Some members of the legendary road warriors Little Feat seemingly just can’t get enough of life on the road.
No sooner has the band come off a long tour than two members have again teamed up for eight shows in 12 days.
“Usually at this time of the year, Fred [Tackett] and I go tour in Europe,” Paul Barrere said. “We just toured Europe, so this year we’re in the U.S. It’s a much shorter trip!”
Longtime fans of the band that formed in 1969 know that the musicians are one of the ultimate jam bands but with plenty of power. The members’ musical talent so easily melds into Little Feat’s signature sound that they are something of a school of rock for young musicians who want to learn the art.
Barrere and Tackett are, of course, two key components of that system. Barrere joined the band for their fourth album, “Feats Don’t Fail Me Now,” in 1974. He soon became their lead guitarist and a primary songwriter.
Multi-instrumentalist Tackett joined the group in 1988 when the group released “Let It Roll.”
The Barrere and Tackett tour gives the two musicians a chance to take a few steps back and perform the songs they co-wrote as acoustic numbers.
“It’s a lot of fun and a real departure from the power and the force that [occur] when Little Feat is playing,” Barrere said. “It portrays songs in their infancies, and we can put a bluesier, folkier stamp on them.”
Unlike other musicians who showcase the brand-name players but also have drummers and other backup musicians with them, Barrere said that he and Tackett are the full show those who see this tour will experience.
“This allows us to get back to the original sound instead of dealing with a percussionist who really wants to take songs different ways,” he said. “This gives us a chance to more or less spotlight a song. It also gives me a chance to talk to the audience and tell them the background of the songs.”
