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Grammy Awards: Black Keys, on being one of the evening’s wild card winners

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The last-minute win by Arcade Fire for album of the year wasn’t the only upset at the 53rd Grammy Awards. Depending on whom you ask, the Black Keys pulled out two upsets on Sunday night. (And we haven’t forgotten about you either, Esperanza.)

Though the Akron, Ohio, rock duo’s 2010 album, ‘Brothers,’ was a critically acclaimed disc -- and winner for packaging -- the band scooped up alternative album and rock performance by a duo or group with vocals, beating out Canada’s Arcade Fire (and their critically lauded disc, “The Suburbs”) twice.

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The win came as a clear shock for the Midwestern gents, who wandered backstage in full tux regalia (they told the press room that the last time they wore suits, they were at a funeral) with befuddled looks on their faces.

“We never even expected to get invited, after we were nominated,” said drummer Patrick Carney.

The two plan on starting their new album next month, though the burning question was if they planned on releasing a follow-up to “Blakroc,” their collaborative album with Damon Dash that featured rappers such as Mos Def, RZA and Q-Tip.

“We aren’t planning on doing anymore of that,” lead singer Dan Auerbach said. “But we have half of an album done that we may give to a label. It has Jay Electronica, Wiz Khalifa and Currensy.”

— Gerrick D. Kennedy

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