With their blended appearance and a sound steeped in soul yet born of the millennial rock scene, Alabama Shakes could symbolize a post-racial dream that, as the recent U.S. election shows, remains a work in progress.
As with the civil rights movement, the band¡¯s approach, says formidable singer-songwriter Brittany Howard, draws on race-mixing experiments that began in the mid 20th century.
¡°The biggest influence on the band was the session players of the 1960s,¡± Howard says via telephone. ¡°We were really inspired by the Wrecking Crew, the MGs. ...We¡¯d just learn about how the same players played on all these records. The Funk Brothers ¡ª they played on Stax, Motown ¡ª it¡¯s the same guys on the hits. But they¡¯re not all black.¡±
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