A lot of musicians would use their successful band’s self-imposed timeout to relax. Kick it on some private island in the Caribbean. Chase women. Party like, well, a rock star. Or at least mix in a shave or two.

Not Dan Auerbach.

The ever-active and innovative singer-guitarist of Ohio-based garage-blues-rock act The Black Keys has used his band’s hiatus to tour in promotion of his debut solo album, “Keep It Hid.”

The heavily bearded Auerbach produced the album himself, and describes it as a mix of “psychedelia, soul music, loud and soft guitars.” Backed by a full band this time, Auerbach’s always gritty and passionate vocals explore tales of dark topics like romantic betrayal, yet he also manages to push past the boundaries of the blues. Guests on the album include singer Jessica Lea Mayfield, who was also featured on the Black Keys’ last album, “Attack & Release.”

The album and the tour have shown a rather notable departure from the minimalist yet animalistic guitar-and-drum formula the Black Keys have patented, incorporating thumping bass, throbbing organ and even a second drummer at times.

A recent New York Times review of the album said it “often sounds as if sprung from a psychedelic vault”, yet “doesn’t quite feel retro or especially arcane.” The Boston Herald described one of Auerbach’s recent New York shows as a cross between “the ragged, groovy, electrified vibe of a classic Fillmore set” and “a post-grunge, post-punk, post-Black Sabbath fury” that resulted in “original, jagged, fire-spitting guitar workouts.”

He's playin' a show in Austin on the 18th with the Swamp Fox - Tony Joe White. Get other tour dates and hear songs from the album here.