Rockpalast Archiv

LITTLE FEAT - Live Music Hall Köln 28.11.1995

 

In Memory of Richie Hayward 1946-2010 and Paul Barrére 1948 - 2019 R.I.P.

 

Jens Staugard from Denmark Email has written a review and compares the two Rockpalast concerts of Little Feat.

This contact was made by one of the greatest European LF fans - Holger Siebert Email - who is looking for contact to other LF fans.

Paul BarrereAfter seeing the two Little Feat concerts a couple of times, a lot of things shines through: The 77 concert is very tight and Lowell George has a very strong on-stage presence, with the rest of the band concentrating on being the great musicians they are. At this point in his life, George is heading in a different direction than the rest of LF. Still they appear to be a very tight unit. What makes the 77 performance outstanding is the raw, funky bluespower of the music, George's vocal and his exceptional slide playing. The rest of the band with Bill Payne as mainman incorporates a jazz-rock element into the show, with a great version of "Day at the dog races". Again LF presents a welcome surprise, because they master this element with technical grace and raw, hypnotic power. The final number, a tour de force of "Rocket in my pocket" makes a great conclusion to a fantastic set.

The 95 concert is much different - the sound is wider, more open, rich and a couple of tracks they have improved a lot playing live. The overall feel is relaxed and the band appears mature. The jazz-rock element is substituted for a cajun influence and a small unplugged set, in the middle of the concert. The unplugged set is fine for the acoustic picking of Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett. The sound is dry and the feeling is that of tradition and back to the roots. Hardly a step forward, but a fine example of how capable guitarists they are.

Shaun Murphy is an interesting addition to the band. She has a strong on-stage presence like George. She's a fine singer, with a strong and raw vocal. Unlike George's unique phrasing she stays within her tradition. Most of the time she's a natural focal point within the band. She really shines when she breaks in and takes the lead vocal on "Fatman in the bathtub". And of course her wonderful rendition of "Long distance love". Her "duet" with Sam Clayton on "Feats don't fail me now" is a treat and a surprise version of this crowd pleasing sing-along. Shaun adds a new dimension of female counterpoint to the material she's handling as well as the whole tradition of LF. She gets a lot of attention from the boys, and she deserves it.

The onstage presence of Paul Barrere in 77 is that of a happy guy playing killer guitar, launching one classic riff after the other. Later in 95 he appears as a hardworking, but also relaxed frontman. His guitar playing has matured a lot through the years and is great throughout. He even reinstated the slide part on the chorus of "Fatman in the bathtub" . (Lovely, please play it loud next time.) Paul's ability to be the frontman one minute and the next an excellent accompaning musician is remarkable. His touch of understanding gives the rest an opportunity to shine, thus freeing some of the many resources within the band.

Bill Payne is a great keyboard player. He doesn't appear as a frontman that often, but has the ability to make some very complex and creative fills and textures within the frame of a deceptivly simple song. When the focus is on Bill you're sure to hear an expert at work. A masterclass musician playing the music he loves. His vocal contributions are few and far between, but when the mike's turned on, you realize his vocal has great potential. (For reference check out the studio version of "Gringo".) Without Bill there probably wouldn't be any LF, but like the best of leaders, he lets his co-conspirators play to the best of their abilities, making room for a varied and complex musical sound.

Fred Tackett, an old friend and guest musician from the early days, joined LF, when they reunited for the "Let it roll" album in 1988. Fred is a great guitarist and trumpet player as well. On-stage he sometimes appears Buddha-like. Always being the centered sideman: Keeper of the keys when everybody takes of.

The rhytm section of LF is pure dynamite. In 95 their interplay, funk and bop is matched only by the best. Richie Hayward is a powerstation of technical finesse and complex boogie. With Kenny Gradney on fat, funky bass and Sam Clayton never overdoing the percussion, the sound is tight, rich and full of surprises. The precision of their interplay is outstanding in a world full of stiff and uninspired rhytm sections.They are the Rocket in Little Feat's pocket.

In many ways the 95 concert is better than the 77 concert. The utilization of the individual members abilities is better balanced, although the more recent material sometimes lacks the quality of their early classics. The 77 concert is more tight and focused, with the band probably at their creative height. Nevertheless, both concerts are fine examples of tremendous energy and exquisite musicianship, from one of the finest bands, this planet will ever see.

Musicians:

Paul Barrére - g,dob,voc
Sam Clayton - perc,voc
Kenny Gradney - b
Richie Hayward - dr,voc
Shaun Murphy - voc,perc
Bill Payne - keyb,voc
Fred Tackett - g,voc

Setlist:

01) That's Her She's Mine 
02) Hate To Loose Your Lovin' 
03) Big Bang Theory 
04) Old Folks Boogie 
05) Changin' Luck 
06) Drivin' Blind 
07) Rad Gumbo 
08) Down On The Farm 
09) Long Distance Love 
10) Satisfied / Hot Tamales 
11) Taking Another Man's Place 
12) Borderline Blues 
13) Key & Trumpet Intro  
14) Cadillac Hotel 
15) Representing The Mambo 
16) Texas Twister 
17) Oh Atlanta 
18) Dixie Chicken 
19) Let It Roll 
20) Willin' 
21) Feats Don't Fail Me Now 
22) Fatman In A Bathtub

Discography:

Little Feat                       (1970) Warner Brothers 46072    
Sailin' Shoes                     (1972) Warner Brothers 46156   
Dixie Chicken                     (1973) Warner Brothers 46200    
Feats Don't Fail Me Now           (1974) Warner Brothers 56030    
The Last Record Album             (1975) Warner Brothers 56156    
Time Loves A Hero                 (1977) Warner Brothers 56349    
Waiting For Columbus              (1978) Warner Brothers 66075    
Down On The Farm                  (1979) Warner Brothers 56667    
Hoy-Hoy                           (1981) Warner Brothers 66100 
Let It Roll                       (1988) Warner Brothers 925750-1  
Representing the Mambo            (1989) Warner Brothers
Shake Me Up                       (1991) Morgan Creek
Ain't Had Enough Fun              (1995) Zoo/BMG 72445 110972
Live from Neon Park               (1996) Zoo
Under the Radar                   (1998) SPV/CMM 085-29242
Chinese Work Songs                (2000) SPV 71002
Hotcakes And Outtakes             (2000) Rhino 4CD's 30 Years Of Little Feat
Little Feat - Extended Versions   (2000) Hot Tomato Records
Endangered Species                (2001) Hot Tomato Records
Waiting For Columbus              (2002) WSM (2CD Deluxe Edition 10 Bonus Tracks)
Ripe Tomatos                      (2002) Hot Tomato Records
Raw Tomatos                       (2002) Hot Tomato Records
Live at the Rams Head             (2002) Hot Tomato Records
Down Upon the Swannee River       (2003) Hot Tomato Records
Kickin It At the Barn             (2003) Hot Tomato Records
Highwire Act - Live in St.Louis   (2004) Hot Tomato Records 2003
Barnstormin' Live CD: Volume 1    (2005) Hot Tomato Records
Barnstormin' Live CD: Volume 2    (2005) Hot Tomato Records
Join The Band                     (2008) Proper/Rough Trade
Ram's Head Revisited              (2011) Hot Tomato Records
Little Feat from Down Under       (2011) Hot Tomato Records - Live in Australia
40 Feat: The Hot Tomato Anthology (2011) Hot Tomato Records 3CDs
American Cutie                    (2012) inakustik
Rooster Rag                       (2012) Hot Tomato Records
Rad Gumbo                         (2014) The Complete Warner Years 1971-1990 13 CD Boxset
Live In Holland 1976              (2014) Eagle CD+DVD
Electrif Lycanthrope              (2015) inakustik
St.Valentine's Day Massacre       (2015) inakustik
Highwire Act Live In St.Lois 2003 (2024) Universal

Lowell George: Thanks I'll Eat It Here (1979) Warner Brothers 56487 Feats First (2015) DVD inakustik
Paul Barrére: On My Own Two Feet (1983) WEA 25-0093-1 Real Lies (1984) WEA 250378-1 Live From North Cafe (2001) Hot Tomato Records - Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett
Fred Tackett: In A Town Like This (2003) Hot Tomato Records
Bill Payne: Cielo Norte (2005) Hot Tomato Records

Video/DVD:

Little Feat: Rockpalast Live    (2000) Encore Music/Pioneer DVD/VHS
Highwire Act - Live in St.Louis (2004) DVD
Sights & Sounds                 (2005) DVD by Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett
Burgers & Paradise              (2005) Little Feat & Friends in Jamaica DVD

Pictures:

Paul - Little Feat
Paul - Little Feat
Shaun - Little Feat
Fred - Little Feat
Sam+Richie Little Feat
Bill - Little Feat
Sam - Little Feat
Fred+Paul - Little Feat
Richie - Little Feat
Bill - Little Feat
Fred - Little Feat
Sam+Shaun - Little Feat
Sam+Richie - Little Feat
Shaun+Paul - Little Feat
Shaun - Little Feat

 

A message from Bill Payne, brought by Holger Siebert

A message from Bill Payne            Holger Siebert

Internet:

Little Feat Rockpalast 1.Rocknight 1977     German

Little Feat Net Official
Little Feat Facebook
FeatsAtFive
FeatsAtFive @facebook
The Official Little Feat Forum
Feats Management
Feat Base
Wilson and Alroy's Record Reviews - Little Feat
Bill Payne Photography
Little Feat Wikipedia DE
Little Feat Wikipedia EN
Holger's DVD Review  Deutsch  -  English

Als Amazon-Partner verdiene ich an qualifizierten Verkäufen

Little Feat DVD - Skin It Back: Live at Rockpalast 1977 - order now at Amazon!      -  DVD Info

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Live from Neon Park Doppel-CD - bei Amazon bestellen!


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