Alabama 3, O2 Academy, Birmingham - review with pictures

Most famous for the Sopranos theme tune, Woke Up This Morning, Alabama 3 are a unique blend of blues, electronica, hip-hop, jazz, country and rock. Yet this fusion of genres was seamless with their clearly honed stagecraft.

It was apparent that the majority of the crowd were long-standing fans, a number of whom were dressed in cowboy gear in homage to the band’s themes.

The gig got underway with Rob Spragg in a prop wheelchair, then second founding band member, Jake Black, exploded onto the stage to a roars and cheers from the room.

With his trademark American vernacular Jake Black a.k.a. The Very Reverend Dr. D. Wayne Love worked the crowd between songs.

Tracks included power-driven renditions of favourites such as Woke Up This Morning and Hello… I’m Johnny Cash.

Speaking to the Express & Star ahead of the gig, frontman Jake explained why he thinks Alabama 3 has such loyalty from their fans, one of whom has notoriously been to at least 52 gigs throughout their career.

“Most groups fall apart due to musical differences, Alabama 3 have managed to prevail for nearly 30 years because of musical differences, which is a good reason for coming to see them," said Jake.

"You see the flowering diversity of what pop can really be when you see Alabama 3.”

You could say that Alabama 3 are highly political with their lyrics, and there is an honesty in their narrative style of music.

This musical integrity clearly stems from the honest attitude of the band towards the industry and Jake explained why he is happy to embrace the label of ‘pop’ music.

“Everything is pop. If you make music and you want other people to like it, and you actually make a job of it then you want it to be popular," he added.

"All this stuff about commercialism... Anybody that makes a record goes into a commercial enterprise. Most artists want to do this so they can make a living.

"‘We're not commercial’ means you use tacky old found footage from YouTube, kiddy software, and 11 of your pals will hear your tracks.

"That’s all fine and dandy but you can’t really call yourself an artist, an artist wants to put their work out in the world to be judged by their peers.

"If you think your work is good enough then you put it out there. If you’re a writer you put it out through a publisher, if you’re a musician you put it out through a record company. Otherwise it’s all kind of pointless.”

This perhaps explains why their musical careers have lasted. Considering the longevity of the band, they certainly do not hold back in their performance style.

Every song seems wildly unique from the next, yet the stage presence between the members is finely tuned and magnetic.

“I just want everybody to have a good night out," explains Jake.

“Unlike a lot of other rock and roll groups we don't stand back and are constantly in development.

"Our newest work is never like the last. We’ll just keep going until we don’t like it anymore and then we’ll go and find jobs.”