Live Review
Alabama Shakes was one band I knew I needed to see live, and it was a thrill to not only hear about their reunion but also to be able to watch and photograph them in person.
The band is currently on their 2026 tour, and made a stop at Raleigh’s Red Hat Amphitheater. The nearly sold-out crowd braved through torrential rain and a long delay to catch one of the premier bands in the industry. The Alabama-based band was formed in 2009, with classic hits such as “Hold On,” “Sound and Color,” and my personal favorite “Don’t Wanna Fight.” They took a hiatus after their second project and lead singer Brittany Howard released several successful albums on her own.
In 2024, the band announced their comeback and that they’re working on new music. But before their next project releases, the current tour is keeping fans happy and satisfied, while still hungry for more music.
Howard entered the stage with style, with her silver outfit shining under the stage lights. She held her guitar and sang front and center the entire night, with the rest of Alabama Shakes accompanying her. At one point, she thanked the crowd for waiting in the rain with her, noting that she and the band are gonna play even harder because of it.
They certainly played hard, with booming instrumentation and amazing vocals from Howard and her background singers. Their signature genre-bending sound radiated through Red Hat, with their rock and blues sound pulsing throughout during their hour-plus set.
As the first three songs of the set concluded and I made my way to my seat after photographing in the pit, I observed so many fans vibing, dancing, and singing along to the music. Rarely did I even catch a cell phone in the air. Fans were truly excited to see Alabama Shakes after their hiatus and were instantly taken back into a feeling where the music just takes over, without having to worry about anything else in the world outside of the concert.
Towards the end of the set, my favorite song was played and “Don’t Wanna Fight” was as great as I imagined it would sound live. After the false exit from the stage, the band returned for an encore and played one of their one singles, “American Dream.” After replaying the song a few times after the show, it’s instantly become one of my favorite songs from the band.
It’s tough to fully describe the feeling that Alabama Shakes made the thousands of people, including myself, feel that night in Raleigh. I knew the show would be great, and they even managed to exceed my high expectations. I anxiously await their next project, because if “American Dream” and other songs are any indication, we’ll be in for a treat.
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