Alabama Shakes

January 30, 2016 1:08 PM

Brittany Howard On Small-Town Life, Big-Time Music - "Howard was raised on her father's junkyard in the small town of Athens, Ala. 'It was a really interesting way to grow up', she tells Fresh Air."

BitterOldPunk on April 25, 2012: "In three years, Alabama Shakes will be a household name, you'll hear their music everywhere, and EVERYONE will know who Brittany Howard is."

also btw...
-Sound & Color Album Review
-KCRW Presents: Alabama Shakes, Live In Concert
-Alabama Shakes - Montreux Jazz Festival 2015
-Alabama Shakes - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2014
-Alabama Shakes - Haldern Pop Festival 2013
-Alabama Shakes - Montreux Jazz Festival 2012
-Alabama Shakes, Live In Concert: SXSW 2012

previously

posted by kliuless (14 comments total)

Brittany Howard was asked in an interview who her influences were as a singer and her response was something like "I know everyone expects me to say Aretha Franklin but really I just want to sound like Bon Scott."

Fuck yeah, Brittany. You do you.

Noteworthy: her side project with members of Fly Golden Eagle -- Thunderbitch, "I Just Wanna Rock And Roll"
posted by BitterOldPunk at 1:31 PM on January 30, 2016 [11 favorites]

My goodness that voice.
posted by gwint at 1:43 PM on January 30, 2016 [1 favorite]

!
posted by AugustWest at 2:10 PM on January 30, 2016

Please don't miss the chance to see them in concert if they come through your town. They're just amazing live.
posted by octothorpe at 2:11 PM on January 30, 2016 [3 favorites]

I have read a few interviews with her and she comes off as much more sensible and fun than most Artistes. Good on her, and the whole band.
posted by wenestvedt at 2:18 PM on January 30, 2016

I'm not really into Alabama Shakes but my word is she talented.
posted by basicchannel at 2:36 PM on January 30, 2016

> Please don't miss the chance to see them in concert if they come through your town. They're just amazing live.

Oh god, yes. We saw them last year at the Greek in Berkeley. We got tickets mostly because Neko Case was also on the bill, and we were like well, the Shakes seem cool, sure!

It was as close to a religious experience as I'll ever get, I reckon. If the Greek had a roof, she would have blown it off and clear across the bay. Definitely one of the very best live shows I've ever been to. If you can go, go!
posted by rtha at 3:15 PM on January 30, 2016 [5 favorites]

BitterOldPunk on April 25, 2012: "In three years, Alabama Shakes will be a household name, you'll hear their music everywhere, and EVERYONE will know who Brittany Howard is."

Of course BOP was prescient but so was Doleful Creature for making the original Post and all 30 MeFites who favorited it (myself included). MetaFilter is the one-of-a-kind web community that appreciates Good Things like the Shakes... and a woman who knows the right way to spell 'Brittany'.
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:35 PM on January 30, 2016 [4 favorites]

Oh god, yes. We saw them last year at the Greek in Berkeley. We got tickets mostly because Neko Case was also on the bill, and we were like well, the Shakes seem cool, sure!


The Shakes and Neko Case on one bill? Nice. I saw Neko in a free show in the park last summer and was blown away and have tickets to see here again next month in a club near here.
posted by octothorpe at 4:08 PM on January 30, 2016 [2 favorites]

I like the new record way more than their earlier sound. Sound and Color the song is an especially astonishing evolution. They're becoming more modern, less retro, but also more soulful. I can't wait to see what happens next.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 4:19 PM on January 30, 2016 [2 favorites]

I love that in the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival video that many of the shots that pan the audience feature women fans.

Also, that while her voice and guitar style are not necessarily that close, the way she stands with the instrument reminds me so much of the fabulous Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
posted by layceepee at 6:23 PM on January 30, 2016 [3 favorites]

Really love the new album. It's terrific.
posted by drklahn at 9:48 PM on January 30, 2016

I saw them live when they came to Merriweather in Columbia, MD last fall. It was a blast! My friend who never heard their music before really enjoyed Brittany's facial expressions when she sings. But yeah, that voice!

If I ever have a biopic made about my life, Always Alright is going to be the intro/opening credits music.
posted by numaner at 8:28 PM on February 1, 2016

Any BayAreans in the thread: they just announced a date for August at the Greek! Fuck yeah!
posted by rtha at 6:08 PM on February 10, 2016