There’s nothing more exciting than a band that has a great buzz, a sound that deftly mixes soul, R&B and gospel and is coming soon to a small venue near you. That’s the Alabama Shakes and they are headed to Salt Lake. The quartet hails from Athens, GA and features Brittany Howard, Zac Cockrell, Steve Johnson and Heath Fogg. They’ve been compared to the Black Keys, Drive By-Truckers and Sharon Jones. The most compelling thing about the Alabama Shakes is Brittany Howard’s vocals—gritty, smoky and soulful—a mix of Janis Joplin, Otis Redding and Tina Turner. 

The Alabama Shakes released a 4-song EP, but thier first full length album from Rough Trade Records, Boys and Girls, will drop on April 10. 

Take a listen here, then check them out at The State Room on Thursday, February 2. No doubt this will be the show that everyone will be talking about the next day. So get there.