The Alabama 3 are not from Alabama and there is not 3 of them.
They are in fact from Brixton, London and there are 9 members of this brethren .
And in their own words, Alabama 3 “is a pop band. A punk rock, blues and country techno situationist crypto- Marxist-Leninist electro pop band”.
The band are fronted by Larry and The Rev D Wayne Love (although the Rev bit may be a bit dubious ) and also includes Aurora Dawn on female vocal, The Spirit on keyboards, Rock Freebass and Steve Finnerty on guitar, Segs on Bass, Harpo Stranglove on backing vocals and harmonica and Owen If on Drums.
Promotng their new and 12th album, WIMMIN FROM W.O.M.B.L.E. Vol 2, they brought a bustling crowd together at Holmfirth’s Picturedrome.
The support act were Cornelius Crane, a 6 piece who opened up the evening with a mixture of Country, Bluegrass and Blues tunes, to create calm ammongst the audience before the storm.
opening with an instrumental tune titled The Difference Between You and Me, which was a nod towards Fleetwood Mac’s Albatross, they then went into the title track of their new EP, Soul In The Lightning. They were only on for half an hour but made me want to grab my rocking chair and chill out.
Just past 9pm The Alabama 3 made their presence known with the opening track Bam Ba Lam Here Comes Daddy, sang by the ever so strong soul funk vocal toned Aurora Dawn.
Then out came Larry Love, who reminded me of a hard-edged smoke covered blues club singer with his low bad to the bone vocals.
He was followed by the Rev D Wayne, complete with his heels, velvet jacket shades and Stetson hat, who had more energy than a rabbit on Red Bull.
They performed a few tracks from their new album and then powered into Woke Up This Morning, used as The Soprano’s TV programme theme, which really got the crowd in a frenzy.
Another song, titled Purple Tin in reference to strange herbal infused tobacco, was a good way to get a few free smokes thrown at them by the audience.
The whole set was a really good eclectic mix of Country Ballads, Blues riffs, Heavy Dance basses and beats and an ever presence of jazz style rap with expletives a plenty.
A good night was had by all and I would recommend anyone who wants a lively intro to an evening of country infused with jazz/blues/funk to see them for themselves.
