New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The legendary-and-thriving LITTLE FEAT on June 18 raise their glass to the "Milkman" with the newly released video for the opening track from their critically acclaimed, blues-focused album SAM'S PLACE (Hot Tomato Productions/MRI). You can feel the band's joyous camaraderie in this mainly performance video filmed earlier this year at Studio Instrumental Rentals in Nashville. Watch "Milkman," directed and edited by Michael Kessler, below at Top40-Charts.
The members of LITTLE FEAT 2024 are: Bill Payne, Keyboards and Vocals; Sam Clayton, Percussion and Vocals; Fred Tackett, Guitars and Vocals, Kenny Gradney, Bass; Scott Sharrard, Guitars and Vocals; and Tony Leone, drums and vocals. "Milkman" is an original LITTLE FEAT song written by Clayton (about his nephew), Tackett, and Sharrard. The deeply grooving track features Clayton on lead vocals, Payne on piano, Gradney on bass, Fred on electric guitar, Sharrard on slide guitar, and Leone on drums. In the video, premiered today at Glide Magazine, the band is joined by Steve Herrman on trumpet and Dana Robbins on saxophone. Interspersed throughout the video is archival footage of milkmen through the years.
LITTLE FEAT stopped into The GRAMMY Museum's intimate 200-seat Clive Davis Theater on June 10 to celebrate the May 17 release of SAM'S PLACE. It's their first new studio album in 12 years; first-ever blues album; and the first one to feature linchpin conga player Clayton on lead vocals on every song. The evening began with a lively conversation with moderator Scott Goldman (the museum's artistic director) encompassing their career, creative process, and more. It was followed by a reliably rousing five-song performance from the band.
"Milkman" marks the fourth video from the album and follows these clips: "You'll Be Mine," a cover of the Willie Dixon-written chestnut popularized by Howlin' Wolf; "Can't Be Satisfied," a rollicking interpretation of the classic Muddy Waters-written gem; and, most recently, "Long Distance Call," another Muddy Waters song featuring a soulful duet with longtime friend Bonnie Raitt.
"I've always loved Little Feat and this new incarnation of the band is bringing some serious heat, cred and new blood to their enduring legacy," said Raitt. "Every Feat fan loves us some Sam. I'm so glad he's now gotten a chance to step out front and center and put his spin on these wonderful blues songs. I loved singing 'Long Distance Call' with him, always one of my favorites, and Scott slayed on slide. Know you'll enjoy hanging out with us at Sam's Place!"
LITTLE FEAT's individual musical chops and collective chemistry light up the nine-track SAM'S PLACE, which was waxed at Sam Phillips Recording in Memphis, TN (August 2023), except for "Got My Mojo Working (Live)," recorded live at the Boulder Theatre in Boulder, CO (December 17, 2022). This is the first LITTLE FEAT album recorded with new members Sharrard and Leone.
LITTLE FEAT is busy this summer and fall on the road. From touring with the Tedeschi Trucks Band to headline shows with The Wood Brothers, Los Lobos, Marc Broussard, Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel, The Steel Wheels, and Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, there will be plenty of chances to boogie with the band.
Here are LITTLE FEAT's in-progress tour dates:
Thursday, June 20 Indianapolis, IN Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park Headline
Friday, June 21 Grand Rapids, MI Meijer Gardens Amphitheater Headline
Saturday, June 22 Highland Park, IL Ravinia Festival Co-Headline w/ Los Lobos
Monday, June 24 Evansville, IN Victory Theatre Headline
Tuesday, June 25 St. Louis, MO The Factory Headline
Wednesday, June 26 Kansas City, MO Uptown Theater Headline
Friday, June 28 Sioux Falls, SD Washington Pavilion Headline
Saturday, June 29 Saint Paul, MN Fitzgerald Theater Headline
Sunday, June 30 Mankato, MN Vetter Stone Amphitheater Headline
Tuesday, July 2 Des Moines, IA Hoyt Sherman Place Headline
Wednesday, July 3 Omaha, NE The Astro Headline
Friday, July 5 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Supporting The Avett Brothers
Saturday, August 17 Milford, CT Milford Oyster Festival 2024
Sunday, August 18 Jim Thorpe, PA Penn's Peak Headline
Tuesday, August 20 Deerfield, MA Tree House Brewing Company Summer Stage Headline
Wednesday, August 21 Hyannis, MA Cape Cod Melody Tent Headline
Thursday, August 22 Cohasset, MA South Shore Music Circus Headline
Saturday, August 24 Webster, MA Indian Ranch Headline
Sunday, August 25 Bethel Woods, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts Supporting Tedeschi Trucks Band
Tuesday, August 27 Patchogue, NY Patchogue Theatre Headline
Wednesday, August 28 Philadelphia, PA The Mann Center Supporting Tedeschi Trucks Band
Friday, August 30 Selbyville, DE Freeman Arts Pavilion Headline
Saturday, August 31 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center Supporting Tedeschi Trucks Band
Friday, October 18 Washington, DC Warner Theatre Headline
Saturday, October 19 Washington, DC Warner Theatre Headline
Sunday, October 20 Northfield, OH MGM Northfield Park Headline
Tuesday, October 22 Wheeling, WV The Capitol Theatre Headline
Thursday, October 24 Louisville, KY Louisville Palace Theater Headline
Friday, October 25 Cherokee, NC Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort Event Center Headline
Saturday, October 26 Charlottesville, VA The Paramount Theater Headline
Monday, October 28 Virginia Beach, VA Sandler Center For The Performing Arts Headline
Tuesday, October 29 Charlotte, NC The Knight Theater Headline
Wednesday, October 30 Wilmington, NC Kenan Auditorium Headline
Friday, November 1 Macon, GA Macon City Auditorium Headline
Saturday, November 2 Miramar Beach, FL Moon Crush Cowboy Moon 2024
Feb. 28 - Mar. 7, 2025 Miami, FL Cayamo 2025
The members of Little Feat emerged from the pandemic with their sense of humor, chops, and collective joy in playing intact on their 2024 album Sam's Place. Over the past three years, they've focused tours on their epic live album Waiting for Columbus and re-issues of some of their classic albums (Sailin' Shoes, Dixie Chicken, and Waiting for Columbus). Audience response has been rapturous. The band builds on a deep, over 50-year history. Little Feat used a combination of elite musicianship and brilliant, idiosyncratic songwriting to create a repertoire that transcends all boundaries. California rock, funk, folk, jazz, country and rockabilly mixed with New Orleans swamp boogie led to a powerful sound that has kept the audience dancing for decades. Their groove - in songs like "Dixie Chicken," "Spanish Moon," "Fat Man in the Bathtub," and "Feats Don't Fail Me Now" is a continuous thread of excellence that embraces the qualities of exploration that make up Little Feat, its music, while honoring their brothers that began this journey decades ago: Lowell George, Richie Hayward, and Paul Barrere. Their legacy is honest and durable with no end in sight. It has always been about the songs and musicianship. They're in top form now with Scott Sharrard on lead guitar/vox and Tony Leone on drums/vox, and with founder Bill Payne on keys/vox, Fred Tackett on guitars/vox, Kenny Gradney on bass, and Sam Clayton on percussion/vox.
