After eight long years, Alabama Shakes have officially reunited, and it feels (and sounds) so good to see the trio back in their element, plugged in and lashing out with soulful fury. On July 15, they launched their first tour since 2017 with a sold-out show at Chicago’s Salt Shed Fairgrounds that felt so natural it was like no time had passed at all.
Across 90 minutes, the wide-ranging set was intimately packed with many of their hit staples, live debuts of new music, and a few moments of pontificating from the ever-enigmatic frontwoman Brittany Howard that made you respect her even more than you possibly thought you could. Most vocal was the brand-new track “American Dream” in which Howard takes on the White House, gun violence, and body autonomy set to a bold refrain of “keep dreaming.”
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Along with the debut of a second freshly baked track “Another Life”—a heartbreaker about saying goodbye that may be one of their most gut-wrenching yet—the new material hints at a powerful direction for the act. One that carries the same explosive energy the small-town band first rolled in on in 2012 as their debut album Boys & Girls became the year’s unexpected record-scratch moment. Of course, that trajectory continued with Sound & Color in 2015, an album that was celebrated with 10 of the 12 tracks in the setlist to honor the 10th anniversary this year.
However, Alabama Shakes’ intent was not just about legacy or nostalgia but reintroducing the foundation to keep building upon it. In February, press materials announcing the reunion tour quoted Howard as saying the band (also featuring the inimitable backbone, guitarist Heath Fogg and bassist Zac Cockrell) had no intention of it being a sole “look back.” Rather, she said, “We wanted it to be as much about the future as the past.” There were clear indications of this mindset at the Chicago kickoff. The decorated stage looked like a wild jungle with towering rows of plants behind the band and ivy wrapped around mic stands, alluding to a sense of new growth and life.
The band’s updated personnel also hinted at this new phase. In 2021, long-time drummer Steve Johnson was let go from the Shakes after very serious criminal allegations came to light (though those charges were later dismissed); in his place now is Noah Bond, a solid player who previously logged time with Cut Worms, John Andrews & The Yawns, Widowspeak, Doug Tuttle and others. Adding to the band’s wall of sound setup were three backup singers (who also doubled as shimmy and shake dancers for a few numbers) as well as a handful of additional musicians including Ben Tanner and Howard’s “cousin Paul” Horton on keys.
Full as the stage was with exemplary players, though, it was hard not to zero in on Howard, whose dynamic presence and powerhouse vocals consistently command attention. In the interim years during Alabama Shakes’ long hiatus, Howard launched a successful solo career netting the incredible albums Jaime and What Now and several tours that have only edified her distinctive showmanship that’s equally effortless and formidable. As she howled out that distinctive screech to start “Don’t Wanna Fight,” you could feel it in the pit of your soul. Her high heavens riffing on “Gimme All Your Love” was so magnetic even she had to hunch over the guitar to maintain composure. Howard’s strong emotional delivery on “This Feeling” was another standout moment. “It feels kind of surreal to play this one,” she opened up with the crowd. “A long time ago, I wrote this song and it was because I saw for the first time that my life could change and my dreams could come true and I could be who I wanted to be and be celebrated.”
The sentiment was met with a wild response from an engaged crowd that stayed in lockstep with the band all night, singing along every lyric and cheering for each song from the first guitar pluckings. “I couldn’t ask for a better crowd to do our first night back, I love hearing you all sing the words back,” Howard said. “This night has been good for my heart and soul.”
As the band wrapped with the uplifting “Always Alright,” Howard had one more message to impart. “There’s a lot of crazy shit going on every day … but if it feels like things are getting out of control and it makes you feel small and you don’t know where to look for guidance … remember we got each other. … We can go on and do good things in this world. … All I gotta say is it’s gonna be alright.” In that moment, you couldn’t help but believe her.
Set List
Intro
Future People
Don’t Wanna Fight
I Ain’t the Same
I Found You
Guess Who
Hang Loose
Hold On
This Feeling
Dunes
Another Life (unreleased)
Gimme All Your Love
Over My Head
Rise to the Sun
Shoegaze
Drive By Baby
Be Mine
American Dream (unreleased)
Gemini
Encore:
Sound & Color
Someday
Always Alright
To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.
