Last year, Brittany Howard released her bluesy second solo album, What Now, and regrouped with Alabama Shakes for a surprise show, but now she’s making her entrance into the world of hardcore. She played her first show with her new hardcore band Kumite this past weekend in Nashville.
After announcing her more heavy-edged outfit last November, Howard hit the stage with Kumite last night (Jan. 12) at Nashville’s Basement East venue, as part of a benefit show raising funds for the Second Harvest Food Bank, Nashville Launch Pad, and Southern Movement Committee.
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The night had been billed as “Brittany Howard’s Nashville Hardcore Benefit Show” and featured sets from Snõõper, Inner Peace, and Second Spirit.
As for Kumite’s set, it found Howard transforming her signature rootsy croon into a hearty hardcore yell overtop detuned, sludge-grooved chugs from the rest of the band. Notably, Kumite also changed it up while performing a cover of American Nightmare’s Background Music anthem “AM/PM,” where Howard switched to guitar while one of her bandmates hopped on the mic.
Ahead of the show, Howard took to Instagram to discuss the importance of the benefit show, to her, as both a means to raise funds for the causes and a way to create a sense of community “during these crazy times.”
“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,” she wrote.
It’s unclear when Kumite will play their next show, but you can check out fan-shot footage from the debut performance below.
Grammy Winner Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes) new band Kumite covering “AM/PM” by American Nightmare. pic.twitter.com/eB1VPIZrwZ
— PJ Kinzer (@CivilWarSyndrom) January 13, 2025
This article was originally published on RevolverMag.com and has been edited by Alternative Press.