Akita, Masami - Brook, Southampton, 17/10/2005
by Philip Vincent
published: 20 / 10 / 2005

intro
When Philip Vincent saw acid house country rockers Alabama 3 in Southampton this summer, it was for him one of the musical highlights of his year. Back to see them there for a second time, he finds history sadly failing to repeat itself
I again make the long drive down to the Southampton Brook for a sold out Alabama 3 show. My love for this band is well documented in this magazine so I was literally buzzing with excitement before the band came on and for the first thirty minutes of the band's set, after which I began to lag. I thought to myself “hang on, this didn’t happen last time” at which point I realised that the last time I saw them they were touring their latest album 'Outlaw and this time they were just doing a standard Alabama 3 show. Don’t get me wrong !The energy, virulent lyrics, cocky country swagger and husky Marlborough fuelled vocals were all in place. It's just that the “magic” wasn’t. Don’t know if this was me being tired, the pissed guy in front that kept sticking his album in my face or the fact that front man Larry Love had a damaged foot and so had to sit down. Either way I left an hour into the set as I felt it just stopped clicking my buttons. The 600 other people all stayed but for me the excitement of last time just wasn’t there. I still walked out humming their tunes though. The photographs that accompany this article were taken by Matthew Williams exclusively for Pennyblackmusic
Picture Gallery:-

most viewed articles
current edition
John McKay - InterviewCathode Ray - Interview
Robert Forster - Interview
When Rivers Meet - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Spear Of Destiny - Interview
Fiona Hutchings - Interview
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every Song
Chris Wade - Interview
Shrag - Huw Stephens Session 08.12.10 and Marc Riley Session 21.03.12
Brian Wilson - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPBoomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Manic Street Preachers - (Gig of a Lifetime) Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, December 1999
Allan Clarke - Interview
Oasis - Oasis, Earl's Court, London, 1995
Barrie Barlow - Interview
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Pixies - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Chuck Prophet - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Dwina Gibb - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Peter Doolan - I Am a Tree Rooted to the Spot and a Snake Moves Around Me,in a CircleVinny Peculiar - Things Too Long Left Unsaid
Garbage - Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
Vultures - Liz Kershaw Session 16.06.88
John McKay - Sixes and #Sevens
Little Simz - Lotus
HAIM - I Quit
Pulp - More
Lapsley - I'm a Hurricane, I'm a Woman In Love
Billy Nomates - Metalhorse
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart