[Listen] Alabama Shakes - "Pocket Change"

We've not heard from Alabama Shakes for quite some time. Just last month I was talking about them with someone and for the life of me could not remember their name. I could however recall their album title, Boys & Girls, and the fact it came out in April last year. I'm full of useless facts about release dates and album titles, but forget the important stuff like band names apparently. Useless in a pub quiz. Anyway that was over a year ago, and now the band are set to appear on True Blood Volume 4 along with Flaming Lips, My Morning Jacket, and Best Coast’s Beth Cosentino. You can hear the Shakes' offering titled "Pocket Change" below via Entertainment Weekly

[Watch] Alabama Shakes - "I Ain't the Same" (Official Video)

Alabama Shakes' new video for the Boys & Girls single "I Ain't the Same" keeps things simple, opting for footage of an in-studio performance. Directed by Jane Pollard, the video was shot the Ray Davies-owned Konk Studios, with the band putting their heart and soul into the intimate performance. Watch it above.

Boys & Girls is out now via ATO Records.

[Watch] Alabama Shakes - "I Ain’t The Same" x "Rise To The Sun" Live on Conan

With the Olympics over the late night TV circuit has got back into the swing of things and last night we were treated to a few performances. First up for your viewing pleasure is a pair of tracks from one of the most solid live bands to come to the forefront of our attention in the past 12 months, Alabama Shakes. They performed "I Ain't The Same" and "Rise To The Sun" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Re-watch them both at the top courtesy of our friends at The Audio Perv.

Alabama Shakes' album Boys & Girls is out now.

[Outside Lands 2012] Top Five Songs We Can't Wait to Hear Live

This Friday marks the beginning of this year's Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco, the fifth edition of the cultural highlight. SKOA will be attending the festival this year, and each day leading up to the festival we will be dishing out a feature focused on the bands set to appear at Outside Lands. Today, our spotlight is focused on the top five songs we cannot wait to hear live at the festival.

No matter how good a band's repertoire is, there is always one song that stands out, one song that automatically comes to mind whenever you think about said band. That recollection is even more potent when you go to see them live in concert, bringing the immediate hope that they will play that song live and it will be even better than the studio quality version. Of all the bands playing at Outside Lands this year, there are five that have songs so damn good that we're shaking with excitement to hear them live. Now, keep in mind all of these songs are relatively new, having been released at various times over the past year or so, but that doesn't mean they aren't highlights in the catalogues of these artists. Rather, it's the opposite. These songs are gems in the handfuls of songs these bands have given us over the course of their long, or short, careers, and they are sure to be as good if not better live in concert. Check out our top five picks after the jump.

NOTE: For all of our Outside Lands coverage, head here.

Bloc Party - "Octopus":

Jack White - "Sixteen Saltines":

Alabama Shakes - "Hold On":

Tame Impala - "Apocalypse Dreams":

Passion Pit - "Constant Conversations":

[News] Alabama Shakes Announce Fall Tour

Alabama Shakes are continuing their whirlwind year with a slew of new tour dates set for later this fall. Further supporting their debut LP Boys & Girls, the band will set out on a headlining tour throughout late September and early October. Check out their full tour schedule after the jump.

Boys & Girls is out now via ATO Records.

Alabama Shakes 2012 Tour Dates:
07/11 – Utrecht, NL @ Tivoli
07/12 – Cologne, DE @ Live Music Hall
07/13 – Aix-Les-Bains, FR @ Musilac Open Air Festival
07/15 – Southwold, UK @ Latitude Music Festival
07/18 – Madrid, ES @ El Sol
07/19 – San Sebastian, ES @ Jazzaldia
07/20 – Milton Keynes, UK @ Secret Garden Party
07/28 – Newport, RI @ Newport Folk Festival
07/29 – Syracuse, NY @ Paper Mill Amphitheater
07/31 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue #
08/01 – Chicago, IL @ Metro *#
08/02 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue #
08/04 – Chicago, IL @ Grant Park – Lollapalooza
08/05 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre !
08/06 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre !
08/08 – Kansas City, MO @ Berkeley Riverfront Park
08/10 – Boulder, CO @ Fox Theater
08/11 – San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands Festival
08/14 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre $
08/15 – Pomona, CA @ The Fox Theater %
08/16 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues ~
08/31 – Stradbally, IE @ Electric Picnic
09/01-02 – North Dorset, UK @ End of the Road Festival
09/04 – Oxford, UK @ O2 Academy
09/05 – Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2
09/06 – Isle of Wight, UK @ Bestival
09/27 – Nashville, TN @ Public Square Park *
09/28 – Memphis, TN @ The New Daisy Theater *
09/29 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade Music Park *
10/01 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory *
10/02 – Toronto, ON @ The Kool Haus *
10/04 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5 *
10/05 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues *
10/08 – Louisville, KY @ Brown Theater *
10/09 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant *
10/12 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits
11/04 -Munich, DE @ Muffathalle
11/05 – Berlin, DE @ Astra
11/06 – Hamburg, DE @ Docks
11/08 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
11/09 – Brussels, BE @ AB
11/10 – Paris, FR @ La Cigale – Les Inrocks
11/12 – Manchester, UK @ Academy 1
11/13 – Glasgow, UK @ Barrowlands
11/16 – London, UK @ Coronet
11/17 – London, UK @ Forum

# = w/ Dry the River
^ = w/ First Aid Kit
! = w/ Neil Young and Crazy Horse
$ = w/ Michael Kiwanuka
% = w/ Antibalas
~ = w/ Futurebirds
* = w/ Fly Golden Eagle

[Watch] Alabama Shakes - "Be Mine" Live on Fallon

By this point we know that Alabama Shakes are an incredibly tight live band and can deliver day in day out. Last night they proved it once again with a visit to Jimmy Fallon and a performance of "Be Mine" from their album Boys & Girls. Check out the performance at the top courtesy of The Audio Perv.

[Watch] Alabama Shakes - "Hang Loose" Live on Later... with Jools Holland

On Tuesday evening when the first part of Later... with Jools Holland was broadcast, Alabama Shakes made the UK TV debut with a performance of "Hold On". Last night the second part of the show was aired and we got to enjoy a second track from the band, "Hang Loose". Check it out at the top and if you've not already picked it up, go grab a copy of their debut Boys & Girls.

[Watch] Alabama Shakes - "Hold On" x "Be Mine" Live on Later... with Jools Holland

Rounding out the show on BBC last night, Later... with Jool Holland, featured a pair of performances from Alabama Shakes. With the band's debut hitting number 3 in the UK album chart and taking the top spot in the first ever Record Store Chart, Alabama Shakes performed their single "Hold On" and album track "Be Mine". The former is up for enjoyment at the top while "Be Mine" is available after the jump. These guys hit the mark every time. 

Boys & Girls is out now.