When they first emerged in 2012, Alabama Shakes announced themselves with a big, bold, hypnotic song called “Hold On.” It was written from the perspective of lead singer-guitarist Brittany Howard, in dialogue with herself: “Must be someone up above/Saying ‘come on, shorty, you got to get back up.’”
After a brief run as one of the stronger draws in modern rock, the group disbanded in 2018. Howard was ready for a solo career.
The surprise announcement early this year that Alabama Shakes were reuniting unleashed pent-up demand for the band’s crunchy, soulful Southern rock. On Sunday, the band headlined the first of back-to-back shows at MGM track Hall at Fenway. Eager fans who had been holding on for Alabama Shakes’ comeback did not hold back.
On a stage covered in green leaves – new growth – the expanded band strolled out to the swampy sound of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Run Through the Jungle.” Core members Howard, guitarist Heath Fogg, and bassist Zac Cockrell (whom Howard called “the cool breeze”) were joined by two keyboardists, a new drummer, and a three-person chorus.
The band opened with “Dunes,” from their second album, the experimental “Sound & Color.” This year is the 10th anniversary of that release. Their precise 90-minute set featured most of the songs from that record, including the funky, pleading “Don’t Wanna Fight” and the gentle psychedelia of the title track.
Howard, wrapped in a fuzzy, powder blue dress like a coat, mentioned at one point that Boston was very good to the band in their early years.
“How many of you were at the Paradise club?” she asked about the band’s first headlining gig in town. The enthusiastic response seemed to indicate that everyone who’d been there back in the day was in the house on Sunday.
Halfway through the set, the band ran through “Another Life,” a brand-new single that hints at a forthcoming third album from the group. Moody and soulful, the song covers familiar turf for Howard – relationship issues – but it could double as an olive branch to her bandmates: “Can we try again? Can we try in another life?”
Opening act the Budos Band, from Staten Island, set the stage with an impeccable 45-minute set of their surging, Afrobeat-inspired instrumental track. Three horn players – two trumpets plus baritone sax – led a big band that included three percussionists and the playful bassist Daniel Foder. Guitarist Tommy Brenneck, riffing like Jimmy Page, has lately led the 20-year-old band in a classic hard-rock direction.
As the band’s final song morphed into a nod to Vanilla Fudge’s heavy cover of the Supremes’ “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” keyboardist Mike Deller tilted his vintage Farfisa organ until the stand collapsed, then played it with his right hand while cradling the instrument in his left.
A couple of hours later, Howard’s band capped off the night with a three-song encore. They introduced a new, unreleased topical song called “American Dream” and roared through the hyper-speed “Drive By Baby.” On that one, Howard’s two female backup singers flanked her with cheerleading dance moves.
Howard took a moment to address the crowd directly, offering best wishes for their hopes and dreams.
“We don’t get enough pep talks as adults,” she said. On Sunday, she sent her fans out into the night feeling like they could take on the world.
ALABAMA SHAKES
With The Budos Band. At MGM track Hall at Fenway on Sunday, also Monday.
James Sullivan can be reached at jamesgsullivan@gmail.com.
Here’s the setlist from Sunday night, according to setlist.fm. Keep checking back as the list continues to update.
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