Matt LuceyIntro to the band
Last month, I did a review for a single released by Little Feat. I gave “Too High to Cut my Hair” a very favourable rating. This excited me for the release of Strike up the Band on May 9th. I’ve been a fan of the band for some time now, mainly listening to the classic albums of the 70s. Given the low profile of the band in today’s landscape, I wanted to give my two cents on this release. Little Feat were initially formed in 1969 and, since then, have gone through numerous changes.
The initial Line-up, which I detailed in my previous review, are almost all gone now. The only remaining member, Bill Payne, plays piano on this album. Other members of the current band include Sam Clayton on vocals and Fred Tacket on guitar. Also in the mix are Kenny Gradney, Scott Sharrard and Tony Leone. While the original members are gone, the new lineup do an incredible job at maintaining the sound. This band of Theseus doesn’t just cover and replicate, they continue as always. They are Little Feat.
What led to this album
Following the death of Paul Barrere in 2019, Scott Sharrard joined the band. Sharrard meshed extremely well with the band, having played for the 50th anniversary. This seems to have sparked new life into the band, as they soon began work on this album. The original feel and sound of the band remains intact but it feels like it has a new lease on life. While they have consistently toured for the last few years, since 2012, this is their first new original in that time.
4 Days of Heaven 3 Days of Work
“4 Days of Heaven and 3 Days of work” is the first track on this album. It immediately encapsulates you with its big band sound. The sound here is so immediately full and robust, it feels like 100 people in unison. The strong vocal work, primarily Sam Clayton, meshes so well with the rest of the band without overpowering. The Harmonica fits absurdly well with the rest, though by rights it should feel out of place in such a busy track. A brass section gives the whole song a feeling of completeness. It brings up memories of Zeppelin and Beatles in how it used the orchestral sound to elevate the gravity and tone. The trumpets seemingly take the role of keeping the riff, with a repeating descending scale. This song was a statement from the band, starting strong and promising more of the same. I can only say that they absolutely delivered on that front.
Midnight Flight
“Midnight Flight” is another great track on this album. With a female vocalist backing up Sam Clayton on this one, it feels more conversational. This while maintaining the same sort of big band tone I mentioned previously. The bass is felt more in this track also, seeming to bind the whole song together. The individual notes blend in but the sound is felt throughout. The same brass section is heard here as well, cementing it as a signature sound for the band. The guitar does seem to get a bit more attention in this track. With short, classic licks and short solos, the guitarist doesn’t overwhelm, instead complimenting the rest of the band reservedly. While not a call-back to the era of the guitar hero, this guitarwork is a reminder of classic rock. The Piano is also more noticeable in this track. While not forward in the sound, the piano is played tastefully through the song. Some might complain that the only original member, Payne, doesn’t get a chance to shine but that’s just wrong. The piano here is a perfect representation of its placement in the original band.
Strike up the band
The titular song of the album is one of my favourites. A complete switch up in town, this song brings down the big band sound and sets a softer tone. Larkin Poe, an American roots rock band of sisters join the band on this track. Larkin Poe adds some lovely guitarwork to this track. With the stripped down sound, the guitar plays a more pivotal role on this track. Alongside the tasteful guitar, the added female vocals work well and add a lot to the song. Aside from this welcome addition, the rest of the band follow a more classic structure. With drums, bass and good vocals, this track feels special amongst the other high energetic tracks. Finally, towards the end, we get a piano solo from Bill Payne. While it wont blow you away, this soft wistful solo matches the tone set in the rest of the song. This gentle track will definitely be added to a few of my playlists in the future.
Conclusions
This album is a promising step in the right direction for the band and the genre in general. With fresh blood and old spirit, they managed a miracle. A band formed over 50 years ago, bringing out fresh, original music. It can only be hoped that these rockers continue to influence and inspire as they always have. This is, hopefully, a herald for the return of other bands of the same ilk.
