A decade in the dark may have done some bands harm, but not Alabama Shakes – they've emerged from their hiatus like a phoenix rising, blazing with a fire that refuses to be extinguished! Their long-awaited return to the UK stage was met with an electric buzz at Millennium Square in Leeds this week, as fans went wild for the multi-Grammy-winning blues-soul-rock outfit.
The band, fronted by the incomparable Brittany Howard – a woman whose voice can shatter glass and soothe souls in equal measure – hit the ground running with a thunderous rendition of 'Rise to the Sun'. This opening track set the tone for an evening that careened through their diverse soundscapes like a runaway train, from the smooth grooves of 'Hang Loose' to the raw, raspy vocals that leave you breathless. Howard's commanding stage presence was a masterclass in control and passion – she shifted seamlessly from Curtis Mayfield-esque falsetto to powerful, Aretha Franklin-like belting, leaving the crowd gasping for air.
The current line-up is a five-piece powerhouse, backed by three vocal heavy-hitters, and they're not afraid to strip things back to the bare essentials. Their minimalist backdrop – think vintage computer screensaver chic – allowed the music to take centre stage, and boy, did it deliver! New tracks like 'Time' – an instrumental workout that fused hard rock with psychedelic elements – and 'Gimme All Your Love', a polished R&B beast with blistering guitar riffs, left the crowd panting for more.
But beneath all the pyrotechnics and high-octane energy lies a band with a message – a palpable sense of hope and resilience that seeps from every pore. It's there in the moving performance of their 2012 hit 'Hold On', its mantra-like cries still resonating today, and in Howard's emotional delivery on 'This Feeling', where she sang about overcoming adversity with a raw honesty that left us all moved to tears. Even the encore – featuring the new single 'American Dream' – conveyed a sense of defiance and hope in the face of adversity, as the band tackled issues like abortion rights and gun violence.
Alabama Shakes have left an indelible mark on the global music scene, with multiple Grammys to their name. Their return to the UK after so long has been met with excitement from fans and critics alike – we can't wait to see what they do next! With their forthcoming third album on the horizon, anticipation is building for a renewed creative period that promises to be as explosive as it is uplifting.
While no specific streaming details have been announced for their new album, you can find their previous works on major UK streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. Get ready to join the party – Alabama Shakes are back, and they're here to stay!