Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes, Etc.) Plays First Show With Her Hardcore Band Kumite

Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes, etc. fame launched her new hardcore project Kumite last night, January 12th. That outfit saw the GRAMMY Award-winning blues rock star front an uncharacteristically heavier set at The Basement East in Nashville, TN as part of a benefit show for the Second Harvest Food Bank, Nashville Launch Pad and Southern Movement Committee.

Billed as ‘Brittany Howard’s Nashville Hardcore Benefit Show‘, that concert also featured sets from Snõõper, Inner Peace and Second Spirit. Fan-filmed footage of that performance has since made its way online via Lambgoat and can be viewed below.

It is unclear if the chosen name of Kumite is a reference to the karate-related practicing, or the alleged illegal fighting tournament that served as the inspiration for the 1988 martial arts cult classic ‘Bloodsport‘ starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Interestingly though, a cover of American Nightmare‘s “AM/PM” was performed during the set.