LITTLE FEAT

Rooster Blues

[Rounder]

When Little Feat reconvened nearly a decade after the 1979 death of seemingly irreplaceable co-founder Lowell George, few predicted the band would be going strong nearly a quarter-century later. Now comes another enormous challenge, as drummer Gabe Ford takes on the daunting task of occupying the drum throne of the great Richie Hayward, who died in 2009. That leaves keyboardist and vocalist Bill Payne as the only surviving original member, but with mainstays Paul Barrere (guitar), Kenny Gradney (bass) and Sam Clayton (percussion)—all Feats since the early ’70s—still aboard and Ford laying down infectious grooves, there’s no mistaking this funk-a-boogie juggernaut for any other band. Rooster Rag doesn’t attempt to break new ground. Instead it serves as a reminder that Little Feat, always a powerhouse live band, can also kick it up in the studio. It’s hard to imagine anyone who’s ever loved Little Feat wouldn’t feel right at home here. –JT