With their blended appearance and a sound steeped in soul yet born of the millennial rock scene, Alabama Shakes could symbolize a post-racial dream that, as the recent U.S. election shows, remains a work in progress.

As with the civil rights movement, the band's approach, says formidable singer-songwriter Brittany Howard, draws on race-mixing experiments that began in the mid 20th century.

"The biggest influence on the band was the session players of the 1960s," Howard says via telephone. "We were really inspired by the Wrecking Crew, the MGs. ...We'd just learn about how the same players played on all these records. The Funk Brothers — they played on Stax, Motown — it's the same guys on the hits. But they're not all black."