Alabama 3 / Rescue Rooms / Nottingham
A trip in to Nottingham and to the Rescue Rooms tonight to the Alabama 3 on their 2025 run of shows.
On arriving it was great to see a larger than usual early crowd to catch support act Forgotten Pharaohs. Formed by vocalist and guitarist Christian Pattemore, born in Somerset but now in the ancient landscapes of rural Wales, he grew up on a diet of classic rock, listening to the likes of Crosby, Still and Nash, James Taylor, the Doobie Brothers and Neil Young. Like American country /blues artist Arielle, Christian is an artist trapped in a time warp and firmly rooted in 1974. But Christian writes about the San Fran West Coast vibe, through the lens of modern Wales. For example in Carousel, he sings of his struggles in Wales to a metaphorical US Civil War setting. “The ‘frontier town’ is actually Hay-on-Wye because it’s a border town,” he says. “The ‘ten years crawling through the trenches’ is literally working in the trenches on a lavender farm. It's about my life in Wales, and what I've had to live through”.
Joined on guitar by Liam ‘Skin’ Tyson, best known as the lead guitarist in Cast. When introduced to the crowd someone shouts back “Rasputin” to huge laughs form the crowd and on stage.
Their debut album “King of Mirrors” was released in 2024, partly recorded in Grenada Spain and mixed at Youth’s (Killing Joke bassists) studio there. The bass parts were performed by Indiana Diaz, (who has flown in to perform at the Rescue Rooms tonight !)
Like Carousel, Bryn Yr Hydd (in the Wye Valley) tells a story of personal hardships set to a country rock / funk soundtrack. Rasputin, sorry I mean Skin, is an incredible guitarist and mesmerises with his style and sonic flourishes throughout, adding his deep vocals to the mix too. Indiana too adds a certain swagger to the bass tones, giving the tracks extra depth and detail.
I loved the way the classic US storytelling and musical styling is blended into his home of Wales, another track referencing building a fire on Anglesey beach.
A delightful and entertaining start to the night. The classic ‘70s US rock vibe going down a real treat with the gathered crowd.
A trip to the bar as the stage is cleared and set up for the headliners and its time for Alabama 3 to hit the stage. Formed in Brixton, London when Jake Black met Rob Spragg at a rave in Peckham. They decided that a fusion of country music with acid house was a musical possibility, and the result is Alabama 3. Yes, that’s right a fusion of country and acid house.
Best known to many for their 1995 hit Woke Up This Morning which was used for the opening credits of the hit US TV series “The Sopranos”. There songs have been used in a number of film and TV productions including “Gone in 60 Seconds”, “The Football Factory”, “Being Human” and “Torchwood”.
They released their debut album “Exile on Coldharbour Lane” in 1997, and this was followed up by 2000’s “La Peste”. To date they have released 14 studio albums, the latest being 2023’s “Cold War Classics Vol.2”
And it is those debut releases “Exile on Coldharbour Lane” and “La Peste” that Alabama 3 are celebrating on this tour.
Alabama 3 rush out onto the stage, Zoe Devlin steps out in broad brimmed country hat, and black outfit resplendent with intricate silver embroidery and amazing silver tasselled boots, and last but by no means least, out steps Spragg in his shiny gold suit, dark shades and black Stetson hat.
Stood in the pit to grab some photos during the first three songs, the tempo and energy levels are at max right from the off. The sound is very much country rock and the crowd are bouncing. As I leave the pit, Spragg asks the crowd who has heard of Alabama 3 before, to huge roars, before asking if anyone is here for the first time. He pauses a moment and then says that if they’re not sure, the can leave now as things are gonna get ‘really weird’.
And he was right, with the likes of U Don’t Dans 2 Tekno Anymore delivering in bucketloads the genre defying beats, which has the place rocking and everyone shouting along to the chorus sections. What the Alabama 3 do so well, is mess with your head (in a good way) sliding effortlessly between rock, country and gospel to acid house.
Highlights included a great version of Speed of the Sound of Loneliness and The Old Purple Tin (9% of Pure Heaven). The whole set is just hit after hit, and the crowd are lapping it up. As the set draws to a close, we end on a high with fan favourites Ain’t Goin’ To Goa and Hypo Full of Love (The 12 Step Plan).
Returning for an encore, Spragg dedicates All the Thrills Have Gone to Paddy Hill from the Birmingham Six, before we end with Peace in the Valley.
Alabama 3 are somewhat unique, bouncing back and forth between rock, country and house. It’s a mix you wouldn’t think would work, but somehow, they make it sound the most natural mix there is.
It’s been 28 years since their debut album “Exile on Coldharbour Lane” was released in 1997, and 25 years since the launch of “La Peste”, and tonight they demonstrated why they remain as relevant and iconic today as they did in their hayday.
A brilliant night.
