Alabama Shakes, Brixton Academy

For those of you who think rock music is all greasy hair, leather and turbo guitar – we’ve got a gig to change your mind.
Alabama Shakes belong to a rusty, Southern old-school of rock ‘n’ roll, where blues and country bleed in from either end. Lead singer Brittany Howard possesses the kind of creaky soul vocals that makes hair stand on end. The production is unfussy. Blocky chords are bashed out from a piano. Big booms come from a snare drum and delicious riffs chug from electric guitar. The effect falls somewhere between Aretha Franklin and Kings of Leon. Have a listen - you can’t help but feel joyous.
It's been a remarkable few years for Alabama Shakes, who in late 2011 were still shopping what became their debut LP around independent record labels, and were still 6 months away from a breakthrough appearance at NPR's showcase at Austin's sprawling SXSW festival.
Fast-forward a little over three years (during which they made their UK festival and TV debuts), and with a follow-up to the well-received Boys & Girls slated for release in April and a world tour in the offing, things are looking good for Brittany Howard and co, feted by everyone from Justin Vernon to Jamie Oliver for their homespun, howling, Southern-tinged rock and roll.
It remains to be seen whether Sound and Colour, their second LP, will pack the same raw punch as their first – but early signs are promising. Tickets for November's show are on sale this Friday (27^th) and expected to sell out in short order, so be here at 9am to be in with a chance!