Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Little Feat, 40 years on, keep rocking Americana
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Asia Pacific
World
Little Feat, 40 years on, keep rocking Americana
Reuters - Tuesday, August 17
Send
IM Story
Print
By Jeremy Gaunt
CROPREDY, England - A day after the death of celebrated drummer and founding member Richie Hayward, the remaining musicians of iconic 1970s rock band Little Feat found themselves in a strange place.
Far from their American roots -- the southwestern deserts of "Willin'" or the Mississippi river banks of "Dixie Chicken" -- they faced instead a sodden, mud-covered field at Fairport's Cropredy Convention in rural Oxfordshire.
More pies, beer and cigs than the weeds, whites and wine of Willin'.
Little matter. The band, which was founded in 1969, belted out a crowd-pleasing, rocking set that had all the energy of the early years plus a few new musical wrinkles that kept it fresh.
Most of the current lineup have some claim to being originals, including keyboardist Bill Payne, who was in at the very start with Hayward, who died after a long illness last Thursday, and Lowell George, one of rock's talented young casualties, who died in 1979.
Guitarist Paul Barrere, percussionist Sam Clayton and bassist Kenny Gradney all joined in time for the 1973 release of the landmark Dixie Chicken album and guitarist Fred Tackett played on and off in the early days before joining full time when the band reformed in the late 80s after a hiatus.
But Barrere says it is not the membership of the band that matters all these years later -- it is the music that differentiates Little Feat from bands that had a few moments in the sun before fading.
"A lot of these bands had hits," he told Reuters before taking the stage last Friday. "Little Feat had music. That is really the core of our existence."
What Barrere means is that Little Feat had a sound, a kind of rock-blues-honkytonk-county-Cajun mix that is so hard to define that he now simply calls it "Americana."
It was on display to great effect at the Cropredy festival, where songs such as "Fat Man in the Bathtub," "Oh Atlanta" and "Sailing Shoes" morphed from the familiar into different tunes and styles with the flick of a guitar string.
The '60s and '70s were also alive and well with a roaring sing-a-long rendition of "Don't Bogart that Joint."
Nor is there any sign that a 40-odd-year history is about to ease, deaths notwithstanding.
Following on from "Join the Band," an album of hits recreated with the likes of Jimmy Buffett, Dave Matthews and Emmylou Harris, the band is working on a new live album of songs from latter days gigs.
After that, Barrere says, it's a project to take a look at world blues, both written by band members and possible covers. John Lee Hooker's "Hump Me One More Time" and Little Richard's "Rip It Up" are under consideration.
Americana it is, then.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Dylan to unveil new paintings in Denmark AFP - 32 minutes ago
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Reuters - Tuesday, August 17
Little Feat, 40 years on, keep rocking Americana Reuters - Tuesday, August 17
Director Cameron dives beneath Lake Baikal Reuters - Tuesday, August 17
Gervais may open branch of 'The Office' in China AP - Monday, August 16
News Search
Top Stories
Tearful German pop star confesses in HIV trial
Russia says beating fires as weather switches
Eurozone inflation rises to 1.7% in July
Zsa Zsa Gabor calls in priest for final rites
Hurricane formation linked to sea color: study
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Eight killed, 12 injured in California desert race
Zsa Zsa Gabor calls in priest for final rites
Tearful German pop star confesses in HIV trial
Hurricane formation linked to sea color: study
Belgian man dies of South Asian superbug
More Most Viewed »
Obama endorses mosque plan near Ground Zero
Argentine students crack three-decade-old murder mystery
40 US billionaires pledge half wealth to charity
Visitors attack Taiwan 'haunted house' actors
Calcium supplements linked to heart attacks: study
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Monday, 16 August 2010 Petraeus hedges bets on Afghan withdrawal
Six Cuban dissidents 'ready' for release
Hamas, secular groups, oppose direct talks with Israel
Ship crews robbed in Gulf off Iraqi oil hub Basra
Asteroid In Neptune Orbit May Prove Planetary Migration
Petraeus holds out prospect of Taliban reconciliation
Hamas and secular groups, oppose direct talks with Israel
|
Qaeda No. 2 urges Turkish break with Israel
Prominent critic of Syria's Assad turns 80 in jail
|
Police fear higher Sinai migrant death toll
Orthodox flock to once-banned holy site in Turkey
Former Nigerian VP Abubakar announces election bid
|
In sign of stability, Israel removes blast wall
Ship crews robbed in Gulf off Iraqi oil hub Basra
|
Afghanistan: NATO strike kills 2 fleeing militants
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Stallone knocks out Julia Roberts at box office
Beatles piano withdrawn from sale: auctioneers
Saudi sitcom row tests tolerance toward Christians
Stallone knocks out Julia Roberts at box office
|
Gates, Petraeus differ over Afghanistan exit
French Gypsy protest blocks major highway
Pakistan gets respite from rains but aid flow is slow
|
Zsa Zsa Gabor calls in priest for final rites
U.S. urges vigilance in sanctions on Iran shipping
Foreign troop deaths in Afghan war 'top 2,000'
Hurricane formation linked to sea color: study
Thailand lifts emergency rule in 3 more provinces
|
NZ checking whether Afghanistan prisoners tortured
"Toy Story 3" Heads To DVD And Blu-Ray In November
Prominent critic of Syria's Assad turns 80 in jail
Australia PM Gillard pins election hopes on economy
|
Petraeus sees 'areas of progress' in Afghan war
Internet era espionage pits spy against tech
Malaysia's Anwar loses bid to lift sodomy charges
Neil Patrick Harris to be father of twins
Australia PM Gillard pins election hopes on economy
Zsa Zsa Gabor asks for last rites
S.Korea, US launch massive joint war games
U.S. video viewing site Hulu plans an IPO: report
|
Hong Kong film hopes to break new ground with 3-D porn
|
Colombian rebels release Japanese hostage
China-funded port a 'symbol of non-partisan policy'
India microlender SKS shares soar in debut trade
Stallone's 'Expendables' storm US, Canadian box office
Religious minorities in Indonesia push back
Sylvester Stallone talks "Expendables" sequel
Indonesia economy must not be 'caged tiger'
SKorea, US launch war games despite NKorea threat
Seoul shares trim losses; financials weigh
Thousands flock to see asteroid pod in Japan
S.Korea to take preorders for iPhone 4
Japan's growth slows as recovery loses steam
PAKISTAN
Taiwan GDP growth could beat 6 pct forecasts in 2011
Japan world's second-largest economy: govt
Seoul shares trim losses; financials weigh
Korea Hot Stocks
Zsa Zsa Gabor asks for last rites
|
Eat Pray Love marks writing debut for actress
|
U.K. director Edgar Wright takes on The World
|
Neil Patrick Harris to be father of twins
|
Jude Law's ex recounts doomed marriage in memoir
|
Kristen Bell cast in indie ballet comedy
|
Theater actress sues over Green Day musical promo
|
Middle man Luke Wilson makes hard work look easy
|
Lottery Ticket has no winners
|
US-TECH Summary
Hong Kong film hopes to break new ground with 3-D porn
Tearful German pop star confesses in HIV trial
Air strike kills al Qaeda cell leader in Afghan north
|
Sudan expels five UN/ICRC staff from West Darfur
Colombian airliner crashes during storm, one dead
|
Russia says fires abating close to nuclear site
Filmmakers In Race To Release 3D Porno
Storm rips through northwest Russia
U.S.-S.Korea drills anger North, worry China
|
Iran says to push ahead with new enrichment plants
|
Hamas and secular groups oppose direct talks with Israel
|
Eurozone inflation rises to 1.7% in July
Iran sets timetable for third uranium plant
Car bomb aimed at Iranian pilgrims kills 5 in Iraq
|
Afghan Taliban call for joint probe into civilian deaths
Putin's party abandons unpopular Russian governor
|
Prosecutors appeal Khmer Rouge torturer's jail term
|
Kyrgyz forces aided attacks on Uzbeks: rights group
|
NATO says al-Qaida operative killed in Afghanistan
Prosecutors appeal Khmer Rouge torturer's jail term
Pakistanis block highways to protest slow flood aid
Vanilla Ice To Debut Home Makeover Series
Thailand ends emergency rule in more areas
Star Wars Films To Hit Blu-Ray In 2011
Three Wounded In Chicago High-Rise Fire
Israel rejects 'preconditions' for direct peace talks
Alvin Greene Won't Quit Senate Race Despite Indictment
Shoe-throwing policeman hailed as 'hero' in Kashmir
Memorial Service Planned For Former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens
U.S. hails big win in technology trade case against EU
|
Malaysia charges tourism chief with criminal breach of trust
Dell to buy storage company 3PAR for $1.15 billion
|
Adolescent Troubles Linked To Adult Health Problems
UN warns of diseases in Pakistan floods
US Team For Middle-East To Discuss Security Council Sanctions Against Iran
Intel to buy TI's cable modem unit
|
Probe Launched In Suicide Of "Craigslist Killer"
China mudslide town lacking supplies
Apple manager charged with taking kickbacks
|
Study: 'Only Children' Develop Adequate Social Skills
ASEAN calls for peaceful end to Cambodian-Thai spat
Stallone's "The Expendables" Beats Box Office Competition, "Eat Pray Love" At 2nd Place
Charge ex-Malaysia Airlines boss over losses: opposition
Donkeys come to the rescue in Pakistan floods
Little Feat, 40 years on, keep rocking Americana
Director Cameron dives beneath Lake Baikal
Kristen Bell cast in indie ballet comedy
"Eat Pray Love" marks writing debut for actress
"Middle" man Luke Wilson makes hard work look easy
Death of anti-communist radical divides Czechs
U.K. director Edgar Wright takes on "The World"
Theater actress sues over Green Day musical promo
Zsa Zsa Gabor asks for last rites
|
Battling political confessionalism in Lebanon
Director Cameron dives beneath Lake Baikal
|
Little Feat, 40 years on, keep rocking Americana
|
Study: 2 To 5 Percent Of Canadians Are Hoarders
Lourdes Shrine In France Evacuated After Bomb Threat
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights