The greatest live act, according to Brittany Howard
Throughout her tenure with the southern rock ensemble Alabama Shakes, Brittany Howard effortlessly transcended genre boundaries. Howard emerged as an undeniable powerhouse, seemingly fusing elements reminiscent of classic groups with a blend of pop and southern soul music.
Drawing inspiration from the likes of Al Green, David Bowie, and Pink Floyd, Howard effectively placed her own spin on contemporary musical innovation and became the kind of frontwoman whose talent, fearlessness, and groove knows no bounds. With hits like ‘Hold On’, ‘Don’t Wanna Fight’ and ‘Sound & Colour’ in Alabama Shakes, alongside solo endeavours including ‘Stay High’ and ‘Short and Sweet’, Howard is genuinely a world-class act in the realm of rock and soul.
As a natural frontwoman, Howard knows how to get a crowd going. “Depending on the atmosphere, once you get inside the electricity into the room, it can be loose, or it can be really tight,” she says. When discussing her favourite live acts, Howard’s highlights are all musical icons whose performances centre on emotional connection and energy.
Among her favourites, which range from Radiohead and Arcade Fire to Tom Waits, she particularly cherishes the moment she saw Bruce Springsteen live. Recalling the moment she attended one of his live shows, she explained: “I saw Bruce for the first time recently at London’s Hard Rock Calling. Everyone is always like, ‘Bruce is the best’, and I was like, ‘Okay, let’s see if Bruce is the best.’ Man, he took a little kid out of the crowd and put him on his shoulders, and he won them over after that.”
Continuing, she added: “Nonstop energy. The band is great. There’s nothing cheesy about it. He’s just really good at what he does. It’s full blast the entire time. It’s super high energy. Even after that many years, that dude wants to do the best he can, which is what makes him the best. He did ‘Born in the U.S.A.’, and we were in England, so that was pretty funny. I think he got a kick out of it.”
‘Born in the U.S.A.’ has been a staple of Springsteen’s live shows for years, often seen as the defining anthem of America despite its dark origins. The song was written when Springsteen was grappling with deep-seated disappointment and a sense of grievance over the harrowing predicament faced by Vietnam veterans upon their return home to America. “The chorus is a declaration of your birthplace and the right to all the pride and confusion and shame and grace that comes with it,” he once said.
Howard encountered the track in a live setting during a distinctive moment at Calling Festival, which was known for its serene and well-mannered setup and audience, in contrast to other festivals such as Download or Reading and Leeds. In addition to ‘Born in the U.S.A.’, Springsteen also delivered renditions of ‘Thunder Road’ and ‘Born to Run,’ making it one of his most acclaimed live performances.
