By 1976, Little Feat had become a well-oiled live machine, its intoxicating polyglot gumbo of American music truly thriving on the stage. This new DVD and companion CD offers fans a peek at the magic. It captures the band’s set at the Dutch music festival Pinkpop in Amsterdam, and is a most welcome addition to the Little Feat catalog.
The Feat played an afternoon set that day. So immediately this hour-long DVD benefits from sunlight – you can see everything. And the professional multi-camera format provides plenty of cool angles. Picture and sound quality are overall very good, given the inherent limitations of mid-’70s technology.
The performance is equally stellar, with things steadily ramping up as both the group and audience get into the vibe. The DVD benefits from the concert time slot, as daylight really allows you to focus on the fantastic interaction between the six musicians, a hallmark of the band and a big reason why ’70s-era Little Feat remains so special.
Guitarist-vocalist Paul Barrère is animated and energized. Bassist Kenny Gradney’s robotic-funk stage moves are rivaled only by his basslines. And founder Lowell George, in straw cowboy hat and lavender western shirt, looks relatively fit and excited, peeling off flammable slide solos on “Rock And Roll Doctor” and “Dixie Chicken,” while turning in his always soulful lead vocals on “All That You Dream.”
This article originally appeared in VG‘s Nov. 2014 issue. All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar magazine. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.