The Alabama Shakes (above) and Drive-By Truckers (below) @ Forest Hills Tennis Stadium (Sept. 19, 2015) Photos By: Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

Close your eyes and think of a killer early fall night. (Ahhhhh…)


Now picture yourself walking down a tree-lined pathway to the tastefully quaint Forest Hills Tennis Center in Queens (see pic below)… under a crystal clear starry sky and harvest moon, to boot.


The set-up for Saturday night’s show with Alabama Shakes and Drive-By Truckers was super fantabulous.

If you didn’t already know…


Mother Nature is a huge Alabama Shakes fan… and she made sure all her creatures were on their best behavior for tonight’s show.

Brittany Howard of The Alabama Shakes @ Forest Hills Tennis Stadium (Sept. 19, 2015) Photos By: Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

Brittany Howard and her band always (100%) show up large when playing in NYC (see Brooklyn story).  The woman has such rage and soul in her songs and voice, she could very well be a spawn of the almighty Mother Nature herself.


Tonight, the Alabama Shakes entertained like no other rock band has ever.  Their act is insanely unique and universally good.


Watch the clip below from the show on YouTube (click here if no pic below)

After seeing their new songs live at Mountain Jam in June (click here for that story), I was very impressed that the keenly produced Sound and Color sophomore release translated to the live stage so well.


The new songs now have evolved and sound even better.  All of the songs are solid and provide a forum for Brittany to take off at any moment… kinda like videos of Janis Joplin when from a dead stop she would rail off some blazing vocals and singe your eyebrows.

But, wait it gets better!

Now imagine, the Drive-by Truckers opening up for the Shakes.  Their tight, no nonsense rocking set was great (albeit short), well appreciated and drew a nice hardcore DBT audience from all over.  

Jay Gonzalez of Drive-By Truckers @ Forest Hills Tennis Stadium (Sept. 19, 2015) Photos By: Nick S. (Mr. DBT)

The Drive-by Truckers have THE BEST FANS who certainly appreciated the relationship between the two Alabama bands.  Just look at the picture above of the youngest hardcore DBT fan in the world… and below at the biggest Amish DBT fan in the world (who showed me his new vinyl on the train). 

Amish Drive-By Truckers Fan on the train @ Forest Hills Tennis Stadium (Sept. 19, 2015) Photos By: Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

The “with Special Guest” billing (below) was a nice sign of respect for Drive-By Truckers, who helped bring Alabama Shakes to the big stage not too long ago when the Shakes opened for DBT.

Okay, okay… It gets better. I’m not joking.


I was there with a large super cool diverse group of people AND got to watch the strong hour-long DBT set with two members of the Alabama Shakes (see below) who were investigating the scene before their set.

Thank you Mother Nature.


Thank you Alabama Shakes and DBT.


Flap your wings!