In an interview with Native Spins, the legendary keyboardist talks in regards to the “Ready for Columbus” tour and Little Feat’s particular place in rock historical past. Plus, watch a video from the anniversary tour.
‘Ready for Columbus’ and Coming to Kalamazoo: Little Feat performs State Theatre on Saturday evening. (Courtesy Picture/Hank Randall)
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For a extremely revered band with a formidable half-century legacy, Little Feat continues to maneuver ahead whereas preserving, properly, one somewhat immense foot planted prior to now.
The rock band that weaves every little thing from nation to jazz to blues into its repertoire is celebrating the forty fifth anniversary of its acclaimed “Ready for Columbus” dwell reveals in London and Washington D.C. with a tour that stops Saturday at Kalamazoo State Theatre.
And the keyboardist, singer and founding member who’s skilled the gamut of the Little Feat expertise since forming the band in California with the late Lowell George in 1969, stays simply as enthusiastic about revisiting the band’s basic tracks as he’s about main a recent lineup of this ensemble.
“I simply really feel freedom on this band that I haven’t felt in a very long time and I’ve additionally loved watching the response of followers,” Invoice Payne informed Native Spins in a latest telephone interview.
“It makes good sense: Let’s put ourselves up towards one of the vital iconic dwell information in historical past. We’re not going to have the ability to replicate it observe for observe, however we are going to play each music within the order that it was recorded on that report. You simply see them (followers) soften of their seats and the enjoyment on their face says all of it.”
Feeling Freedom within the Band: Invoice Payne at his keyboards. (Courtesy Picture/Polly Payne)
At 72, with a legacy of his personal that locations him with Elton John, Chuck Leavell and Leon Russell among the many finest rock keyboardists of all time, Payne has survived and thrived via various Little Feat lineups to not point out 16 studio albums and quite a few dwell recordings and compilations.
“I’ll be 73 in March, however I’ve obtained the angle of a a lot youthful individual with regards to taking part in and the keenness it’s a must to have for rock ’n’ roll,” he stated. “It’s nice to have that leverage as a musician and to have the ability to use it.”
As of late, after a grueling pandemic, Payne is utilizing his leverage as a purveyor and protector of Little Feat’s lauded custom and esteemed standing within the pantheon of rock, unfurled on this tour in basic songs from 1978’s “Ready for Columbus” equivalent to “Fats Man within the Bathtub,” “Oh Atlanta,” “Dixie Hen,” “Willin’” and “Crusing Sneakers.”
LISTEN: Little Feat, “Fats Man within the Bathtub” (New 2021 Recording)
He’s doing it with a stellar roster of gamers, together with longtime band members Fred Tackett on guitar and trumpet, Sam Clayton on percussion and Kenny Gradney on bass, with guitarist Scott Sharrard (who joined in 2019) and drummer Tony Leone (a member since 2020).
“They will do absolutely anything,” Payne stated of his bandmates and their “superb” chemistry. “The band sounds terrific.”
The tour rolls out a two-hour set with out an encore targeted on both prolonged variations of “Ready for Columbus” songs or including “a number of that weren’t on the unique album. We are able to play something we would like. … We’ve obtained lots of genres lined in a decent area of time. It simply actually works. Sonically, it’s an amazing sounding report.”
Tickets for the 8 p.m. Saturday present at State Theatre — solely the second present on the band’s 2022 tour — are $49-$79 and accessible on-line right here. The band additionally presents VIP ticket packages. British Americana/people duo Ida Mae opens the present.
WRITING NEW MATERIAL WHILE ‘JUMPING FROM LOG TO LOG’
Little Feat isn’t just about wanting again.
Payne stated he has a big sheaf of recent songs written with lyricist Robert Hunter and poet Paul Muldoon, and he’s working with producer/songwriter John Leventhal on a PBS particular that can be recorded at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. And different band members are creating new music, too.
“There are only a lot of fine issues occurring,” insisted the Texas native who additionally spent a number of years touring with The Doobie Brothers as their keyboardist.
The identical may very well be stated for many of Payne’s illustrious profession, with the keyboardist mastering every little thing from barrelhouse blues piano to soulful Hammond B3 licks whereas additionally writing poetry and embracing images.
All-Time Traditional: ‘Ready for Columbus’
Impressed as younger lad by every little thing from The Olympics doo-wop group to the classical music of Bach, Chopin, Lizst, Mozart and Beethoven, Payne claims he nonetheless has all the sheet music he’s ever acquired over the previous 60 years.
“I nonetheless sit down and play it one of the best I can,” he stated, reiterating his perception “within the nobleness of the humanities” whereas being “aware of the problem and the significance of what we do.”
That perception has saved him rolling via the ups and downs of the music enterprise.
“The purpose of failure is to select your self up and discover a approach to get previous that: Soar over the fence or get beneath it. You’ll be able to’t quit,” he stated. “It’s a lifelong seek for who you might be as an individual and what you wish to share with folks. … We’re cussed folks. We do what we do as a result of we love doing it.”
For Payne, preserving Little Feat alive and thriving particularly has been a satisfying, energizing mission – from bringing in new faces to maneuvering via a tough pandemic.
“I’m fairly good at leaping from log to log,” he conceded. “I’ve finished one of the best I might to verify this journey might proceed. I’ve at all times based mostly it on the music and the those that assist our music.”
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