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Little Feat, one of the more accomplished and underrated bands of the last several decades, has released Highwire Act in St. Louis, a live release showcasing the band at their very best. With full knowledge that the performance would be released as a live album as well as a DVD, the band opted to open with a subtle nod to long-time fans with "Time Loves A Hero," with a scintillating segue into "Day or Night." For those less familiar with the band, Little Feat's sound is difficult to pigeonhole, spanning bluegrass, honkey tonk, and straight-up rock. They are a true band in that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts; each musician weaves their sound into the tapestry.
The first notable jam of the night happens in "Spanish Moon," featuring remarkable interplay between guitarists Fred Tackett and Paul Barrere near the eight-minute mark. The searing guitar solos eventually morph into fan-favorite "Skin It Back," to the obvious delight of the audience. The band then chose to shake things up a bit with the bluegrass-infused sounds of "Cajun Girl." What is perhaps most intriguing is that the music sounds so effortless and fluid--the band makes it look easy. Most acts have enough trouble figuring out their own sound, while Little Feat has managed to master a number of genres over the years.
The second disc of the show features the band moving through some of their more exploratory jams of the evening. "Exploratory" should not be misinterpreted as a negative. Indeed, the band remains highly focused and winds up building a great deal of momentum in the process. The highlight of the show was a seventeen-minute version of "Dixie Chicken," easily the most experimental track off either disc. Here Bill Payne takes charge on keys and leads the band through a hot jam before returning to the chorus. Tackett and Barrere then take the reigns and push the song to its outermost limits with lighting-quick licks. They push the band into double-time and segue into "Tripe Face Boogie," a song that explodes out of nowhere after about five minutes. The other main highlight of the second disc is an outstanding version of "Fat Man in the Bathtub," featuring more excellent key work by Payne.
The only minor gripe is with the vocals--to some extent they detract from the music itself. Even though the very average vocals can get in the way, they are vastly overshadowed by the brilliance of the musicianship. For those thinking that they should go see Little Feat perform for "old time's sake" or novelty value... go ahead. The band will proceed to ever so politely blow your mind.
Mathan Rodriguez
JamBase | Colorado
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