Half a century. There are few bands that get to this point in their careers, where their music is not only solid, and recognizable, but people still dig it, to this day. That is the case with a group like Little Feat, and they showed this in abundance in their Monday concert at the State Theater in Minneapolis. Even without their longtime bandmate Paul Barrere, who is going through health issues, currently, the band was in it's usual top form. Opening the evening, Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams. They are an American roots music duo, and played a five song set, blending originals and some very well chosen covers of songs from America's deep, vast treasure trove of folk, blues, and country music, that paints a vivid tapestry of a distinctive musical tradition that this country has from over the centuries.
Their set opened with "Surrender To Love", a mid-tempo R&B song, co-written by Larry Campbell and soul music songwriter and legend, who recorded for Stax Records in Memphis, William Bell. "You're Running Wild", the second selection in the set, is a traditional country music standard, written by brothers, the late Charlie and Ira Louvin, who are part of the bedrock and the founding of what country music became, during the 1930s and '40s. Two more originals in a medley, came next, as Larry and Teresa's acoustic guitars rang out like two bells, through the theater. "Everybody Loves You" and "Cry Cry Cry", which is not to be confused with a great song with the same title, that Johnny Cash recorded in 1955. The penultimate tune in the set, was "Samson & Delilah", the traditional folk song that was first made notable, by the Grateful Dead when they performed it in 1976 and in subsequent years. It is a traditional tune, based upon the Biblical tale of Samson and his betrayal by Delilah.
It has been performed by a myriad of different artists over the years, and Larry and Teresa's version was a highlight of their opening set. To close out their acoustic set which lasted around 45 minutes, Teresa and Larry played the tune "When I Stop Loving You", another song, co-written by Larry, with William Bell. Their voices soared on this tune about everlasting love, enduring forever, until death.
Set list: Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams
1. Surrender to Love
2. You're Running Wild
3. Everybody Loves You/Cry Cry Cry
4. Samson & Delilah
5. When I Stop Loving You
Little Feat came next, and their energetic set rolled through classic songs from endearing and enduring albums through their half century career and legacy, opening with the haunting strains of "Spanish Moon", sung by longtime Little Feat percussionist, Sam Clayton, and running, in the opening segment, through "Time Loves A Hero", and "Rocket In My Pocket", each sung by Larry Campbell, who is filling in on this segment of their tour for original rhythm and lead guitarist, Paul Barrere who is going through health issues at this time. The show, was dedicated to Paul Barrere in the hopes of his recovery from a serious illness, and so, the band, and fans alike, rallied around their band mate. Paul Barrere, get well soon, and your fans and band mates are thinking of you.
The music came hot and heavy, with "Time Loves A Hero" and "Rocket In My Pocket" coming next, sung by Larry Campbell, and for most of the show, in support of Paul, the fans sang along with every song. Larry Campbell, delivered vocals and slide guitar on "Rocket In My Pocket", paying tribute to original songwriter, guitarist and vocalist for Little Feat, the late, great, Lowell George. Then came "Day Or Night" from Little Feat's "The Last Record Album" sung by both Fred Tackett and Larry Campbell. Billy Payne went on to sing "Honest Man", in another tribute to Lowell George. This song is from George's solo record "Thanks, I'll Eat It Here". "Honest Man", segued into newer Little Feat tunes, among them, "Rooster Rag" and "Church Falling Down", the former, being the title track to a more recent album by the band.
The second half of the concert, leaned heavily upon the standards, the familiar songs that fans knew from the early records, and the band tore through chestnuts like "Sailing Shoes", "Fat Man In The Bathtub", one of the signature songs for Little Feat, and perhaps their best known, "Willin' ", "All That You Dream", and another signature tune from the band, "Dixie Chicken", transporting fans to "the bright lights of Memphis", as the song says. For Dixie Chicken, guitarist, Fred Tackett, also showed his skills as a multi instrumentalist, playing trumpet on the intro.
Three more songs, segued into a rousing encore, "Let It Roll", followed by "Oh Atlanta" and "Feats Don't Fail Me Now". Fans were on their feet, singing along for the encores, as Little Feat shows their legacy endures, on the golden anniversary of the founding of a band, that keeps American roots music alive and well, for a devoted fan base both young and old alike.
Little Feat full set list.
1. Spanish Moon
2. Time Loves A Hero
3. Rocket In My Pocket
4. Day Or Night
5. Honest Man (Lowell George song)
6. Rooster Rag
7. Church Falling Down
8. Sailin' Shoes
9. Fat Man In The Bathtub
10. Willin'
11. All That You Dream
12. Dixie Chicken
13. Let It Roll
Encore:
14. Oh Atlanta
15. Feats Don't Fail Me Now
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