The Black Keys performs on the third day of the Rothbury festival on Saturday, July 5, 2008, in Rothbury, Michigan. (Romain Blanquart-Detroit Free Press | MCT )

The Black Keys will be headlining W.I.L.D. today. To get you familiar with the band, Cadenza reporter Steve Hardy has scoured the band’s Web sites and past interviews to compile a list of fast facts with all you need to know to get acquainted with the headliners.

Who are they?

The Black Keys are, and have always been, a duo of guitarist and vocalist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney. They started playing together when they were teenagers in Akron, Ohio. They’re an indie blues rock group that has been critically acclaimed since their debut album “The Big Come Up” got four-star reviews from both “Rolling Stone” and Allmusic. In February, Auerbach released his first solo album, “Keep it Hid.”

What have they done?

The duo have released five studio albums since their debut in 2002, most recently last year’s “Attack and Release,” which gained them more mainstream popularity. The album was produced by Danger Mouse and features songs such as “I Got Mine” and “Strange Times.” The band has played everywhere from Bonnaroo to Red Rocks and toured with bands such as Radiohead and My Morning Jacket. “Time” gave the group third in the article “10 Best Acts of 2003”—above bands like Radiohead, The Strokes and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Wait, haven’t I heard them before?

Even if you’ve never actually bought a Black Keys album, you might recognize them from several commercial endeavors. Their music has been featured in “School of Rock,” “Black Snake Moan,” “Cloverfield,” “The OC” and “NHL 08,” to name but a few. The song “Girl Is on My Mind” was also memorably used in a Victoria’s Secret ad campaign featuring Heidi Klum.

What do they sound like?

The band members describe their sound as just “rock ‘n’ roll,” but they also have a distinctive bluesy twinge paired with minimalist fuzzy guitar. They are often (though they think incorrectly) compared to fellow color-named, blues-rock duo The White Stripes, which might be apt, but there’s something perhaps a bit more rough around the edges in The Black Keys’ music. Though hailing from Ohio, they are often considered part of a delta-soul revival, and there are some flavors reminiscent of electric country and bluegrass in the mix as well. Generally, though, the band maintains a range of material—from sprawling blues jams to tight, loud, fast rock.

Who are their influences?

The group has, in several interviews, offered several influences, from Howlin’ Wolf and ’50s Sun Records (Roy Orbison, Elvis, etc.) to Frank Zappa and Jimi Hendrix to Cream (Eric Clapton’s band). Now the duo are winning over famous fans for themselves. Among their fans are members of Led Zeppelin, ZZ Top, Metallica and Arctic Monkeys.

Who’s their favorite band?

Although they profess to being fans of music as diverse as “old-school rap,” Honeydew Edwards, The Shins, Modest Mouse and Neil Young, Auerbach and Carney agree that their favorite band is fellow Akronites Devo.

What’s with the piano reference in their name?

Aren’t they a drummer and a guitarist? Actually, back when the duo was still mowing grass on the bad side of town, they were called “black keys” by a schizophrenic artist who meant that they were, in some way, odd.

Ooh, I’m intrigued. What tracks should I download right now?

“Heavy Soul” off the band’s debut is fantastic, and the name itself is representative of the group’s style. “Thickfreakness” and “Hard Row” off the album “Thickfreakness” are great, and the single “Strange Times” from the newest album “Attack and Release” is another good track. Plus, the video is a laser tag fight. Personally, my favorite, though, is “Things Ain’t Like They Used to Be” off the same album. It’s not exactly a barnburner like some of the others, but it is just as heartwrenching.