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Review: Alabama 3 bring their brand of country-techno to Cambridge




Long-standing Brixton-based country-techno band Alabama 3 appeared at the Junction on Friday, March 17 - the first date of their UK tour.

Alabama 3. Picture: Rob Blackham
Alabama 3. Picture: Rob Blackham

Opening for them was Mr Griff, an R&B-orientated Cambridge artist, who succeeded - with the help of his band - in getting the crowd dancing, warming them up for what was to come.

Bit by bit various members of Alabama 3 came out onto the stage - there were eventually nine in total, including two female backing singers - and started playing the catchy Tranquilize Yourself Britannia, a track off their 2021 album, Step 13 - the first record to be released since the death of founding member Jake Black, aka The Very Reverend D Wayne Love, in 2019.

Alabama 3 at the Cambridge Junction, March 17, 2022. Picture: Adrian Peel
Alabama 3 at the Cambridge Junction, March 17, 2022. Picture: Adrian Peel

Frontman Rob Spragg, aka Larry Love, entered the fray last, wearing a Liam Gallagher-style anorak and a cowboy hat - emphasising his Country & Western leanings. Quite the charismatic presence, he then launched into Whacked, the excellent lead single from Step 13. It may have been one of the band’s newer songs but most of the audience seemed to know it and happily sang along.

Larry Spoke, who showed his appreciation throughout the evening by uttering, Southern-style, “thank you kindly,” spoke of the current situation in the world, including Ukraine and the pandemic. “In times of strife, we need rock ‘n’ roll,” he opined.

There was a smattering of tracks from the latest album, including Yolanda and the heartfelt Somebody Somewhere, as well as older tunes such as Woke Up This Morning, memorably used over the opening credits to popular TV series The Sopranos.

Alabama 3 at the Cambridge Junction, March 17, 2022. Picture: Adrian Peel
Alabama 3 at the Cambridge Junction, March 17, 2022. Picture: Adrian Peel

Impressive harmonica player Nick Reynolds, son of Great Train Robber Bruce Reynolds, took over lead vocals on Have You Seen Bruce Richard Reynolds?, admitting afterwards that he’d forgotten the lyrics to one of the verses. “You forgot it and it’s about your own dad?!” joked Larry.

Further highlights delivered by these prolific musicians included Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlife and Hypo Full of Love, during which the band members swayed to the side as one. Songs were dedicated to “Boris Johnson and his parties”, George Floyd, “my girlfriend’s grandma who just died” and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse - “they must be ******* knackered!” said Larry.

Alabama 3. Picture: Rob Blackham
Alabama 3. Picture: Rob Blackham

While not all the songs hit the heights - and a few of my favourites were missing - Alabama 3 remain an energetic, magnetic and exciting live prospect and it was great to see people enjoying themselves, dancing along with wild abandon and passionately voicing their appreciation.

For more on Alabama 3, go to alabama3.co.uk. For more on Mr Griff, visit mrgriffmusic.com.

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