SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LITTLE FEAT – STRIKE UP THE BAND

LITTLE FEAT
STRIKE UP THE BAND
HOT TOMATO

Little Feat is a true legendary band. While there have been numerous member changes since they formed in 1969, Little Feat has endured and maintained a trademark sound. That doesn’t mean everything sounds the same, because that is far from the truth. But, when one hears a Little Feat song, you know it is Little Feat. There is one original member in the band (keyboardist Bill Payne) but two other members have been with the band since 1972 (vocalist and percussionist Sam Clayton and bassist Kevin Gradney). Strike Up The Band is the band’s 16th studio album (they have also released ten live albums) and follows on the heels of 2024’s Sam’s Place.

Strike Up The Band is classic Little Feat. This is rock and blues from a powerful band. From the opening drumming from the opening track “4 Days Of Heaven 3 Days Of Work”, the band goes off with some great playing. In fact, the drums are a focal point of the album. Tony Leone, who has been with Little Feat since 2020, shows off what he can do, and it adds a great deal to the sound of the album and the band. While the album rocks, they also show their country chops, with “Strike Up The Band”, which features Larken Poe. Larken Poe adds a great deal to the song, and their voices blend in perfectly. The same can be said for “Bluegrass Pines” which features Molly Tuttle, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams.

Elsewhere, songs like “Love And Life (Never Fear)” and “Disappearing Ink” are pure Little Feat. A little southern rock mixed with the blues. It is exactly what Little Feat does so well. In some ways it is like going back in time to their classic albums and yet it fits with this new incarnation of the band. There is even some good fashioned honky tonk (“Dance A Little”). The album ends with the beautiful “New Orleans Cries When She Sings”, a moving song with gospel influences throughout and it builds to a perfect ending for the album.

All of the components come together for Little Feat with Strike Up The Band. This is the sound of a band acknowledging and respecting their past and history while paving the way for new additions to their legacy. Little Feat has survived a great deal throughout their history. And yet, they continue to produce and create new and exciting music. Strike Up The Band is the sound of a band knowing their history and knowing where they are going.

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