From Alabama Shakes to sick-ass breakdowns: multiple Grammy-winning alt-and-blues-rock musician Brittany Howard played her first-ever show with her new hardcore band, Kumite, this weekend in Nashville, Tennessee.
After announcing her more heavy-edged outfit last November, Howard hit the stage with Kumite last night (January 12th) 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.
The night had been billed as “Brittany Howard’s Nashville Hardcore Benefit Show,” and likewise 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, while fan-shot clips from the night reveal detuned, sludge-grooved chugs are the name of the game with this band, so far.
Notably, Kumite also switched up the aesthetic while performing a cover of American Nightmare’s Background Music anthem “AM/PM,” which found Howard hitting guitar while a bandmate hopped on the mic. The cover garnered a thumbs up from AN vocalist Wes Eisold’s Cold Cave project, who commented “This is cool” on X while reposting a vid of that particular part of the performance.
You’ll find video footage from the debut performance down below.
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.”
It’s as-yet unclear when Kumite will play their next show.
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