Legendary rock band Little Feat has returned with Strike Up The Band, the group’s 17th studio album and its first collection of new material in over a decade.
Recorded in Nashville with Grammy-winning producer Vance Powell (Phish, Chris Stapleton, Jack White), Strike Up The Band finds founding keyboardist Bill Payne joined by longtime members Fred Tackett (guitar/vocals), Kenny Gradney (bass), and Sam Clayton (percussion/vocals), alongside more recent additions Scott Sharrard (guitar/vocals, joined in 2019) and Tony Leone (drums, joined in 2020).
“Once again, we’re introducing something that we’re going to call Little Feat to people who would be accepting and some who would not,” said Payne. “The ramp to believing in ourselves was in the songs we wrote. And the minute we had this new band, we wanted to be realistic and that was to make a record.”
Nearly 60 years after the band first began blending rock, funk, blues, and country to create its own pioneering sound, Little Feat continues to evolve. Harnessing the power of its revitalized lineup, the band embraced a collaborative approach to crafting new material, including opening track “4 Days of Heaven, 3 Days of Work”.
“Bill brought this title to Tony and I, and I knew immediately that we were going to cook something up that would be special,” shared Sharrard. “The lyrics and music embrace what I call ‘Gonzo Funk,’ Little Feat’s unique brand where you combine a slinky groove with some far-out lyrical imagery.”
Along with the new album, Little Feat shared a video for “Bluegrass Pines”, which comes from a batch of songs co-written with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. Featuring contributions from Molly Tuttle on guitar and Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams on backing vocals, the song combines a rootsy feel with poetic storytelling.
“When Robert Hunter and I began writing, he usually sent me the lyrics first,” Payne recalled. “After several times of doing it this way, he suggested I send him the music first. I had a short instrumental entitled ‘Banjo Wanderings.’ I was amazed at how this small clip inspired the expansive and wonderful lyrics he called ‘Bluegrass Pines.’ The music I gave him essentially covered only the chorus. Everything else was the result of his imagination and my mining of the melody and chords from the scenery he painted. He asked at one point through e-mail—the only way we ever communicated—if I knew who Lash LaRue was, and I told him yes, he used a whip to go after the desperados rather than use a gun.”
He continued, “I love this song and its influence on those who performed it. I love the intelligence and spirit that Molly Tuttle, with grace and beauty, created, through her legato acoustic guitar lines with Scott’s soaring slide, a dance of kinetic magic. Larry Campbell and Teresa William’s vocals, powerful, and at times angelic, provided the perfect tapestry for me to sing against. I thank Robert Hunter for his gift.”
Watch the video for “Bluegrass Pines” below, and scroll down to listen to Strike Up The Band or click here to stream the album on your preferred platform.
Little Feat – “Bluegrass Pines”
Little Feat is currently on tour in support of the new album, with shows throughout the summer and fall including tour dates with Tedeschi Trucks Band and the Dirty Feat Tour with Nitty Gritty Band. Click below for a full list of upcoming shows and head here to purchase tickets.
Last week, the band performed at the hallowed Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY. Scroll down to check out fan-shot highlights courtesy of Matt Frazier.
Little Feat – Strike Up The Band [Full Album Playlist]
Little Feat – “Midnight Flight” – 5/8/25
Little Feat – “You’ll Be Mine” (Howlin’ Wolf) – 5/8/25
Little Feat – “Spanish Moon” – 5/8/25
Little Feat – “Bluegrass Pines” – 5/8/25
Little Feat – “Don’t Do It” (The Band) – 5/8/25
Little Feat – “On Your Way Down” (Allen Toussaint) – 5/8/25
Little Feat – “Dixie Chicken” – 5/8/25
Little Feat – “Feats Don’t Fail Me Now” – 5/8/25
Little Feat – “Skin It Back” – 5/8/25