It’s been a rapid rise for Alabama Shakes, whose debut full length Boys & Girls is only a year old but already feels like a stone cold classic.
It’s a tremendously assured record and that sense of confidence is evident from the start of this show, their first date of their debut Australian tour. “Goin’ To The Party” kicks off proceedings in spirited fashion with Brittany Howard’s soulful southern rock holler faultless from the start.
A storming version of the joyous “I Found You” follows in quick succession and keeps up the momentum from an appreciative sold out crowd. It’s almost the perfect Alabama Shakes song – unabashedly classicist but also incredibly fresh.
There’s also the strong sense it’s personal and heartfelt but the universality of the sentiment means the tunes are engaging rather than alienating. They’re not just describing the party; they’re inviting you to it.
With a fine spray of spittle flying from her mouth at times ands glasses fogging up with exertion, Howard is rarely far from the centre of attention and her stirring vocals are the band’s most obvious drawcard.
But it would be remiss to downplay the contributions of bassist Zac Cockerill (looking very much the part with his outlaw beard and denim overalls), and touring member Ben Tanner, whose driving organ work is a major part of their soul rock sound.
A charismatic presence, Howard’s words of vulnerability and defiance in talking about the lyrics add considerably to the power of the songs. She explains title track “Boys & Girls” relates to a friendship she had with a local boy as a child that people tried to break up, seeing their closeness as somehow inappropriate.
Before “Heartbreaker” she sighs, “this is a song I wish I didn’t have to write,” adding to the emotional heft of its direct lyrics; “now I’m laying on this killing floor and I wanna die.”
Later she talks about overcoming pre-show nerves and how getting on stage was the “best decision I ever made.”
The set takes in the impassioned “Hold On” where Howard lets loose in the chorus. Her voice is a thing of awesome power, but it’s to the group’s credit that they don’t rely too heavily on her bottom-of-the-gut howl too heavily.
They are instead mainly content to settle into a relatively restrained groove and use her most powerful moments as a shock weapon rather than their stock in trades. The moments of sheer power are all the more bracing for their relative scarcity.
“You Ain’t Alone” and the good-time swagger of “Hang Loose” also feature in a set that rewards the rapt attention of the devoted crowd in spades.
There’s also a new song, “Always Alright”, featured on the Silver Linings Playbook soundtrack, which again brings to mind iconic influences like Creedence Clearwater Revival and Janis Joplin, but is also touched by Howard’s bullish optimism and self-reliance.
The life-affirming “Be Mine” is the highlight though, its irresistible melody taking in the group’s most memorable statement of intent: “If they want to fight/ they done fucked with the wrong heart.”
After an encore, Howard thanks the crowd repeatedly for their support and reluctantly leaves, bringing to a close a whole-hearted performance.
The climb to the top has been a steep one for the Shakes but judging by the outpouring of love for them on show tonight, they’ve only just begun.
