Southern rock, blues, groovy-acoustics, and hard-hitting soul, all in one: Alabama Shakes, a little quartet from Athens, Alabama making some big waves. Their versatility is undeniable, encompassing everything the southern music scene has to offer, with the fiery rock of a mid-western band.
Getting their start back in 2009, the band will be releasing their first album, titled Boys & Girls, next month. The most anticipated song seems to be “Hold On,” which is what the band played on Conan, using it to mark their national television debut. While “Hold On” was a memorable song and performance, “I Found You” is what epitomizes the band’s sound.
The song delves down into your soul with lead singer Brittany Howard’s vocals, filled with passion and surprisingly, age. She sings with the same airiness of Corinne Bailey Rae and Norah Jones, but sounds like she has years and years of experience. Howard is what ties the soul of this modern rock band, the unique element of Alabama Shakes. Heath Fogg and Zac Cockrell, guitarist and bassist, provide the catchy riff that links the verses, building up the song at the right moments and taking it down in typical soul fashion, allowing us to reflect on how great the music is. Drummer Steve Johnson carefully constructs the rhythm, again playing with the different genres, almost leading his band in the direction to play.
To put it simply, Alabama Shakes is a breath of fresh air, a nice change of pace from the typical alternative band. They collectively bring something to their music, and shows us how music has the ability to transport us between genres, as well as eras.