I sat down with Larry Love (Rob Spragg) and The Very Reverend Dr D. Wayne Love (Jake Black) for a quick interview before Alabama 3’s gig at the Junction back in November. You might be wondering about those names – explanation: “LSD and Italy.” They’re a band born out of a Blairite “repellent brit-pop” 90s, as Larry points out, and the names are Alabama 3’s way of not taking themselves too seriously and poking a bit of fun at the odd journalist. A Scotsman and a Welshman pretending to be from the deep south, the “stupidity and irony” is not lost upon them; but they’re in it for the enjoyment, and it doesn’t matter if you don’t get it. 

“There’s nothing worse than a dull, dour, pragmatic group sitting about in a dressing room having a cup of decaf” – The Very Reverend Dr D. Wayne Love

We had an extended discussion on the current state of racism in the States, and the mishandling of the Ferguson situation – and on feminism too. They’ve launched their own label, Hostage Music, and I think the phrase ‘no pain, no gain’ is fitting. The label allows them to give a platform to some interesting artists, away from big label influence, and “get more women on the controls in the engineering seats” in the studio. However, it is hard work and it’s clear to see it is a different challenge to for them.

“All the policemen turning up on the streets [during the Ferguson riots]; not one of them [that he saw in media coverage] was black... They sent in a white militia of psychopaths on steroids” – Larry Love

The two support acts on the bill, Lyza Jane and Frankie Forman, were excellent and definitely deserve a mention for helping to set the tone of the gig. Accompanied by obsessive strobe usage from the off, Larry and the Reverend opened with ‘Bam Ba Lam,’ the lead track from the band’s new album The Wimmin from the W.O.M.B.L.E, sung by the band’s female vocalist Aurora Dawn. Tracks from the new album played well live and a subtle shift from the recorded electronic tones to a more honest depth of sound really impressed me. The Reverend’s onstage persona was complete with a southern American accent, a stark contrast to the thick Scottish one I had recorded in the interview.

“Edgy – and kind of dangerous? It’s ****ing pop music. There’s not very much in pop music to take seriously. The idea of people over the age of 21 being in a ****ing pop group cannot be taken seriously ” – The Very Reverend Dr D. Wayne Love

During the encore, Aurora Dawn was encouraged to take centre stage and play a couple of songs by herself. To be honest I wouldn’t expect anything less from Alabama 3. They’re clearly interested in aiding artists’ development and it was a nice touch to a great evening.

Alabama 3 want you to dance, regardless of who you are, where you’re from, your age, race, religion or gender. Get yourself to a gig and dance to those strobe lights.