Little Feat at The Vic: A night with the old and the new
Occasionally, I get into a discussion about who is the greatest American band. I always say that if Lowell George hadn't died and they could have stayed together, Little Feat would be right at the top. Sadly, that didn't happen so we’re left with a lot of what could have been feelings.
I'll never forget the first time I saw them perform. It was in Oklahoma City, in 1975. They were the opening act for Traffic, a band I loved and looked forward to seeing. Little Feat blew them out of the building. They were by far the superior act that night. Lowell and the boys were the best opener ever and a memorable concert experience.
It's now almost fifty years later and a lot has changed for Little Feat. Drummer Richie Hayward died in 2010. Guitarist Paul Barrere died in 2019. Still, they carry on.
Founding member keyboardist Bill Payne is still around and is the only original player left. Sam Clayton on percussion and Kenny Gadney on bass have been members since 1972. Guitarist and trumpeter Fred Tackett joined the band when they reformed, after a decade-long breakup in 1987. Newer members are Tony Leone on drums and Scott Sharrard on slide guitar and vocals. He does an excellent job handling the parts that Lowell George did back in the 70’s.
Little Feat is on a fall tour where they are performing the entirety of the albums “Sailin’ Shoes and “Dixie Chicken”, on alternating nights. They've come to Chicago for a two-night stand at The Vic. Because of the cancellation of the first concert, night two gets us full performances of both albums, plus some of their other hits.
Highlights of the show included “Willin’” and “A Apolitical Blues” from the “Sailin’ Shoes” album and a fifteen-minute jam with plenty of guitar work on “Dixie Chicken.” The night’s surprise was their encore of the Grateful Dead’s “Shakedown Sreet.”
Was last night as good as the concert in OKC almost five decades ago? No, but not much is. But, for almost two and a half hours, Little Feat showed us they are still a great rock and roll band. That’s more than good enough…a lot more.