Alabama Shakes kick off their reunion tour with two nights at The Fairgrounds, the outdoor section of The Salt Shed in Chicago.
Back in January, Alabama Shakes shared that they were working on something new, marking the end of their hiatus, which they went on in 2018. Shortly after, came the announcement of a reunion tour for the summer of 2025. Fast forward to last night, which saw the first night of this highly-anticipated tour at The Salt Shed in Chicago.
It was an extremely balmy evening for an outdoor show, but the high temperatures did not deter the fans turning up in droves as they packed into every available square inch of The Fairgrounds.
While Brittany Howard has experienced a lot of success with her solo career, she looked happy to be back on stage with her bandmates Zak Cockrell and Heath Fogg. The evening was a great mixture of reminiscing and celebrating the past whilst also looking ahead to the future. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the release of Sound & Color, so not surprisingly the majority of the evening’s setlist comprised of songs from this album, such as “Don’t Wanna Fight,” “Dunes,” and the title track. Every song had the ample-sized audience singing along, enjoying every moment of the evening.
However, this show wasn’t about lamenting the past. When Alabama Shakes first announced on their social media accounts that they were back, they shared photos of themselves in the recording studio, stating they were “working on some exciting stuff!” With new music clearly just around the corner, the Chicago crowd was given a sneak peek of the new material. While official details of an upcoming album are yet to be released, it surely won’t be too long before it’s announced.
For 90 minutes, Alabama Shakes looked like they were having a great time being back on stage together. And the audience was just as excited to be a part of it. Getting to experience a performer like Brittany Howard live is nothing short of a thrill. Her voice is always impeccable, and add to that the raw emotion she puts into every song, and you have something truly special.
If night one of this tour was anything to go by, you’re in for a treat if you have already secured your tickets for any of the upcoming dates. The tour runs through until the end of September as they make their way around most of the country. This is your sign to go buy those tickets. This is the kind of show that summers are made for! Get your friends together, with a nice ice-cold drink in your hand, and take it all in.
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