ALABAMA 3 Acoustic play Trinity Rooms on Sunday December 28 at 8.30pm. Local talent Brian O’Brien from Limerick band Roper will support the original urban cowboys on the night. The acoustic and unplugged version of Alabama 3 are renowned for their amazing live performances all over the world. The Band have been described as “the best live band in the UK” and are a regular fixture on the European Summer festival circuit.
Alabama 3 are coming to Ireland on the back of their “MDMA Tour”, (Monday Don’t Mean Anything), a tour that has seen them play throughout the UK and Ireland. Alabama 3 Acoustic and Unplugged is a four-piece outfit consisting of Larry Love (vocals), Devlin Love (vocals), Rock Freebase (guitar), and Harpo Strangelove (harmonica) performing songs from Exile On Cold Harbour Lane, M.O.R. and Outlaw.
By performing in this stripped down acoustic way the band’s aim is to show the songs in a format reminiscent of the people that have been their inspiration, chiefly the old Delta Blues players like Fred MacDowell and Bukka White. “We sit down on stage to perform these songs, which we feel allows us to hone in on the more sensitive aspect of what we are doing. The audience hears these great songs written by Alabama 3 in a clearer light, and can really appreciate the strength of Larry’s lyrics, as well as the great musicianship of Rock and Harpo,” says vocalist Devlin Love. “Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith, Little Jimmy Scott, Mahalia Jackson and Sister Rossetta, were all strong influences for me in the acoustic shows, not just in voice, but in performance and emotion”, the lady gifted with the voice of a fallen angel continues. “1930’s-50’s females singing the blues with soul, is what I’m aspiring to with these gigs, which matches well with Rock’s Mississippi Fred Macdowel style guitar.”
The acoustic shows have won a devoted following in the UK, with their monthly performances at the Outlaw club nights in South London always packed with an enthusiastic audience. In March 2008 Alabama 3 Acoustic and Unplugged played by special invitation of the governor of Brixton Prison, for the charity ‘Jail Guitar Doors’. The irony for those who attended the gig was that it was the only gig where your name had to be on the guest list to get out.
Alabama 3 have recently reached out to a whole new audience with a mini tour of Australia and this was followed by an enthusiastic reception from audiences at SXSW in Texas last April. The Japanese Popstars and Limerick rappers The Rubberbandits are also on the bill making this gig a definite highlight of the upcoming festive season.
