Shaking It Down
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| photo by paul dunkley |
A long line formed in the hot afternoon sun, as people
descended upon the Santa Barbara Bowl box office window in a desperate attempt
to grab a coveted ticket to see The Alabama Shakes.
The long-sold-out show was highly anticipated as the Alabama
Shakes toured on their sophomore album, Sound
& Color. The band has shown artistic growth with their second album. It's
slightly more eclectic and soulful than their debut album, Boys & Girls. Known for their ecstatic, blues-based rock, this more
deliberate sound was mesmerizing.
Brittany Howard emerged on stage decked out in a full-length
green gown and a new haircut. The band immediately jumped into “Future People,”
a poignant, funky blues song with high-pitch vocals and a catchy hook that
pulls you in and then stops abruptly. The Santa Barbara crowd immediately
jumped to attention, leaving no space left in the pit. People packed against
the stage to get a glimpse of Brittany as the crowd moved as one.
Graciously, Brittany thanked the crowd, then moved onto
“Always Alright,” an upbeat, honky-tonk, bluesy dance tune, that got the crowd
shaking even more. Incorporating songs from their first album into the mix, The
Alabama Shakes hit the mark by including “Hang Loose” and “Heartbreak” early in
the set. However, it was Brittany’s improved stage presence that really entranced
the crowd.
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| photo by paul dunkley |
Pushing her guitar aside, Brittany used her body as well as
her voice to bring the lively crowd to a church-like silence during “Joe,” a
gospel-like blues song. The Alabama Shakes kept the crowd in the moment by
following up with the equally deeply emotional “Miss You” and “This Feeling,”
until finally breaking the spell with their radio hit “Don’t Wanna Fight,” an
easy-flowing blues jam.
The Alabama Shakes were unrelenting as Brittany exclaimed,
“I could do this all night!” And so could Santa Barbara, shaking it down until
the very last song.