On Thursday, Marcus King and Dan Auerbach shared an acoustic performance of “Beautiful Stranger”, the latest single from King’s forthcoming debut solo album El Dorado, produced by The Black Keys‘ Auerbach.
Before the unlikely duo launched into the song at Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound studio, King introduced it by saying “this is a tune about, you know, you go to those same ole’, divey bars and you see the same ole’ folks coming in and out of there. This is really kind of a good drinking song and it’s a good love song.” King then gave credit to Paul Overstreet, who lent a hand on the song and who King and Auerbach both agreed is “the best person to write with” concerning the topics of love and drinking.
The pair then launched into a melancholy melody between King’s lead Resonator guitar and Auerbach’s acoustic providing the rhythm. The song speaks of the “beautiful stranger” from across the bar, “I don’t know your name/but I know what you drink.” King sings of the kind of quiet camaraderie that’s bred in the filthy dive bars he talked about in the introduction; sometimes you want to go where nobody knows your name. However, it is King beckoning out to this beautiful stranger, “come sit next to me/we’ll find a slow song to dance to/strangers we’ll no longer be.”
Watch Marcus King and Dan Auerbach perform “Beautiful Stranger” below. The song is also available to stream through Spotify.
Marcus King & Dan Auerbach – “Beautiful Stranger” (Acoustic at Easy Eye Sound)
[Video: MarcusKingBandVEVO]
“Beautiful Stranger” joins previously released El Dorado singles “The Well“, “One Day She’s Here“, and “Wildflowers & Wine“. King has also been taking every opportunity to offer intimate, solo renditions of the songs, including a performance at World Cafe Live earlier this week. El Dorado is due out January 17th via Fantasy Records.
King is on the road in the midst of an extensive tour promoting the album with his namesake The Marcus King Band, who were not involved in the making of El Dorado. A full list of tour dates and tickets are available on the band’s website.