Little Feat Strikes Up The Band’s ‘Don’t Do It’ At Tour Opener In Vermont

Little Feat took the stage in Rutland, Vermont on Monday to launch their Strike Up The Band Tour supporting their soon-to-be-released first album of new original songs in 13 years. The veteran rockers slid a debut cover of The Band’s “Don’t Do It,” a song originally recorded by Marvin Gaye, into their set at Rutland’s Paramount Theatre.

Little Feat — longtime keyboardist Bill Payne, bassist Kenny Gradney , percussionist/vocalist Sam Clayton and multi-instrumentalist Fred Tackett, along with guitarist Scott Sharrard and drummer Tony Leone – will issue Strike Up The Band via Hot Tomato this Friday, May 9. After kicking off the tour opener with a run of favorites “Fat Man In The Bathtub,” “Hate To Lose Your Lovin’,” “Easy To Slip” and “Oh Atlanta,” the band previewed their new LP by performing “Too High To Cut My Hair” and “Bayou Mama.”

The double dose of Strike Up The Band cuts were followed by “On Your Way Down” and a medley of fellow classics “Spanish Moon” and “Skin It Back.” Little Feat then offered their take on “Don’t Do It,” which Sharrard explained came in tribute to their “old friend Levon Helm.”

Fittingly, Tony Leone sang the live debut from behind the drum kit as Helm did at many The Band shows. Leone was a longtime member of Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble Band.

After “Don’t Do It,” Little Feat served up Strike Up The Band’s “Midnight Flight.” Percussionist Sam Clayton then handled lead vocals on a cover of Howlin’ Wolf’s “You’ll Be Mine.” Next came the first performance of “Truck Stop Girl” off the band’s self-titled 1972 LP since 2019 as per Setlist.FM statistics.

Little Feat played the beloved oldies “Willin’,” “Dixie Chicken,” “Feats Don’t Fail Me Now” and “Let It Roll” to end the concert in Rutland. The tour continued last night in Medford, Massachusetts, where the group welcomed vocalist Chrissi Poland on “Midnight Flight,” “All That You Dream” and “Feats Don’t Fail Me Now.”

Watch more video from Little Feat’s tour opener shared by archivist Chris Cafiero below:

Little Feat brings the Strike Up The Band Tour to The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York tonight. Scroll below for a complete list of upcoming tour dates.