Alabama Shakes
Alabama Shakes is an American rock band known for their powerful blend of folk, blues, classic rock, and soul. Formed in 2009 in Athens, Alabama, the band features lead singer Brittany Howard, guitarist Heath Fogg, drummer Steve Johnson, and bassist Zac Cockrell. They gained prominence with their debut album, *Boys & Girls*, released in 2012, which earned them two Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist. Their follow-up album, *Sound & Color* (2015), was a critical success, winning three Grammy Awards, including Best Alternative Music Album. The band's energetic live performances, particularly Howard's commanding vocals, contributed to their growing popularity. They enjoyed significant exposure through online music blogs and performances at major festivals, which helped them transition from local gigs to a national audience. In 2018, Alabama Shakes took an indefinite hiatus as members pursued solo projects, yet their impact on the contemporary music scene remains notable. Their music reflects a wider appreciation for diverse genres among younger listeners, marking a significant trend in the music of the 2010s.
Subject Terms
Alabama Shakes
Musical group
Zac Cockrell
- Born: February 18, 1988
Heath Fogg
- Born: August 11, 1984
Brittany Howard
- Born: October 2, 1988
Steve Johnson
- Born: April 19, 1985
- Brittany Howard
- Guitarist and vocalist
- Heath Fogg
- Guitarist
- Steve Johnson
- Drummer
- Zac Cockrell
- Bassist
Contribution: Alabama Shakes are an American rock band. After the release of their first album, Boys & Girls, in 2012, the group received two Grammy Award nominations, including one for best new artist. Their second album, Sound & Color (2015), won three Grammy Awards.
Background
Alabama Shakes lead singer Brittany Howard began writing songs when she was four years old. In 2007, as a student at East Limestone High School in Athens, Alabama, Howard met bassist Zac Cockrell in an advanced psychology class.
Still writing music and teaching herself to play guitar, Howard asked Cockrell to collaborate with her because she knew he played bass and often wore T-shirts adorned with the logos of obscure bands she liked. Howard and Cockrell started writing original songs, recording demos, and practicing together after school.
Howard and Cockrell then met drummer Steve Johnson, and the three formed a trio shortly thereafter. The group’s first incarnation experimented with a variety of rock-based sounds thanks to Cockrell’s background as a punk musician. They began playing at local venues, and their live set grew to include cover songs by artists such as Otis Redding and Led Zeppelin. After the group recorded a demo in nearby Decatur, Georgia, Johnson met guitarist Heath Fogg through a mutual friend and gave him the recording.
In May 2009, Fogg asked the trio if they could open for his band, Tuco’s Pistol, at a club in Decatur called the Brick. Fogg offered to play guitar with the group onstage, and the foursome began to practice and compose together. The chemistry between the four was electric, and Fogg ultimately joined the group as a full-time member. Then known simply as the Shakes, the group began performing in and around Athens, honing the energetic live sound that was to become their hallmark.
Career
As the Shakes’ popularity grew, the group recorded a four-song EP in early 2011 to sell at shows. In July 2011, the indie music blog Aquarium Drunkard posted the song “You Ain’t Alone” from the EP as a free download, complete with a brief but glowing review. The Shakes also received considerable attention after a short profile of the band was featured on NPR Music’s website.
In one of the truest examples of the power of the Internet in exposing independent artists to new listeners, the two reviews would, in a matter of days, make the Shakes one of the most sought-after unsigned bands in the country. Patterson Hood, a member of the Athens-based country rock band Drive-By Truckers, read the review on Aquarium Drunkard and invited the Shakes to join the Truckers on a national tour. Up until this point, Howard had been working as a postal carrier, Johnson was working at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in Decatur, Cockrell held a job at a veterinarian’s office, and Fogg painted and decorated houses for a living. After signing with a booking agent, all four band members quit their day jobs to focus on touring full time.
The band’s growing popularity and the national exposure prompted a name change. Discovering that the Shakes was a fairly common band name, the foursome decided to incorporate the name of their home state, becoming Alabama Shakes.
The band’s growing popularity was fostered by their increasingly dynamic live performances, led by Howard’s powerful vocals and stage presence. Their appearance at the venerated CMJ Music Festival in New York City in October 2011 and numerous nationwide festivals garnered attention from record labels. Alabama Shakes signed with ATO Records in November 2011.
The band’s first full-length album, Boys & Girls, was released in April 2012 to positive reviews worldwide, peaking at number two on the Billboard Digital Albums chart and number six on the Billboard 200. The album’s lead single, “Hold On,” earned a Grammy Award nomination for best rock performance. Alabama Shakes was also nominated for the Grammy Award for best new artist. The following year, the song "Always Alright" was nominated for best rock performance as well.
In 2015, the band's much-anticipated second album, Sound & Color, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. At the 2016 Grammy Awards, the album garnered four nominations, including for album of the year, which it did not win. However, it won best alternative music album, and the album's lead single, "Don't Wanna Fight," won best rock performance and best rock song. In 2017 the band received one Grammy nomination, best rock performance for "Joe" (Live from Austin City Limits), and in 2018 the song "Killer Diller Blues," which the band performed in the music documentary The American Epic Sessions, won the Grammy for best American roots performance. Later that year, the band went on indefinite hiatus. Several members of the band began working on solo projects.
Impact
The seemingly overnight success of Alabama Shakes exemplifies key trends in contemporary music of the 2010s. The band’s blend of folk, blues, classic rock, and soul reflects the growing appreciation of such genres by young listeners.
Bibliography
Charlton, Lauretta. "Alabama Shakes: ‘There’s No Way to Be Original.’" Vulture, 12 June 2015, www.vulture.com/2015/06/alabama-shakes-theres-no-way-to-be-original.html. Accessed 20 Sept. 2024.
Doyle, Patrick. "Why Brittany Howard Put Alabama Shakes on Hold and Made a Wild Solo Album." Rolling Stone, 25 June 2019, www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/brittany-howard-alabama-shakes-solo-album-851672/. Accessed 20 Sept. 2024.
Fogg, Heath. “Whole Lotta Alabama Shakes Going On.” Oxford Eagle. Oxford Eagle, 29 Mar. 2012. Web. 26 Aug. 2013.
Howard, Brittany. “Backtalk: Brittany Howard of the Alabama Shakes.” Interview by Kate Russell. Offbeat. Offbeat Magazine, 1 Mar. 2013. Web. 26 Aug. 2013.
Mansfield, Brian. “Meet the Alabama Shakes.” USA Today. USA Today, 27 Apr. 2012. Web. 26 Aug. 2013.
Peisner, David. “Muscle Shoals Revival: Alabama Shakes Take Off.” Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone, 24 Jan. 2012. Web. 26 Aug. 2013.
Powers, Ann. “How to Keep It Real when Making New Soul: Three Attempts.” NPR Music. NPR, 14 Oct. 2011. Web. 26 Aug 2013.
Streib, Lauren. “Behind Alabama Shakes’ Soulful Rise to the Top.” Daily Beast. Newsweek/Daily Beast Company, 15 Oct. 2012. Web. 26 Aug. 2013.