BuffettNews.com

http://flagpole.com/Weekly/ABCPick/Litt ... 2006-04-05



Jazzy/ bluesy/ fusion rock band Little Feat isn't only one of rock’s longest running touring bands (nearly 30 years total), but also one of the few that has been able to sustain a consistently loyal following after losing its frontman. Sure, the sounds will always be missing the gruff howl and sharp slide licks provided by late vocalist-guitarist Lowell George, but today’s version is no cheap nostalgia act, either.

The current lineup now features guitarist Fred Tackett, bassist Kenny Gradney, percussionist Sam Clayton, guitarist-vocalist Paul Barrare, original members Richie Hayward (drums) and Bill Payne (keyboards), along with relatively new recruit Shaun Murphy. The addition of female vocalist Murphy, a step up from the previous George sound-alike Craig Fuller, is a welcome breath of fresh air harking back to the days when George and a young Bonnie Raitt used to pair up on the mic.

Much of Little Feat’s recent recorded output has been of the live variety; so much so, in fact, that the band now offers purchasable downloads of recent shows at http://www.LittleFeat.com. The members also began the Barnstormin’ Live series in 2005 and have since released two volumes that dig beneath the surface to rejuvenate such deep cuts as George’s “Roll Um Easy” and “Six Feet of Snow,” as well as tackling such familiar standards as “Dixie Chicken” and “Sailin’ Shoes.” For those who, in the band’s own words, “still ain’t had enough,” Sirius Satellite Radio recently launched Feats at 5, a weekend show that features nothing but You Know Who.

Though on a smaller scale, Little Feat seems to have taken the Grateful Dead model of self-sustainment and run with it. The fact that the bandmembers still get a rise out of their well-tread back catalog, while notching up a few surprises, is reason enough to give the not-so-worn-out Feats a go.

Michael Andrews

Feats at 5 is on Buffetts station

My hubby and I have our tickets to see Little Feat in Charlotte on April 14th! We have seen them before and are looking forward to this show. They will be at the Neighborhood Theatre if any others are interested! For more info - check the website www.neighborhoodtheatre.com

Great band, and the nicest guys you'd ever meet.

They have to get rid of that woman singer, she brings nothing to the table.

I never really thought of Craig Fuller as a Lowell soundalike. If anything Paul Barrere sounds more like him than Craig did.

That article is also somewhat misleading when it comes to naming the original members. Besides Shaun the only one who wasn't in the band when Lowell was alive is Fred Tackett. He did take part in some session work but was never considered an official member of the band. I've only seen the new Little Feat once and it was when they opened for the Allman Brothers while Craig was still fronting them. I like them well enough but I'd also never confuse anything they've done with the greatness that was the Lowell-led version of the band.

LIPH wrote:They have to get rid of that woman singer, she brings nothing to the table.

agreed shes awful

Little Feat announce 13 disc box set

Jahfin wrote:http://flagpole.com/Weekly/ABCPick/Litt ... 2006-04-05



Jazzy/ bluesy/ fusion rock band Little Feat isn't only one of rock’s longest running touring bands (nearly 30 years total), but also one of the few that has been able to sustain a consistently loyal following after losing its frontman. Sure, the sounds will always be missing the gruff howl and sharp slide licks provided by late vocalist-guitarist Lowell George, but today’s version is no cheap nostalgia act, either.

The current lineup now features guitarist Fred Tackett, bassist Kenny Gradney, percussionist Sam Clayton, guitarist-vocalist Paul Barrare, original members Richie Hayward (drums) and Bill Payne (keyboards), along with relatively new recruit Shaun Murphy. The addition of female vocalist Murphy, a step up from the previous George sound-alike Craig Fuller, is a welcome breath of fresh air harking back to the days when George and a young Bonnie Raitt used to pair up on the mic.

Much of Little Feat’s recent recorded output has been of the live variety; so much so, in fact, that the band now offers purchasable downloads of recent shows at http://www.LittleFeat.com. The members also began the Barnstormin’ Live series in 2005 and have since released two volumes that dig beneath the surface to rejuvenate such deep cuts as George’s “Roll Um Easy” and “Six Feet of Snow,” as well as tackling such familiar standards as “Dixie Chicken” and “Sailin’ Shoes.” For those who, in the band’s own words, “still ain’t had enough,” Sirius Satellite Radio recently launched Feats at 5, a weekend show that features nothing but You Know Who.

Though on a smaller scale, Little Feat seems to have taken the Grateful Dead model of self-sustainment and run with it. The fact that the bandmembers still get a rise out of their well-tread back catalog, while notching up a few surprises, is reason enough to give the not-so-worn-out Feats a go.

Michael Andrews

Good read, thanks for posting Jahfin.

landshark04 wrote:

LIPH wrote:They have to get rid of that woman singer, she brings nothing to the table.

agreed shes awful

I thought they got rid of her just a couple of years ago.
I agree with you both

For the Lowell fans, here's an alternate take of "Good Lovin'" that he sings lead on from the Grateful Dead's Shakedown Street album. For those that were't aware, Lowell produced the record. This version appears on the expanded edition that came out in 2004.

Yes, Shaun is gone. A lot of people love her..

just a matter of opinion .

Tiki Torches wrote:For the Lowell fans, here's an alternate take of "Good Lovin'" that he sings lead on from the Grateful Dead's Shakedown Street album. For those that were't aware, Lowell produced the record. This version appears on the expanded edition that came out in 2004.

My very first Dead show ever was the Shakedown Street tour, I was in 9th grade. My parents actually let me take the train in to MSG with my friend and her older brothers to go to the show. And my souvenier was this hoodie windbreaker thing that was so cheap, it may as well have been a waterproofed paper towel, it was that lightweight. I loved it and wore it until it was shredded tatters.

The first time I recall having an opportunity to see the Grateful Dead was at Red Rocks in the summer of 1979. Alas, that didn't work out but I was finally able to see them in Greensboro, NC in 1989. I managed to catch them three times after that (all in different locales in NC) before Garcia slipped off this mortal coil in '95. A few months back, I stumbled upon a slew of photos from a fan that were taken at the Red Rocks concert. Not quite the same as being there but still pretty cool. There's also the nearly endless resource of archive.org.

I saw Anders at Artsplosure in Raleigh a couple years ago, good stuff.

nycfeat wrote:The first couple of times I saw Anders, he was in a singer/songwriter state of mind. Lately, his shows have been more like hard rock. Or really hard blues (if there is such a thing). Not that I mind but there are folks who aren't/weren't as thrilled about the change.

What I saw was a full on blues/New Orleans infused set. I'd heard his name through the years but I'd never actually heard his music so I didn't really have anything to compare his sound to. He rocked but it wasn't what I'd refer to as hard rock, just very energetic and inspirational.

Back to the topic at hand, I've always enjoyed Linda Ronstadt's take on Little Feat songs, here's a couple.

Since this hasn't been mentioned yet, just a heads up that this is out now...

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