside having fun.”
In other Black Keys news, the band told Rolling Stone last year that they’d started recording a follow-up to 2011’s Grammy-winning El Camino. Meanwhile, Auerbach and sultry singer Lana Del Rey have been collaborating (in a still-unknown capacity) on her upcoming album, Ultraviolence.