Thursday night I was hit by a musical train in Brooklyn. It was called Alabama Shakes.

It left me stupified and shaken on Bedford Ave. The Shakes are new band from Athens, AL (not Georgia or Greece) and took the whole Williamsburg area by storm when they took the stage at the Brooklyn Bowl.


I either caught “lightning in a bottle” or this is the start of something very special.  My bet is that these guys (and gal) will quickly be noticed by many. As always the key is to sustain the good music.  It may take a band 10 years to write a great few songs…then they are expected to come up with a follow-up album in just 12 months that is as good or better.

Alabama Shakes is led by the talent of Brittany Howard and her Earth shaking style…she plays guitar (lefty of course) and sings and dances like she ain’t got nothing to lose.  


My friend Charlie invited me to see this band that “caught people’s attention at CMJ” earlier this year. I looked them up and was initially not crazy about the music but he swore they killed it opening for Drive-by Truckers not along ago.

See for yourself…

They have a four song “album” that can be downloaded for four bucks and a few clips on YouTube.  Simple and easy to digest. They certainly are evolving their image as I write this…

God damn…they sold out the Brooklyn Bowl.

A place that has hosted some fantastic acts over the last few years…many of which never sold out.  I saw Karl Denson last month and the place was empty. Also caught North Mississippi there last month…half full.

Little did I know (and learned after the show when I sat down to investigate these folks some more…), they were named by Paste Magazine as 2011 New Band of the Year.  Paste’s Josh Jackson writes, “At some point, God decided to take the voices of Janis Joplin, Robert Plant and Tina Turner and roll them all up into the body of Brittany Howard.”  Big shoes to fill, but a big women with a big voice and something fresh and unique.


Funny thing is the songs online don’t even come close to capturing what me, Charlie and all the lucky others (sorry Burke, sorry Jay P) witnessed. This band shook the place to its core.  Their song “Hold On” (click here for a YouTube version).

I have a feeling they will turn up at Mountain Jam this year.  I got my pass…do you?

I should not forget that one of my favorite local bands (from Brooklyn) — Spirit Family Reunion Band — opened up the show.  (See my post and great photos on these guys from TBR blog 6/27/11) 

Spirit Family was a perfect complement to the kind of audience swaying type of evening it turned out to be.  I am very happy for them that they were able to showcase their talents in front of all these people…and perhaps at one of the many memorable shows the Bowl will host (at least for this werepanther).

Gotham Gal caught the show (the picture above is from her site) too…says Brittany “seriously rocks”.

Alabama Shakes is heading out of town, but I will be waiting for their return.
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