Filmed live in the KEXP radio studio in Seattle, this session captures Alabama Shakes on 31 January 2012, only months before the release of their debut album Boys & Girls. The band from Athens, Alabama, unfolds its signature blend of Southern soul, blues rock and garage grit, driven by Brittany Howard’s commanding voice. In just under twenty minutes, this live performance runs through four songs — “Rise to the Sun,” “Hang Loose,” “I Found You” and “Hold On” — among the early compositions that first brought the group attention. Recorded in the stripped-back conditions of the KEXP studio, this full performance highlights the raw energy of the quintet and the interplay between Howard, guitarist Heath Fogg, bassist Zac Cockrell, drummer Steve Johnson and keyboardist Ben Tanner. The video documents the moment when Alabama Shakes were shifting from regional discovery to national breakout, weeks before their wider mainstream recognition. For anyone tracing the roots of one of the 2010s’ most distinctive American live bands, this KEXP session offers an unvarnished, close-up view of their early sound and stagecraft.
Setlist
- Rise to the Sun
- Hang Loose
- I Found You
- Hold On
Personnel & credits
- Brittany Howard — vocals, guitar
- Heath Fogg — guitar
- Zac Cockrell — bass
- Steve Johnson — drums
- Ben Tanner — keyboards
- Cheryl Waters — host (KEXP)
- Kevin Suggs — sound engineer
