Concert Review: Alabama Shakes delivers a stunning sold-out show in Nashville
By: Dylan Basden
After almost a decade away, Alabama Shakes headline Ascend Amphitheater for a sold-out return to the Music City.
Emerging from their slumber, a sporadic hiatus since 2018, Alabama Shakes made their official return in December of ’24 with an unannounced performance in Tuscaloosa. Now having embarked on their return tour, The Shakes are back in full force; sold out amphitheaters, festival appearances, and teases of new music have dotted the summer.
A stage draped in faux-foliage and a little bit of CCR welcomed The Shakes back to Nashville. The band, Brittany Howard (vocals, guitar), Zac Cockrell (bass), and Heath Fogg (lead guitar), are joined by an entourage of backing musicians across keys, percussion, and background vocals. This is a large production, flanked by a vast wall of lights and an eager crowd, but truthfully quickly it was all quickly forgotten as the beach-flavored guitar strums and jangly production of “Hang Loose” kicked in, the attention was solely diverted to the music. One of the band’s more upbeat songs, listeners saw Fogg lean into the looping guitar riff that dominates to core of the song. It felt like the perfect opening for this show, like a friendly hug welcoming you back home.
Pinning down The Shakes’ sound can be difficult to say the least, with their expert fusion of southern rock, soul, blues, garage rock, and a wide range of other genres, the band has crafted something truly unique to them. I think that is the attraction, it was certainly for the 6,700-some-odd fans in the crowd. “Future People” comes to mind, with its distinct bass plucking from Cockrell and almost piercing guitar riff. The song also layers an eclectic mix of keys and background vocals, adding to what is a rather thrilling song. It has bite to it, it jumps out at you, and truthfully it just kicks ass live. An apt description of the band itself.
It almost feels dismissive of the rest of Alabama Shakes when you go to talk about Brittany Howard—a powerhouse vocalist and dynamic frontwoman, Howard could share the stage with anyone alive and manage to steal the spotlight. From the most delicate moments on ”Joe” to the bombastic wails of “Gimme All Your Love,” Howard showcases some of the most incredible dynamic range you will ever hear live. With Howard, it’s not just the wide range of notes she can hit, but the sheer force behind them. There are moments where she is kicking you in the chest like a kickdrum, booming and commanding. Brittany Howard is a force, an unstoppable one at that, and I don’t see any so-called immovable objects in her path. It really is no surprise that she has found success with Alabama Shakes, her own solo career, and even as a feature artist (her work on Miley Cyrus’ album Something Beautiful is exactly that) and actor.
Setlist
Hang Loose
I Ain’t the Same
I Found You
Guess Who
Future People
Hold On
This Feeling
Miss You
Dunes
Another Life [Unreleased]
Rise to the Sun
Over My Head
Shoegaze
Someday
Joe
American Dream [Unreleased]
Don’t Wanna Fight
Gimme All Your Love
-
Sound & Color
Drive By Baby
Always Alright
Look, I’m a native of Alabama who has listened to The Shakes for years, there is going to be a lot of bias here. I could ramble endlessly about their influence, their legacy, and what they mean to their stomping grounds, but at the end of the day this is about their performance. It was truly one of the best I’ve ever seen. This is a band with no skips (and that includes the handful of unreleased tracks they played) and an incredibly dynamic sound. There are moments when you feel like you’re front row at Nissan Stadium and others where you’re sitting along the wall of The Basement, the band’s ability to drag you in for a moment of intimacy is like no other. If you are a fan of music, Alabama Shakes will bring something to the table for you, and that might as well be the understatement of the century. I expect we’ll be hearing more out of the band going forward, to which I cannot wait.
