Alabama 3… Daylight robbery

Alabama 3 announce new album, start UK tour tomorrow!

Published on November 15th, 2011 | Jonny Abrams

Brixton’s finest purveyors of acid-gospel-rock-hop Alabama 3 embark upon a UK tour tomorrow night in support of forthcoming new album Shoplifting 4 Jesus, penned in for a release on 27th February 2012 via the band’s own Hostage Music imprint.

The album was apparently inspired by the London riots, although Rocksucker understands that this doesn’t mean it will come with a free plasma television. Front man Larry Love, who you can only hope is a big fan of Curb Your Enthusiasm, had this to say:

“Is the sound of middle England’s worst nightmare, a celebration of all that is dynamic in club culture, and a finger on the pulse of those on the wrong side of the tracks. Everyone is fearful of kids today, of hoodies. Perhaps if we just stopped and listened to them a bit more, we wouldn’t be.

“The album’s got another kind of theme running through it: a biblical feel, but it’s the Bible-as-Communist manifesto, which is why we thought it would be a good idea to get a few voices reading passages from the good book throughout.”

“Sue us for what, exactly? We’ve got no money. If any single artist wants to sue us, all of them will have to sue us. We’ll have hundreds of lawsuits. It’ll be a circus. Ha. Bring ‘em on.”

Said few voices? Only crime writer Martina Cole, Happy Mondays dancer/K-hole impersonator Bez and half-time flutter advocate Ray Winstone.

Shoplifting 4 Jesus, to idly quote the press release, is “littered with deliberately stolen riffs, from acts like Warren Zevon, Status Quo, EPMD, Hawkwind and John Lennon”. Explaineth Larry:

“But what we’ve done is very much in the jazz tradition, and with full love and respect for all the artists concerned. It’s effectively us giving the nod to our contemporaries, our idols.”

But what if these artists or their estates decide to sue you? What then, huh?

“Sue us for what, exactly? We’ve got no money. If any single artist wants to sue us, all of them will have to sue us. We’ll have hundreds of lawsuits. It’ll be a circus. Ha. Bring ’em on.”

Now that’s the spirit! So, those UK tour dates in full…

NOVEMBER
Wed 16 CARDIFF, Coal Exchange
Thu 17 MANCHESTER, Ritz **
Fri 18 GLASGOW, Academy
Sat 19 NEWCASTLE, Academy
Sun 20 LEEDS, Academy
Mon 21 NOTTINGHAM, Rock City
Tue 22 HULL, University
Thu 24 OXFORD, Academy
Fri 25 BRIGHTON, Concorde 2
Sat 26 BRISTOL, Academy **
Sun 27 WREXHAM, Central Station
Mon 28 WHITEHAVEN, Civic Hall
Tue 29 NORTHAMPTON, Roadmender
Wed 30 SWANSEA, Pontardawe Arts Centre

DECEMBER
Thu 01 BOURNEMOUTH, Academy **
Fri 02 LONDON, Forum **

** denotes support from Ruts DC

For more information, please visit www.alabama3.co.uk

Artists: alabama 3

About the Author

Jonny Abrams Editor of Rocksucker and the website's founder, Jonny is passionate about the music he listens to, both good and bad, as well as interviewing his favourite musicians.