Little Feat at the Beacon Theatre

Warren Haynes, Kenny Gradney, Paul Barrere

Guitarist Lowell George was a member the Mothers of Invention when he met keyboardist Bill Payne during Payne's audition for the band. When Frank Zappa fired George from the Mothers of Invention, George banded with Payne and formed Little Feat in 1969 in Los Angeles, California. Despite critical acclaim, the band initially had little commercial success and split after two albums. In 1972, George and Payne reformed Little Feat with new members, guitarist Paul Barrere, bassist Kenny Gradney and percussionist Sam Clayton. The new Little Feat achieved more success, but frustrated by the democratic musical decisions, George disbanded the group in 1979, just before his death. The surviving members reassembled in 1987 for periodic tours and recordings. The band presently consists of Payne, Barrere, Clayton, Gradney, guitarist/mandolin player/trumpet player Fred Tackett, and drummer Gabe Ford. Little Feat's 16th and most recent studio album is 2012's Rooster Rag.

Little Feat brought its 50th anniversary tour to the Beacon Theatre tonight, with the overwhelming share of the set dedicated to the band's 1970s catalogue. Historically, Little Feat was initially known for its leanings to New Orleans funk and later to jazzy-flavored songs, and live the band continued to marry those two influences during its many extended instrumental breaks. The Midnight Ramble Horns, the brass section of the opening act, the Midnight Ramble Band, joined Little Feat for most of the set and punctuated many of the arrangements with a smooth and soothing blast. Guitarist/violinist Larry Campbell of the Midnight Ramble Band joined Little Feat on the fourth song and stayed for most of the set, bringing the spotlight to his own band mates, Brian Mitchell on accordion and Lou Marini on sax. Little Feat paid tribute to the Band by covering three songs, "Long Black Veil", "The Weight," and "Rag Mama Rag," and paid tribute to Lowell George by covering "Honest Man," a song from George's solo album. The show closed with Gov't Mule's Warren Haynes joining little Feat for three songs. Overall, the set was lively and well executed, but with such a reliance on old songs, it was hard to see whether the band is willing to morph into a 21st century band.

Setlist:

1. Rocket in My Pocket
2. Down on the Farm
3. Oh Atlanta
4. All That You Dream
5. Rooster Rag (with Larry Campbell)
6. Willin' (with Larry Campbell)
7. Don't Bogart That Joint (with Larry Campbell)
8. Long Black Veil (Lefty Frizzell cover) (with Larry Campbell)
9. The Weight (The Band cover)
10. Rag Mama Rag (The Band cover) (with Larry Campbell) (Brian Mitchell on accordion, Lou Marini on sax )
11. Honest Man (Lowell George song)
12. Spanish Moon (with Warren Haynes)
13. Dixie Chicken (with Warren Haynes)

Encore:

1. Feats Don't Fail Me Now (with Warren Haynes)