Alabama Shakes is one of those bands where you remember where you were the first time you heard them. The soul-fusion three-piece has seamlessly integrated into the modern music pantheon as a critic’s darling, backed by the raw talent and natural ability to support the countless think pieces and YouTube documentaries about their intrinsically individualistic sound. Unfortunately, there was a meteor-sized crater left in the wake of the announcement that Alabama Shakes was going on hiatus in 2018, but as of last night (July 15), the trio of Brittany Howard, Zac Cockrell, and Heath Fogg is officially reunited.
Alabama Shakes kicked off their 2025 reunion tour at The Fairgrounds at The Salt Shed in Chicago for a night of reminiscing and serenity. The show marks the band’s first time performing live since the summer of 2017, excluding a short set at Tuscaloosa Get Up in 2024. The 22-song setlist included new music, live premieres, and a run-through of classics from what is already a timeless discography.
The show kicked off with hits from Shakes’s 2015 LP like “Future People” and “Don’t Want To Fight.” Of the 22 songs performed by Shakes in Chicago, 12 of them came from Sound & Color, which celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2025. The band also performed songs from the deluxe version of the LP, including the live debuts of “Drive By Baby” and “Someday.” On the topic of live debuts, Shakes pulled out two unreleased tunes for their first show of the reunion tour. The songs are titled “American Dream” and “Another Life,” and could possibly hint at more music from the recently reunited band. Shakes didn’t leave behind their 2012 debut, performing six songs from Boys & Girls, including “I Ain’t The Same,” “Hold On,” and “Rise To The Sun.”
A new era of Alabama Shakes is officially underway, and just like when they debuted, nothing is stopping the trio. The band is back at Chicago’s Salt Shed tonight for another show before heading to St. Paul, Minnesota, Nashville, and a show at the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater. Shakes’s reunion tour has them on the road until November. You can check out their full touring schedule, last night’s setlist, and footage from the first stop of the Alabama Shakes reunion tour below.
Tour dates & Tickets: https://www.alabamashakes.com
