Playing is the joy
and satisfaction of touring, but it comes with the hard part -- travel, the
endless miles on a bus. There’s no dodging the wear and tear, and Little Feat
has been playing for quite a while.
With tongue stuck
somewhat in cheek, Little Feat announces “The Last Farewell Tour,” which will
begin in April 2026.
It’s definitely not
an absolute, never-gonna-play again statement. This wind-down will take several
years to accomplish, and while it does, Feat will continue to perform and
record as long as they are able. It’s a retirement from the travel of touring.
Little Feat began in
1969 when Frank Zappa told Lowell George he should start his own band. As
Lowell happened to have a pretty small shoe size, the name became obvious. He
found a partner/keyboard player in Bill Payne and a drummer in Richie Hayward.
After a few
transitions, they added Kenny Gradney (bass), Sam Clayton (percussion), Paul
Barrere (guitar) and eventually Fred Tackett (guitar), and began a now 56-year
journey that has produced dozens of songs “Dixie Chicken,” “Oh, Atlanta,”
“Willin’,” “Fat Man in the Bathtub” and a thousand memories. One result was
one of the best live albums in the history of rock ‘n’ roll, Waiting for
Columbus.
The road (see
above!) is hard, and it cost them first Lowell George in 1979, Richie Hayward
in 2010, and Paul Barrere in 2019. The everlasting Little Feat groove demanded
playing, and they added Scott Sharrard (guitar) and Tony Leone (drums), and may
well be playing at the very height of their powers, recently releasing a
well-received album of original material, Strike Up the Band. Their inimitable
blend of rock, New Orleans swamp boogie, jazz, and blues is not only unique but
an ongoing source of delight.
Feat has an
incredible legacy of music and the celebration that comes with it, and the near
future will see them honoring their own past with more playing.
But it’s time to
give the trusty tour bus, however comfy, a rest.