Article and images by Bill Kelly
The City Parks Foundation continued wowing New Yorkers with
a super Sunday SummerStage show featuring
soul-rockers Alabama Shakes, Diamond Rugs; a collaboration with members of Deer Tick, Los Lobos, The Black Lips,
Dead Confederate and Six Finger Satellite, along with alt-Country crooner
Robert Ellis.
Rumsey Playfield was packed on a perfect early summer day. Opener Ellis played a crisp, foot stomping
set followed by Diamond Rugs, a band that started as a side project for
Deer Tick’s ubiquitous Mike McCauley that has morphed into a serious touring
band in its own right. Choosing themes
of heavy drinking and remorse, the band is anchored by the large physical and
musical presence of Los Lobos sax man Steve Berlin.
With the audience already primed by two great opening acts,
the Alabama Shakes brought the crowd quickly
to its feet. Singer/guitarist Brittany Howard is another in an expanding
list of females fronting bands playing roots rocky music traditionally viewed
as male-centric. Howard roams the
stage, swinging her guitar and rearing
back, growling and booming her voice over layered guitars and funky rhythm
section. The Shakes music is not the
same “Southern Rock” as exemplified by bands like the Allman Brothers or
Marshall Tucker, but rather a soul-fused, swampy hybrid blending bar band sound
with rip roaring, large crowd rock.
For a list of upcoming shows, visit the City Park
Foundations’ website at:
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