Alabama 3

On the brink of the big time, Alabama 3 are getting there. Who would have thought there would be much call for 'acid country gospel blues' music? Well the director of The Sopranos, David Chase, obviously saw the appeal and took 'Woke up this morning' as the theme tune for the hit American TV programme.

Although, lead singer Rob Love seems unphased by any media attention the band gets and the Alabama 3 web site appears to be more interested in plugging the band's religious ideals. However, how seriously should we take a group who worship the First Presleytarian Church of Elvis The Divine?

"Religion always comes first. Before you can even strum a guitar, you are christened and given a label by the state." Taking the bait, I jokingly question the sanity of Alabama 3. "Hey, I just do my music," Rob admitted. "You decide who's crazy."

Nevertheless, crazy (and brilliant) is the only way to describe the fusion of styles that is A3's M.O. Rob, despite coming from South Wales, and the other seven (not two) band members may dress like cowboys but their music shows influences from country, jazz funk, techno, acid and The man himself, Elvis Presley. Yet, Rob's favourite Presley tunes come from the Vegas years "when he was swollen and fucked."

The name of the group has also paid off stateside yet was 'trimmed' to A3 for The Sopranos soundtrack so as "a red-neck, mid-western, country band called Alabama wouldn't sue us." However, they do play off the American connotations and the gangster-cool of the Goodfellas-style TV show hasn't done them any harm either. "We've got made," Rob says. Really? "In the U.S., we've had dinner invitations in Chicago, New Jersey, New York. You know, 'come to my pizza parlour and I'll make you an offer you can't refuse...'"

Even if you do refuse Alabama 3, it cannot be denied that they have a lot to offer. I, for one, shan't argue with them because I don't want to sleep with the fishes.

Their new album 'La Peste' is available now from all good record shops.

Reviewed by Toby Osborne.