This current tour, supported by singer -songwriter David Ford, coincides with the launch of their eighth album 'Revolver Soul' [HOSTRECCD1] and their own label 'Hostage'. The album is they say 'deeper, darker and stronger and stranger' than anything, you have heard them do before.
Clearly, they are embarking on a new chapter in their career and shoutin' all over the land as their website proclaims 'Alabama 3 is no longer a church. It's an Army. It's your mission. It's Online. Start Thinking Soldier.'
No mistaking their stance at this performance as they struck the stage in army fatigues and shades while Larry Love hit us between the eyes with "I'm a soldier in the army of love," From this point, the performance never lost its momentum as the electro dance beats and nerve-shattering bass caressed even the sweetest of music.
Back catalogue visits were met with undying enthusiasm as they powered amongst others 'Up Above my Head' from 'Outlaw', and 'Too Sick to Pray' and "The Thrills Have Gone" from 'La Peste'. From 'Exile on Coldharbour Lane' they gave us 'Hypo Full of Love (12 Step Plan)' and of course, what must be now one of their most familiar tracks, 'Woke up this Morning'.
New material from 'Revolver Soul' included 'Bad to the Bone', 'She Blessed Me' and the most dazzling piece of the night the agitprop anthem 'Vietnamistan' that introduces Country Joe's 'Feel Like I'm Fixing To Die Rag - danceable, topical and political in one soulful bag!
They may sing 'the devil has all the best tunes' yet it's pretty obvious that he gave some of them back to the Alabama 3 and one day may have to pay with their soul.
