When my brother became a fan of Alabama, I used to give him so much crap, because their songs sounded all the same in sound and theme. As the years have gone, I've come to appreciate them more. And though they went on a "Farewell Tour" in 2004, they decided to embark on a 40 Year Anniversary, Back to the Bowery Tour(The club in South Carolina where they got their start). After tickets sold out months ago, for their show at the Fabulous Fox in St. Louis, on the first day or two I figured I wasn't going to see this one either, but they added a second show and got pretty good seats, in sixth row back in left front orchestra(no obstructed view!).
Me and Zane got there with about 50 minutes to spare, but the line was curled around both sides when we got there. After the wait and the lights dimmed at 8 PM on the dot, a young guy came out and I said aloud "Aww, douchebags." I don't mind opening acts, but hate that disappointed feeling when they don't announce them and you're not expecting having to sit through one.
Michael Ray was the opener and he played seven songs acoustically with a percussionist, or more a guy beating on box he was sitting on. He talked about about a record deal and Zane said, "Maybe he'll be able to afford his band a drum set."
Ray's songs sounded all the same and he looked to be in the Blake Shelton or Chris Young mode of douchebaggery, so my first thought was right. Tattoo covered and he did the obligatory classic country cover and totally butchered He Stopped Loving Her Today. Thankfully he was only on half an hour.
After a half an hour set change, Alabama took to the stage with Brad Paisley's Old Alabama playing, and talking into If You're Gonna Play in Texas. The first few songs the sound was muddy, like Randy Owen was speaking away from the microphone too much, but they charged into the classics early on. The first half of the show was the highlights, with Tennessee River and Song of the South, two of the songs I wanted to hear more than the rest.
After a messy split from their longtime drummer, the group was augmented by a four piece band.
This was the first time, I've ever seen a multiple night stand show of any artist. The Post's Friday night review was right about a few things, but the group must have read some of it or still in the process on fine tuning the tour.
For starters it's refreshing to see a group just play music and not play up the douchbaggery aspects of modern country "shows" and put on a concert. During on the new songs, he was going through the redneck checklist(Trucks, tractors, etc), which I'm sure most modern acts stole from Alabama, it still seems contrived and dumbing down, I've seen too many times. During the redneck checklist though, he mentioned, "...it's like the uniting together, that Obama talks about," which got a chorus of boos, and Owen backing off laughing.
Some of the later bits that featured Jeff Cook and Teddy Gentry seemed like forced humor entries. During the song of each of them got, Owen drifted toward the back of the stage, when he was by the keyboard player, I couldn't tell if he went back their to take a drag off of a cigarette or was just bs'ing. Zane noticed he dropped something when back there.
Randy Owen did his part as front man with quite a few good chuckles, "I can't see very well, but I can see plenty of people sitting on their asses up there," during Dixieland Delight, when trying to get people into the show. Or when he spotted a man in the pit with a Heineken, telling him, "You better get a Budweiser." He also chided a massive bald security guard for not getting a special guest they brought on stage and serenaded Happy Birthday to for at first not helping her up on stage. He also tossed in a few Missouri references as song lyric changes.
The second part of the show was sort of a drag, as they delved into the newer songs and the slower tempo songs, that seemed to drag the mood for me. it didn't help I was running on five hours of sleep and should have taken a vacation day Friday night as well...
And though they picked theaters for the "intimacy," and getting back to their beginnings, when Owen tried rousing a group(a decidedly older crowd) in the front pit to "get off their asses" to no avail, it was clear Alabama is more an arena and amphitheater type band.
And the one area where I agreed with the Post's review was that the concert, even with it seeming to drag in the second half, was too brisk at only 90 minutes. A few more songs and closer to two hours isn't too much to ask for a headliner.
Naturally they aren't the band at their peak from 30 years ago and a step or two slower. Hence having more backing musicians when I'm pretty sure it used to just be a four piece on stage. Closing out with their best song, Mountain Music, it was still an enjoyable show and I'm very glad I got the chance to see them.
Set List (As best as I can remember)
If You're Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)
Tennessee River
Dixieland Delight>Will the Circle Be Unbroken>Dixieland Delight
Song of the South
Happy Birthday
New Song by Jeff Cook Angel?
Turn It Off, Turn Me On? sung by Teddy Gentry
Born Country
Dancin', Shaggin' on the Boulevard
Lady Down on Love
All American
Love in the First Degree
Rocky Top
High Cotton
That's How I Was Raised
My Home's In Alabama
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Mountain Music
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