Muscle Shoals, Ala. lies on the south bank of the Tennessee River, which coincidentally was called the “Singing River” by the Native Americans who settled in the region. Recently, the small northwest Alabama community has garnered plenty of attention—both from the release of Muscle Shoals that documents the area’s rich music history, and the rise of popular bands from the region including the Alabama Shakes, Jason Isbell and The Secret Sisters.
However, the state boasts a much broader music scene than merely the home of the famous “Muscle Shoals Sound”; musicians including Hank Williams, Nat King Cole, and the Louvin Brothers; and more recent ones including Matthew Houck of Phosphorescent, A.A. Bondy, most of the Drive-By Truckers, The Dexateens, sisters Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer, and Katie Crutchfield of Waxahatchee all share a connection with the Yellowhammer State.
As part of our continuing 50 States Project, below are 12 bands from Alabama worth checking out:
Banditos
Hometown: Birmingham
Members: Corey Parsons, Steve Pierce II, Mary Beth Richardson, Randy Wade, Danny Vines, Jeffery Salter
Current Album: Banditos (2012)
The Banditos came together in 2010 but had met years earlier at Cave 9, a small DIY all-ages music venue. The current lineup happened by accident. At the time Parsons and Pierce were playing bluegrass together, then Wade joined on drums, and Salter was asked to sit in when another lap steel player couldn’t make a show. Right before one of the band’s early shows, Parsons and Pierce convinced Richardson to sing, so she wrote the words to the songs in a Bible and took the stage without any rehearsal. Vines would join a few months later. Early in the Banditos’ career, they opened for the Zac Brown Band and recently shared a bill with Charles Bradley. In February the band moved to Nashville and began the process of writing and recording. They went into the studio and recorded 12 songs in four days with Andrija Tokic, who recorded the Alabama Shakes Boys & Girls, at his Bomb Shelter studio in East Nashville. The album, The Breeze, is anticipated to be released this summer.
Dead Fingers 
Hometown: Birmingham
Members: Kate Taylor, Taylor Hollingsworth
Current Album: Dead Fingers (2012)
Prior to Dead Fingers, Hollingsworth, a member of Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, was responsible for “Snake Hill” and “Air Mattress” on the album Outer South and also appeared on Oberst’s self-titled album. This husband-and-wife duo recorded their self-titled debut with Bruce Watson (R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, Iggy and the Stooges) and it was released on Big Legal Mess/ Fat Possum Records. The track “Closet Full of Bones” is reminiscent of The Civil Wars, and the tracks “Ring Around Saturn” and “Hold on To” will bring to mind the collaboration between John Prine and Iris Dement.
Dillon Hodges
Hometown: Florence
Current Album: Rumspringa (May 14, 2013)
As a teenager, Hodges immersed himself in bluegrass and traditional music, competing in flat-picking competitions, winning 14 in a period of just four years. One of his notable victories included the Flat Picking National Championship in 2007, just one month after his 17th birthday, making him the second youngest winner to date. His forthcoming album showcases his exceptional playing and his twangy, old-time influence, while exploring a variety of styles.
Doc Dailey & Magnolia Devil
Hometown: Muscle Shoals
Members: Doc Dailey, Ben Stedman, Kyle Minckler, Susan King, Kimi Samson, Daniel Stoddard
Current Album: Catch the Presidents (2012)
The current composition of this country-rock band has been together since early 2011. Produced by Dailey and Ben Tanner of the Alabama Shakes, “Catch the Presidents” was recorded at several different locations in Muscle Shoals, including well-known FAME studios as well as the back of the Billy Reid store in Florence, Ala. The band opened for the Alabama Shakes twice in Chicago and once in Milwaukee last year and has shared the stage with The Civil Wars and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit.
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