The Alabama Shakes – Brittany Howard (vocals, guitar), Heath Fogg (guitar), and Zac Cockrell (bass) have always possessed an uncanny ability to find beauty in every aspect of life. It seems their philosophy involves fully embracing the darkness, because without the bitter, the sweet just ain’t as sweet. As we, as a society, are experiencing unprecedented amounts of apathy and cruelty on a daily basis, the return of the Alabama Shakes and their life-affirming music has come just in the nick of time.
During the band’s July 16 concert at The Salt Shed in Chicago, the second night in the city, where Howard, Fogg, Cockrell, and a full backing band decided to make their triumphant return after an eight-year absence, fans enjoyed favorites from Boys & Girls (2012), Sound & Color (2015), and even a few new songs. The vibes were immaculate throughout the night, so much so that Howard thanked the packed crowd for bringing such a beautiful energy to the experience.
“I was tired before I came out here and then you all did something to me,” she said. “Thank you. I’m a lucky ducky. You know what? I missed you.”
The setlist began with the crowd-pleasing “Hang Loose.” “I Ain’t the Same,” featuring impassioned vocals from Howard and impressive bass work from Cockrell, soon followed. By the time the band wrapped up “I Found You,” it was magic hour and a beautiful vanilla sky emerged as the perfect backdrop for the magic unfolding on stage.
After playing “Hold On,” during which everyone in attendance sang along, Howard was visibly moved by the outpouring of love.
“You all know you can’t make me cry, right. I got a bunch of songs left. You’ll mess me up,” she said.
“This Feeling,” a sparse, emotional song of perseverance, silenced the crowd as the band did what they do best – mine moments big and small for universal truths.
“I remember writing this when Sound & Color was being written,” explained Howard. “I remember sitting in my basement and kind of just reflecting for the first time, like how my life had changed. Some of ya’ll don’t know this but I was born in a junk yard and then eventually I started working for the postal office and I thought that was gonna be the best I could do was deliver mail, which was a great job and it had benefits and stuff. I thought I would do music on the side. Once I took time to reflect, I was like, ‘Oh my god, this is what I always wanted to do.’ And of all people for it to happen to, it happened to me. It happened to us. And we all went to school together. It’s crazy.”
“Miss You,” “Sound & Color,” and a pair of new tunes were further highlights of the setlist.
Earlier in the night, the talented soul singer Lee Fields warmed-up the crowd with a performance full of charismatic showmanship and catchy music. “Ladies” and “You Can Count on Me” were just a few of the songs that had fans smiling as Fields sang.
Check out photos from Night Two of the Alabama Shakes at The Salt Shed below and click here to pick-up tickets to see them on future tour dates. More information can be found at Alabamashakes.com.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)
