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Alabama Shakes still holding on to its hope
By John Benson
“Hold On.”
That’s not only the title of Alabama Shakes’ unlikely top-20 alternative-rock hit but also the feeling drummer Steve Johnson had when the group released its 2012 debut effort, “Boys & Girls.”
“When we first started playing together, I really did have hope in this band,” said Johnson, calling from his Athens, Ala., home. “It was the best band I had ever been a part of, and my favorite band I’d ever been a part of, but it gets to a point after doing so many bar gigs or whatever where you’re like, ‘Is this ever going to happen?’”
“I had a kid. I had a good job, and then it finally did happen. I’m in a position where it’s like, ‘If we do this and it doesn’t work, I’m out a job and back home unemployed. But if it does work, like I’ll never know.’ So I just rolled with it like I do everything.”
Boasting hints of old-school R&B and Southern sounds, Alabama Shakes has enjoyed the slowest of slow-brew starts with “Boys & Girls” garnering critical acclaim early on based on the unique sound and style of singer Brittany Howard.
The lead single “Hold On” turned heads and led to late-night appearances on “Conan” and “Late Show With David Letterman,” while word of mouth increased the band’s exposure. That’s basically been the modus operandi for the past 18 months.
Oddly enough, Alabama Shakes’ busy touring schedule didn’t include a Northeast Ohio show. That changes when the group makes its Cleveland-area debut Wednesday at the Hard Rock Rocksino in Northfield.
Johnson said nothing has been confirmed yet, but he’s really hoping the group will be debuting new material at the upcoming show. Not only are fans ready for the next album, but Alabama Shakes is, too.
“We’ve been working on it now for a couple of months, and I’d like for it to be out at the end of this year, but it’ll probably be into next year,” Johnson said. “We have another trip to the recording studio planned for after this tour.”
So far the new tunes in the mix are basically untitled, but Johnson said a few are digressing into a subtle hip-hop sound. He described the tunes as The Meters-meets-El Michels Affair-meets-The Roots. “It’s weird, but I’m pretty pumped,” Johnson said. “There was this one we were working on the other day that’s like salsa or Santana. We haven’t recorded it, but it’s fun to play.”
In concert, Alabama Shakes’ appeal can be tied directly to a loose and adventurous spirit. There’s a living-on-the-edge vibe that can be directly tied to Howard’s vocals, which often come late or behind Johnson’s percussion.
“It’s not really conscious,” Johnson said. “The tempo is set by her singing sometimes. So I’m playing to the vocals and, man, it’s super tough. It took me a while to stop thinking about playing it note for note. Brittany needs energy to feed off the whole gig. She’s got to have somebody on her level, and it’s like, ‘Yes, I’m with you.’
“It took me awhile, but I feel like I’m getting there. Playing around her vocals is just landing it. If it happens, it happens. And if it’s off, it’s off. But sometimes off is cool.”