Alabama Shakes: the new Janis Joplin?

   / Southern-Rock, Soul, Blues-Rock, USA

                                                                                                               (posted in Danish, April 26, 2012)


Another of my friends who has an ear for music, Alex, pointed my attention to this band... thank you, Alex :)

The Joplin thing... if you ask me, this band / singer has A LOT of potential.

Alabama Shakes is a real intense band. They have an original sound and catchy, groovy, bluesy swing.  I love them already, here a few minutes after watching them on Facebook.

Now I've done a bit of research...

Alabama Shakes is a band out of Athens, Alabama. The lead singer (Brittany Howard) og bassplayer (Zac Cockrell) met at highschool in 2009 and started meeting after school, writing songs. They tried out a lot of genres connected to "the old southern USA" and after a while, they got the drummer Steve Johnson aboard. They started writing and recording music. But for performances they found a guitarist (Heath Fogg) who later became a band member. They would play Led Zeppelin, Otis Redding, AC/DC and James Brown-songs to fill up 45 minutes of concert. Then they changed their name from The Shakes to Alabama Shakes, to avoid being confused with other bands that were named the same. By 2011 Ben Tanner (keyboards) joined them on tours.

Below is more info, but first an hour-long concert from New York, aired on MTV...

Edited: the concert has been removed, but here is another, just as good :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcFxxvxjkAU

Their 1st EP was released September 2011. It attracted the attention of people in some cities, and after having their song in a big tv-commercial, MTV added them to the list of 11 bands to pay attention to in 2012! They got a record contract and were nominated for the prize of Best Live Act. They have had several big talkshow-appearances, including Letterman on his birthday.

And now they are playing at Roskilde Festival 2012. I'm 100% sure it will be a fantastic concert.

(Editet: Their 1st Album "Boys & Girls" was released in 2012 and the 2nd one "Sound & Color" in 2015 - listen on Spotify)

MUSIKKlik:

Alabama Shakes' 1. musikvideo "Hold On": http://youtu.be/Le-3MIBxQTw

Alabama Shakes' homepage (scroll below picture): http://www.alabamashakes.com/

Alabama Shakes in Gaffa: https://gaffa.dk/search/14647

LUKAS GRAHAM = New + Danish + Groovy + Funk + Soul

   / Soul, Funk, Denmark.          (Released in Danish, 2012 February 27th)

One of my musical friends (Ravi) has drawn my attention to this new Danish band, called Lukas Graham...

The band consists of:

Lukas Forchhammer - lead singer

Mark "Love Stick" Falgren - drums

Morten "Kirk" Ristorp - keyboards *

"Magnum" - bass

Lukas is of Danish / Irish origin (his father was a folk singer), and was a child actor in the movie Krummerne (he was the kid "Grunk") and also did voice work on cartoons. He grew up in the famous Danish social-experimental, originally hippie-based township of Copenhagen called Christiania.

(More after Ordinary Things, performed in German TV)

Lukas began writing and singing songs and recording demos in New York, and assembled a swinging band. In October 2011 they released their debut single Ordinary Things and it quickly became a big hit on Youtube and radio - it was (by listeners) selected for 2011's best Danish "Powerplay of the Week" on P3 ... and it led to a number of sold-out concerts.

They are now popular and have lots of bookings, and were playing at the P3-Gold awards 2012, at many festivals and more. 

More info below their hit video Drunk In The Morning

Gaffa (the best and biggest Scandinavian music magazine) says Lukas Graham will be big in 2012 - Lukas Graham is among the 12 Danish names for 2012 because "Lukas Graham is an excellent singer and songwriter and has a serious Danish soul music band of international class in 2012". They releaseded their debut album Lukas Graham in february 2012.

(Edited: * Lukas Graham's keyboardplayer is now Kasper Daugaard. The band has won several awards, their 1. album was the top-seller and most streamed on Spotify in Denmark in 2012. It has by now sold 4x platinum in DK. They toured Europe and did release the album in other countries, and it vent #1 on German iTunes. In 2013 they signed at contract with Warner Bros Records. In 2015 they released their second album Lukas Graham (Blue Album), by now selling 2x platinum in DK.)

M U S I C Click:

Lukas Graham on Facebook

http://da-dk.facebook.com/LukasGraham1

VINDAHL - "new" Danish artist

   / Nu-Disco, Soul, Denmark          (posted in Danish, 2011 November 26th)

I received a tip from one of my musical friends - Susanne H. - and obviously had to check it out ...

This is Ronnie Vindahl who played in both Boom Clap Bachelors and Non+ ... he has released his first solo album with guest singers who does an excellent job: Coco from Quadron and Jenny Wilson.

Below the video Not In Space Without You

Ronnie's solo album (Serendipity) is quite interesting - I was just checking it out on Spotify right now (super invention - you get a good tip and right away you can enjoy the music :)

This music is easy and nostalgic, and yet again new in a way. It is minimalistic at times and a little naive.

Below the video The Question (feat. Jenny Wilson)

This song (above), I have heard more than a few times now... is super fine, but it is as though it has a "twin-song" I've heard before, but WHERE / WHAT? Well, I'll recall someday.

The video looks like it was recorded in Sweden, and Vindahl's father has a home in Sweden, so perhaps that's why ...?

The reviewers are divided, some love it (Gaffa), and some gives bad reviews (Soundvenue) - I think it's pretty good music.

Thanks to Susanne - you people are welcome to send me more tips on music.

Below:  Sometimes

EDITED:

Where is Vindahl now? Why no new albums? It has been almost 4 years since aforementioned album was released. After checking Vindahls facebook page you will find many links on Mø, the successful Danish electronica artist. Search on the two artists combined provides a link to an interesting interview in a quite exciting online urban fashion / music / skater culture magazine, called Bitchslap Magazine ... the article is linked below. Vindahl is now the producer behind Mø (and also collaborate with other artists), he also appeared as her guitarist, but would rather be a producer than a musician. That's why Vindahl haven't released new albums. Do read the interesting article, published in October 2013. Finally, the song: Head over Heels (feat. Coco)

M U S I C Click:

Interview with Vindahl in Bitchslap Magazine:

http://bitchslapmag.com/2013/music/ronni-vindahl-interview/

Vindahl on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/vindahl/208565605849708?sk=info

Vindahl on SoundCloud:

https://soundcloud.com/ronnivindahl