Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
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Leave a comment on this blog post to be entered to win a pair of tickets to see the Alabama Shakes at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on April 26. You can buy tickets here. (You can buy tickets here.)
“We took our time to write this record, and I’m really glad we did,” says Brittany Howard, lead singer and guitarist of Alabama Shakes, about the band’s new album Sound & Color. “We were able to sit down and think about what’s exciting to us, explore all the things we wanted to on our first album. This record is full of genre-bending songs—it’s even harder now when people ask, ‘What kind of band are you?’ I have no clue.”
Sound & Color is the eagerly anticipated follow-up to the Shakes’ 2012 debut Boys & Girls, which earned the group three Grammy nominations, including a nod for Best New Artist. The gold-certified album’s breakthrough paved the way for the Shakes—Howard, guitarist Heath Fogg, bassist Zac Cockrell, drummer Steve Johnson, and touring keyboard players Ben Tanner and Paul Horton—to become one of the most celebrated live acts in the world, as they delivered unforgettable performances everywhere from Saturday Night Live to the main stages of such festivals as Bonnaroo and Glastonbury.
“There was definitely a slight wave of pressure after that success,” says Fogg, “but everyone was really on the same page about letting that pass and making the record that we wanted to make, trying to be creative and free and not limit ourselves.”
The album’s twelve songs reveal a band honed by years on the road, and drawing from a wide range of influences. The bluesy groove of “Shoegaze” or the garage-rock freak-out on “The Greatest” give way to the psychedelic space jam “Gemini.” The gently swaying, chiming title song opens the album with what Howard calls “more of a visual thing, I think of this whole scene going on,” then explodes into the urgent, tightly-coiled funk of “Don’t Wanna Fight.” Long instrumental intros and passages create hazy atmosphere, and then the intensity of Howard’s vocals snaps everything back into riveting focus.
Missed them in Charlotte,missed them in Charleston,came to celebrate my brother and sisters birthday Sunday,and here we are reallly needing to go see the Alabama Shakes cause we Don’t wanna fight no more.can you help us out with 3 tickets please.
Drove from Conway Friday to Asheville for my brother and Sisters 57th and 54th birthday,missed the show in Charlotte,Friday,missed the show in Charleston on Saturday,do not want to miss this show! I need a gift for my brother and sister.3 tickets would be phenomenal !
Help me win a birthday present for my fiancé! She would love that her present was free and won in a contest. And she loves Alabama Shakes. (She was born on 4/20 If that counts for anything)
I would love to win! Alabama Shakes is my favorite band but I can’t afford tickets at the moment! I just had knee surgery and its finally better enough to dance like crazy at their show! ahhh :))))
Thx for educating me on navigating from your email post to your website blog! Also thx for getting some pix to show on the iPhone platform. Note: JavaScript not supported on current Mac mobile devices. OK – business up front, party in the back: I enjoy the blog and, as a local, it’s my go-to place for local lore.
I’ve been watching them for a while now and am blown away. I haven’t been to a live show in many many years, but I’d love to fight the crowds to see this group.
Half blind, routinely left behind and from the back side of the back woods, Brittany Howard showed us passion and determination to succeed can still win out.
I would love to see Alabama Shakes!!!
Missed them in Charlotte,missed them in Charleston,came to celebrate my brother and sisters birthday Sunday,and here we are reallly needing to go see the Alabama Shakes cause we Don’t wanna fight no more.can you help us out with 3 tickets please.
Drove from Conway Friday to Asheville for my brother and Sisters 57th and 54th birthday,missed the show in Charlotte,Friday,missed the show in Charleston on Saturday,do not want to miss this show! I need a gift for my brother and sister.3 tickets would be phenomenal !
Me likey, me wanna go
should be a great show!!!
Would love to go see Alabama Shakes! Thank you for having these contests!
I need to take my son to see them so he will quit playing daft punk
Help me win a birthday present for my fiancé! She would love that her present was free and won in a contest. And she loves Alabama Shakes. (She was born on 4/20 If that counts for anything)
Wow would I love to see them. I actually played one of their songs in a therapy session for a client last week. Thanks to WNCW I was an early fan.
Ready to shake shake shake it!
I’m shaking in anticipation!
Yes please!!
Please and thank you Ashvegas 😉
Very Exciting
I would love to see them! Thank you!
I accidentally made my husband miss their last show in Asheville and would love to make it up to him!!!
These guys are awesome and I’d love to see them live. Pick me!
I’ll take two!
Yoooou, you ain’t alone! Just let me be…your TICKET hooome!
gimme all your looooove….woo-hoo
I would love some tickets
I would love to win! Alabama Shakes is my favorite band but I can’t afford tickets at the moment! I just had knee surgery and its finally better enough to dance like crazy at their show! ahhh :))))
I’m ready to go out and shake my thing.
please please please pick me
It’s one of the last days I have a babysitter for the next 6 months! Hubby and I would love to get our shake on!
Love the Shakes
Ah I would love to win tickets!
i DoN’t WaNnA FiGhT nO mOrE!I just wanna’ see them Bama Shakes! RTR!
I would love to see Alabama Shakes! One of the best alternative bands of this decade. So proud of what they’ve accomplished.
Pick me!
Do you accept bribes or favors? Seriously though – I already missed Louis CK last night 🙁
I’m in. Thx.
Thx for educating me on navigating from your email post to your website blog! Also thx for getting some pix to show on the iPhone platform. Note: JavaScript not supported on current Mac mobile devices. OK – business up front, party in the back: I enjoy the blog and, as a local, it’s my go-to place for local lore.
respect!
I wanna shake it all night long.
Awesome opportunity to win tickets. Thanks for the chance.
Would love it!
Oh this would make my year!
Shake,Shake, Shake
“Gimme All Your Love” by giving me those tickets!!!!!
Pretty Please.
i love brittany
I’ve always dreamed of seeing them in person. I beg you!!!
I’d love to see Alabama Shakes!
pick me
I’ve been watching them for a while now and am blown away. I haven’t been to a live show in many many years, but I’d love to fight the crowds to see this group.
Great band! I’ve seen them twice so far!
I’d love to see them live, especially as they get the recognition they so well deserve!
Dream come true. Always loved them always will. It would mean so much.
Gosh this would be so amazing! I have always love getting jammin to them. It would mean so much to go!
Yes please!
Half blind, routinely left behind and from the back side of the back woods, Brittany Howard showed us passion and determination to succeed can still win out.
They are simply the best!! I would love to see them live!!!
Let it be me ( and my wife )….
Put my name in the hat!
Keep it 100.
PLEASE PICK ME!! YOU WON’T REGRET IT
want to shake my Alabama
Ooh, pick me, pick me! It’s right after my birthday and before my last finals ever!
Pick me!!!!
Let’s shake it baby!
please please please please…
I already won tickets (thanks 98.1!) but this show is going to be great!
Pick me!
Shake it!
I paid 10$ the first time I saw them. So good.
Yes!
Love them!
add me to the list
Yes, please!
LOVE this band so much!! My boyfriend and I would be thrilled to see them live!
Pick me please✋
Ready to shake it!
Yes Please!
Yes! I would love to see them!
This would make the best birthday present for my sister! She’s loves the Alabama Shakes!
Yes, please! Love them…
Will be an awesome show!
I would like to go! Very much so.
Huge Alabama Shakes fan. Would love to go see them live.
Why yes please. I would love to go.
I’m not a fan of the Crimson Tide but would love to shake my legs Alabama style.
Please please please!!!
I’m from Alabama and have Restless Knee Syndrome (both true). Hence: Alabama Shakes.