While Little Feat‘s name may be on the marquee for the Can’t Be Satisfied Tour, Duane Betts was the man of the hour on Tuesday in Des Moines, IA. During his opening set at the Hoyt Sherman Place, the son of Allman Brothers Band co-founder Dickey Betts welcomed Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell, then later sat in with Little Feat on an Allman Brothers classic.
Duane Betts kicked the night off with his band Palmetto Motel, performing selections from his 2023 solo debut Wild & Precious Life. Between originals, Betts brought out former Tom Petty guitarist Mike Campbell for a take on Muddy Waters‘ blues standard “Hoochie Coochie Man”. Campbell and his band The Dirty Knobs are in Des Moines tonight, July 3rd, playing the same venue and opted to drop by for Tuesday’s show. Sources indicate Campbell, Betts, and Little Feat were all staying at the same hotel which also fueled the evening’s collaboration. Onstage, bassist Pedro J. Arevalo (brother of Goose’s Jeff Arevalo) delivered an impassioned reading of Waters’ Delta blues classic, and drummer Vince Fossett held it down as guitarist Johnny Stachela and organist Max Butler got their licks in before Betts and Campbell brought the jam to its apex with a satisfying guitar symphony.
Related: Margo Price Covers Tom Petty’s “Ways To Be Wicked” With Heartbreaker Mike Campbell [Listen]
Duane wasn’t off the clock even after finishing his opening duties. During Little Feat’s set of longtime favorites like “Spanish Moon”, “Rock And Roll Doctor”, “Willin'”, and more, the classic rock staple brought out Betts for one of his late father’s signature Allman Brothers songs, “Blue Sky”. Betts handled vocals on the tribute to his dad who passed away back in April at age 80 after a lifetime of serving as a pillar of Southern rock. Duane previously joined Little Feat for the same Eat A Peach classic on June 29th in St. Paul, MN.
Watch Duane Betts welcome Mike Campbell for “Hoochie Coochie Man” and Betts join Little Feat for “Blue Sky” in Des Moines on Tuesday. Betts and Little Feat play their last show together tonight in La Vista, NE before parting ways. Little Feat will press on to Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado on Friday for a show with The Avett Brothers while Betts and Palmetto Motel will set out on a run of festival dates and headlining shows throughout the Northeast. Visit Little Feat and Duane Betts‘ websites for tickets and a full list of tour dates.
Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel, Mike Campbell — “Hoochie Coochie Man” (Muddy Waters) — 7/2/24
[Video: Chris Cafiero]
Little Feat, Duane Betts — “Blue Sky” (Allman Brothers Band) — 7/2/24
[Video: Chris Cafiero]