Review: Little Feat – Strike Up The Band
Little Feat – Strike Up The Band
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital / Label: Megaforce
Release: 2025
Text: Andy Trachsel
Who remembers the swinging swamp music of Little Feat with the legendary Lowell George on vocals and slide guitar? Well there’s a new album of little Feat called ‘Strike Up The Band’ or what is left of it. Do you remember the legendary Rockpalast concert of the band in the seventies? The whole band in some kind of high and playing the well known Dixie Chicken, Sailin’ Shoes and Long Distance Love. To mention a few. The songwriter genius Lowell George assisted by upcoming man Paul Barrere , drummer Richard Hayworth, percussionist Sam Clayton, bass player Kenny Gradney and keyboard player Bill Payne were rocking the place.
For the new album Bill Payne is in the lead with old bandmembers Kenny Gradney on bass and Sam Clayton on percussion. Furthermore Fred Tacket and Scott Sharrad on guitar, Tony Leone on drums and percussion and the Tower of Power horn section.
The opening track 4 Days Of Heaven 3 Days Of Work is well produced and has the trademark slide of Lowell George played by Scott. The track has a dancing calypso rhythm and the horns make it funky.
The second track Bayou Mama could have more southern feeling if it was sung by Lowell George. Well Scott can emulate the slide of Lowell. One out of two is not bad at all. The band knows in what condition they are as they play the song Ship Wrecks. Got to find a way to reach the dawn. Strike up the band! Midnight Flight has a nice riff on two guitars and powerful horn accents and background vocals.
Too High To Cut My Hair is a funky song is about a female hairdresser who is too stoned to give the bandmembers a haircut. Tower of Power revisited. You should see the funny video of the song! When Hearts Fall is emotionally sung by Bill Payne and has a moment of reflection. Also the title track Strike Up The Band has the same vibe. This is close to the original Little Feat sound featuring the Larkin Poe sisters. Nice mandolin playing by the way and yes Bill’s piano and the slide of Scott.
Bluegrass Pines seems to be a filler featuring Molly Tuttle, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams. Disappearing Ink is stronger but not special.
Love And Life (Never Fear) is far better and shows the familiar Little Feat sound mixed with some Doobie Brothers influences. Dance A Little is an uplifting song with mandolin and accordion. Running Out Of Time With The Blues could be a track from one of the seventies Little Feat albums. My favourite song! The final track is New Orleans cries When She Sings. It’s a slow burner which transforms into a Mardi Gras festival.
Well did they strike up the band? Yes they tried but there’s a long distance love for the genius of Lowell George.
Tracks:
01. 4 Days of Heaven 3 Days of Work
02. Bayou Mama
03. Shipwrecks
04. Midnight Flight
05. Too High To Cut My Hair
06. When Hearts Fall
07. Strike Up The Band (feat. Larkin Poe)
08. Bluegrass Pines (feat. Molly Tuttle, Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams)
09. Disappearing Ink
10. Love and Life (Never Fear)
11. Dance a Little
12. Running Out of Time with the Blues
13. New Orleans Cries When She Sings
Website: https://www.littlefeat.net/