All 📸 by Tom Curran - @tom.e.curran
It is the most magical feeling when you go to a gig and the music has a hold on you when you least expect it. If a singer and her band can hold the audience’s attention through each track, especially when they probably won’t know the whole setlist is very impressive and rare.
This is how I felt when I went to see Brittany Howard at Albert Hall in Manchester. If there is a singer and a venue that go more hand in hand together it would be Howard and the Hall.
Before we get into the concert, let me tell you about Brittany Howard.
An American singer from Alabama, she was previously in the band Alabama Shakes who rose to fame in 2012 where they won 4 Grammys over the span over their career. They’re described on their Spotify page as “fusing southern soul with garage rock” which slightly breaks away from the sound Brittany Howard has created in her solo career. For me her sound is a mashup of soul, funk and gospel and most importantly she reminds me of what a talented musician can sound like. She uses the power of crescendos, powerful pauses, drum solos and outros that melt into the next song - honestly, the list could go on. Howard began her solo career back in 2019 with her debut album Jaime followed by her second album released earlier this year What Now.
She started her set with the first song from her most recent album, “Earth Sign” it begins slow and smooth with the sound of Howards vocals gently ringing and her backing singers echoing back at her, creating a big build up to when the drums and the rest of the band join in from the chorus. It soon breaks into rhythm and she floats around the stage, lifting her arms in time with the music and looking at all of the audience.
She moves on with “I don’t” which has more of a mellow feel, but then we go on to “He Loves Me” which had some great lyrics:
“I know he still loves me when I’m smoking blunts/ loves me when I’m drinking too much… he loves me, he doesn’t judge me”.
The audience were dancing and chanting back with the lyrics and it was such a fun song to sing along to.
It’s not just Howard that captivates the audience, her whole band were fucking fantastic. Her backing singers oozed sass and soul, her keyboardist slammed the notes into a jazz funk melody, her bass guitar played the soulful rifts and her drummer - let’s have a moment for the drummer because he played a blinder of a drum solo, so much so Howard walked off stage to let him have his moment because he really did deserve it. It reminded me that music can be so powerful when it’s not just the solo singer standing in front of you that delivers the performance to the audience but when the whole band know they need to do it too. Howard recognises that fact by allowing them to have their moments with each track, and that is what makes it so incredible.
It is no surprise to hear that Brittany Howard has won her own Grammy since she started her solo career. She won Best Rock Song with "Stay High" in 2021 and I mean, just look at her performance below on Jimmy Kimmel Show.
Howard and her incredible band work through the hits, “Red Flag”, “History Repeats”, “Prove it to You” and “13th Century Metal” with the latter being where the drum solo from before was.
One of my favourite’s of the night was “Power To Undo” towards the end of her set. The track is reminiscent of Prince with the guitar melodies and the lyrics shouting one moment before melting into the lyrics “You have the power to undo everything that I want/ But I won’t let you” letting the silence enter the room as the guitar distortion crept in then exploded into a funky solo. If you haven’t heard any of Howard’s songs make sure you give this a listen - Watch her performance at this year's Glastonbury set below!
After a short encore, Brittany ends her night at the Albert Hall with the “What Now” a powerful funk love song regarding heartbreak. “I wonder if I stay because it’s comfortable” rings through the venue providing the finale of what has been an exceptional night.
If you want to appreciate Brittany, I would say that YouTube videos or her music recordings don’t do her performance justice. Watching her Glastonbury set (which is still available on iPlayer, by the way) or listening to her albums can't compare to the experience I had at her gig. However, they do serve as a wonderful reminder that music can truly be therapeutic when it sounds as brilliant as Howard's does.
So please, please, please go and check out her music (If you haven't already)... you will NOT be disappointed ❤️.
As always, see you at the front!
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