Alabama Shakes impress with blues-rock performance at energetic New York reunion show
Over the recent months, the music industry has been captivated by the narrative of two British siblings reconciling to bring songs like “Wonderwall” back to the global stage. Witnessing 80,000 attendees harmonize over Oasis hits at MetLife Stadium was an experience to remember. However, there was another reunion concert that was also highly anticipated, that of Alabama Shakes.
After disbanding in 2018, the Alabama Shakes, fronted by the talented Brittany Howard, announced a concert tour in early January with the promise of new music. Surprisingly, despite the absence of a new album release, apart from their first single in a decade titled “Another Life,” the band managed to draw a crowd of 13,000 to Forest Hills Stadium for their long-awaited New York performance.
Opening with the melodic guitar riffs of “Hang Loose,” a song infused with surf rock vibes, Brittany Howard took center stage draped in a flowing white cloak. Though there were minor pitch issues during tracks like “I Ain’t the Same” and “Future People,” the band quickly found their rhythm, transforming the mellow “Guess Who” into a showcase of Howard’s vocal prowess alongside three backup singers. The crowd’s rapturous applause after each song often left Howard at a loss for words.
Acknowledging the crowd’s overwhelming welcome, Brittany shared anecdotes of her past life delivering mail as a USPS worker before the Alabama Shakes’ meteoric rise to fame. She expressed heartfelt gratitude and wonder at the sea of enthusiastic fans gathered to celebrate the band’s reunion. The audience, mostly comprised of older fans, sat throughout the concert but remained animated, offering spirited cheers and exclamations of approval, creating an electrifying atmosphere.
The band minimized direct references to their upcoming music and focused on delivering popular tracks from their debut album “Boys & Girls” and the well-received “Sound & Color.” Members Heath Fogg and Zac Cockrell stood in the shadows behind Howard, opting not to address the audience directly. Notably, drummer Steve Johnson was absent from the lineup due to past legal issues.
Among the standout performances of the night were “This Feeling,” demonstrating the band’s knack for musical simplicity, and “Dunes,” a display of their ability to mold unconventional melodies into a thunderous prog-rock experience. “Miss You” shone as one of the night’s highlights, with Howard charming the audience by narrating the humorous backstory to the song while evoking genuine emotions.
As the concert approached its climax, the audience wholeheartedly engaged with anthemic tracks like “Hold On” and the cathartic “Always Alright,” showcasing Alabama Shake’s timeless appeal. Despite the absence of any grand gestures or excessive fanfare heralding their musical return, the band managed to captivate the audience, blending old fan favorites with new tracks like “Another Life” and “American Dream.”
In essence, the Alabama Shakes’ return to the stage was a testament to their enduring musical prowess and their ability to entrance audiences with their soulful blues-rock anthems. The reunion tour was not just a revival of past hits but a reaffirmation of the band’s musical legacy and their unwavering bond with fans, reminding us that the essence of their music transcends time and trends.