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Little Feat :: 01.27 - 01.29 :: Negril, Jamaica
I had been planning this trip for six months. Even so, there I was, literally "running late" chasing the airport shuttle with my backpack thrashing up and down, waving my wallet up in the air, screaming at this huge bus to "Please!...Wait!...Stop!" The driver eventually saw me in his rear-view mirror, turned around, opened the doors, and laughed at me as I jumped on board, completely out of breath. Twenty-four hours of planes, trains, automobiles, and strangers later, I made it. I decided to celebrate by downing a Red Stripe and passing out on a plush recliner on the beach for a few hours. I was about to enjoy the Third Annual Little Feat Fan Excursion at The Grand Lido Resort in Negril, Jamaica for three days, and I wanted to be up for it.
Jamaican Coast by Mike Sterner |
Little Feat has been playing music together for over thirty years. 'Tis a true feat, Mon. For the third year, this group of about three hundred people that have been friends for almost three decades were taking a trip together, and it was all being filmed for a DVD documentary. Honestly, at times, it was a little intimidating. Being a newer face in such a small group of fans, it's hard to go unrecognized. Regardless, I knew I was extremely lucky to be there, and I was determined to make the most of it.
Some define Jamaica as "the place where lovers come to play and players come to love"; a planet of green love, if you will. With that notion, it was an all inclusive and reclusive resort. Everything was free once I arrived: unlimited room service all night long, water sports on the beach, seven different authentic restaurants, and three different fully stocked bars. Everything free: as you like it.
Thursday, January 27th
Little Feat by Hank Randall |
I was first hit with the music at The Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett Acoustic Duo. "Old Folks Boogie" was a fine way to start the fun. This Paul Barrere track has always been a favorite of mine that was written when he was only twenty-six years old, having no idea that it would become such a highly respected song for people of all ages today. Old folks do boogie, and they boogie the right way... in Jamaica.
After the show, I continued to take part in the more traditional recreational activities that Jamaica so abundantly offers. To put it bluntly, we didn't do much of anything. Rastafari!
Friday, January 28th
This Friday night show was my first beachside concert. The sky was navy blue and spotted with constellations of bright white twinkling stars. The ocean was lined with flickering tiki torches and a huge bonfire.
Bill Payne by Hank Randall |
Coco Montoya and Stephen Bruton took the stage for "Takes A Lot to Laugh" and "Cool Like That," respectively, turning the night up to "notch eleven." Along with Kenny Gradney's brilliant bass playing, Fred Tackett's masterful mandolin, and Paul Barrere's one-of-a-kind "easy on the ears" voice, the mix of strings and harmonies made for a solid night of jams. Shaun Murphy can belt out vocals like a true and virtuous woman. She is the real deal: a queen, a genuine "red-hot tomato lady." Watching her perform was truly inspiring.
The highlight of this first night was the "Willin'" sandwich. Sam Clayton showed Caribbean style stamina with his perfectly placed percussion. Paul and Fred once said "Willin'" was the song that got them started. They played it for Frank Zappa, and he responded with something like "Yeah, that's a really nice song. You guys should start your own band." The song has long since been a truck driver anthem and tour bus ballad with lyrics of: "And if you give me weed, whites, and wine, and you show me a sign, I'll be willin', to be movin'." Many hard core touring music fans seem to have a special place in their hearts for this song as well. The surprising "Ring of Fire" written by June Cash for Johnny was the encore and was topped off with Miles Tackett on guitar. Miles is Fred Tackett's son, and he certainly has his father's gift of music.
Saturday, January 29th
There was an array of activities to choose from the next morning. Most people wanted to see the brunch show, then meet and greet with the band, or see the screening of Festival Express, but I had to get out of the resort and really experience Jamaica by taking the ten hour "Nine Mile Tour" of the Bob Marley Memorial. We had our own personal tour guide that drove us up the coast taking sharp corners and barely missing other cars head on. For five hours we drove like this, passing brightly colored small shacks that exclaimed "Beer & Jerk Joints." It was in this speed racing van that I learned some noteworthy facts about Jamaican history and their heritage. Jamaica abolished slavery in 1836 and gained their independence in 1962. The colors of the Jamaican flag are represented as such: red for blood, yellow for sunshine, and green for trees. Respect.
Barrere & Gradney
By Hank Randall |
My buddy jumped for joy when he heard the beginning notes of "A Day at the Dog Races." We both heard "So What" right away, but it was the finger pickin' good "Dixie Chicken" that has brought me to love Little Feat. I remember a story that Paul told about "Dixie Chicken," and it went something like this: When Paul's daughter was around five or six, she asked him to come to her school and play a song for her "show and tell." He agreed. On his way into the school he thought to himself "Oh shit, I don't know any songs that aren't about sex or drugs." He later decided to play "Dixie Chicken," knowing that the kids would recognize the lyrics about animals and would be able to relate. The kids loved it, and the song ended up being a huge hit. Paul is the king of traditional southern rock roots reggae.
Coco Montoya broke into a nasty guitar solo that had an impressionistic style. By vigorously bending his guitar strings as he mouthed certain words, he made his guitar whine like little girly man. "Feats Don't Fail Me Now" was the perfect ending to such an amazing and adventurous three-night run of music. The only letdown was the highly anticipated "Sample in a Jar" that was weeded out for some reason. And honestly, I would have liked to have seen Miles Tackett play one of the late night shows at the Far Bar.
My first beachside concerts with Little Feat were all too memorable. Every member of the band played ruthlessly the entire weekend, holding nothing back. In addition to the music; seeing, experiencing, and learning about this brave third world country first-hand left quite an impression on me. Jamaica may not be a wealthy nation in terms of paper dollars, but they are admirably more prosperous than any other country in their values of music, dancing, and culture. After all, Rasta is not just music but a way of life. Little Feat knows and respects that.
"Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds.:
-Bob Marley
SET LISTS
1.27.2005
Grand Lido Resort - Negril, Jamaica
PAUL & FRED ACOUSTIC DUO SHOW
Introductions, Ain't Had Enough Fun, Hate To Lose Your
Lovin', Heaven Forsaken, Two Trains > Rocket In My
Pocket, Trouble > Roll Um Easy, Clownin', Tears Of
Rage, Missin' You, Old Folks Boogie, Fool Yourself,
Down On The Farm
1.28.2005
Grand Lido Resort - Negril, Jamaica
Introductions, Voodoo Jam > All That You Dream, Honest
Man, Rocket In My Pocket, Takes A Lot To Laugh*, Cool
Like That*+, Spanish Moon*+ > Skin It Back*+,
Nothing's Too Good For My Baby*+, Willin' > Don't
Bogart That Joint > Long Black Veil*+ > The Weight*+ >
Willin'*+, Everything Happens For A Reason*+, Fat Man
In The Bathtub*+ > Tequila Jam*+ > Bill's Rap*+ > Get
Up Stand Up*+ > Fat Man In The Bathtub*+, E: Ring Of
Fire*+#
* w/ Coco Montoya
+ w/ Stephen Bruton
# w/ Miles Tackett
1.29.2005
Grand Lido Resort - Negril, Jamaica
BLUES BRUNCH
tuning/Introduction, South, Walk By Faith Not By
Sight*+, At Last*+#, Calling You#, Many Rivers To
Cross*+#, Night Life*+#, The Weight*+#@, Take Me In
Your Arms (Rock Me)*+#@, Against My Will*+, If You
Love Me Like You Say*+, I've Got To Use My
Imagination*+#@, Spirit In The Dark*+#@
Bill Payne & Piero entire set
+Coco Montoya on guitar
* Stephen Bruton on guitar
#-Shaun Murphy on vocals
@-Cajun Queens on back-up vocals(Michele DuBois, Darcy Fangman & Vicki Davis)
1.29.2005
Grand Lido Resort - Negril, Jamaica
Day At The Dog Races, One Clear Moment, Representing
The Mambo, The Blues Don't Tell It All+, Love You Like
A Woman+, Pretty Good Love+, Do What You Want To Do+,
Rag Mama Rag*, Any Ordinary Man Woulda Given It Up By
Now*, Cajun Girl+*, So What tease+* > Dark Star
tease+* > Dixie Chicken+* > Bass solo > Key solo >
Dixie Chicken+*#(Fred did not play during the guitar
jam and last verse), E: Feats Don't Fail Me Now+*#
+ Coco Montoya on guitar
* Stephen Bruton on guitar
# Miles Tackett on guitar
Ginelle Cloar
JamBase | Jamaica
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