A Presleyterian service
IN AN INSUBSTANTIAL week, the highlight so far has been a return to my old religion. No, I’m not about to shave my head. But Monday’s Alabama 3 gig, at 53 Degrees in Preston, reawakened my spirit to “goddamn country acid house music” and the First Presleytarian Church of Elvis the Divine.
Called “the best live band in the country” by The Guardian, they deliver unique bluegrass-electronica in mysterious American accents. Most of the nine members hail from Brixton, led by Glaswegian founder/preacher D. Wayne Love (real name Jack Black). Their Preston audience form a ‘middle-aged people/drugged up hipsters’ Venn diagram, complete with a surprising number of glowstick-carrying crossovers. Crowding on stage to an ominous acapella, their first song is a sample-heavy rap about Mao Tse Tung. Pretty soon, even the skinheads are dancing.
Like Irvine Welsh in Monday’s Guardian, I am outraged the Alabama 3 are not more famous. Charismatic, political and ordained Presleytarian ministers, they are irrevocably tied to hit Sopranos theme Woke Up This Morning. Since its 1997 release, they have nibbled at the edges of rock n’ roll. D. Wayne has put on a little weight, and contrasts nicely with strung-out singer Larry (possibly Tyres from Spaced), who looks like a strong wind would snap him. On stage, they all wear sunglasses. They all share the surname Love.
The band have a running sweepstake on who’s going to die first. In his excellent blog, keyboard player Spirit said: “Amazingly it’s yet to pay out, but at the moment I reckon me and Larry are 2-1.” Until it does, the Alabama 3 are too good to miss.
The above video was taken at the band’s 2007 gig at the London Astoria. They are currently on tour, playing Fat Sams in Dundee tonight. For details visit www.alabama3.co.uk. New album Hits and Exit Wounds was released on Monday.
Phillip said,
April 23, 2008 at 7:12 pm
That’s quite the rapport with the audience they have there… looks like a great band to see at a gig.
Paul said,
April 24, 2008 at 9:27 am
I have never seen Alabama 3 live but have always got a vague air of naffness about them. I think it’s because the only country / electro crossover I can think of are bad mid 90s novelty records such as Cotton-Eye Joe by Rednex or the terrible Banjo House collision that was Swamp Thing by The Grid.
A few years back Rednex put themselves up for sale:
http://www.popbandforsale.com/
I don’t know if they were successful or not.
Beth said,
April 24, 2008 at 11:14 am
What a spiffing report of what sounds like an amazing gig. I particularly like the idea of having a sweepstake on when you will die. I had a friend who had a Christmas family tradition where every year, they would make a list of ten famous people they thought would die during the coming year. Whoever guessed the most correctly won 20 quid. What a good idea!
I also agree that Alabama 3 are one of the best live bands in the country. They were certainly one of the best bands I saw last year but I was very dissapointed to see that a lot of people left after they played Woke Up This Morning. What a bunch of morons.
Beth B said,
April 24, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I have recently seen Alabama 3 supporting my mates (!) the Levellers at Beautiful Nights. My cretin of a boyfriend said he thought Alabama 3 were better than the Levs (as if), but they did kick a certain amount of laid-back ass, and certainly trounced the ever so annoying 3 Daft Monkeys, who despite a randomly entertaining name, should surely be put through a blender. Crass, crappy folk music.
No doubt about it that Woke Up This Morning is the crowd pleaser, but it’s an entirely different animal live.
Incidentally Author, whoever you may be, I actually believe that I first saw Alabama 3 support the Levs back in ‘96 or ‘97. Which would officially make me cool. Which NEVER happens.