Athens' Alabama Shakes channel Muscle Shoals sound
18.05.12
The band — originally called The Shakes until another band called first dibs on the name — formed about two years ago when Fogg called on Brittany Howard and some friends to open a set for his band. The 23-year-old bassist said it could be because the band recently opened three dates for the Athens, Ga. -based Drive-By Truckers, who are known for taking other hometown bands such as The Futurebirds on the road with them. Zac Cockrell jokes that people think the Athens the Alabama Shakes are from is the Georgia city, not the north Alabama one. The band is doing its best to put the Alabama Athens on the map with a blend of rock ’n’ roll, rhythm and blues and soul, reminiscent of the Muscle Shoals sound. I love how raw it is. We try to catch that raw emotion. “I’ve wanted to be in a band that plays that kind of stuff for a long time. “I love all that classic R&B stuff,” said guitarist Heath Fogg. “We’re proud of being from (Athens),” Cockrell said.
Source: Times Daily