According to stereogum.com, Brittany Howard released her second solo album What Now, last year and last month, Howard and her old band Alabama Shakes played a surprise reunion show in Tuscaloosa, which was their first performance in seven years. And now, Howard also has a hardcore band called Kumite and they played their first show in Nashville on January 12.
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Kumite’s first show was announced back in November of 2024 and the band was on a bill with Snõõper, Inner Peace and Second Spirit at Nashville’s Basement Inn. The event was a benefit for Nashville Launch Pad, the Second Harvest Food Bank,and Southern Movement Committee.
Before the gig, Howard wrote a note on Instagram, talking about the importance of raising money and awareness in different communities: “Sunday night is about bringing people together who support a message of peace, love and inclusion. To be honest, it is less about a concert or making a statement musically and more about uniting people in a safe place during these crazy times we are living in.”
In videos from last night’s show, Howard’s vocals are full on dirty growl-roar, which she can do that really well. The artist also occasionally played guitar and the band covered American Nightmare’s “AM/PM,” with one of her bandmates singing lead. The crowd seemed pretty sedate for a hardcore show and the videos do not capture any crazy pit action or Howard’s mosh calls.
Photo Credit: Brett Padelford