Back Beat

Little Feat: WHBPAC's First Act of 2009, on Jan. 3

By Tiffany Razzano

At a time of year when musical events are few and far between on the East End, music aficionados will be glad to know that right after New Year's, on Jan. 3, the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center will be hosting Little Feat.

The group - a southern California based rock band with blues, roots and jam elements - was originally formed in 1969 by singer/songwriter/guitarist Lowell George, who had originally been in Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention. But Little Feat disbanded in 1979, after George's death. The group got back together in 1987, releasing a new album a year later. Craig Fuller of the Pure Prairie League stepped in to take over lead vocals.

Now, the band is going on 20 consecutive years of writing and recording music and touring, though it's now on its third incarnation. In 1993, Fuller left the group and Shaun Murphy, who had sung on all of Little Feat's recent albums anyway, replaced him. She had also toured as part of Bob Seger's band, along with Little Feat members Fred Tackett and Bill Payne.

In August, Little Feat released Join the Band, an album where some of the music industry's best known talents pay tribute to the band. But it's more of a collaborative effort than a typical tribute album. Artists such as Emmylou Harris, Randy Newman, Linda Ronstadt and The Black Crowes joined the band in the recording studio in order to record their interpretation of one of the band's songs.

Always a fan and friend of Little Feat, having performed with several of its members before, Jimmy Buffet actually came up with the concept of the album years ago and it somehow came together now. The group trekked down to Buffet's recording studio in Key West to lay down the tracks and the project "took on a life of its own," Murphy said. Buffet also played a key role in bringing in the guest musicians. "He was a huge asset in that regard."

The group, working directly with these musicians in the studio, got to see the creative process of how the different interpretations of Little Feat songs came about. "It's always interesting to see what people come up with," Murphy said. Brooks and Dunn took on "Willin'," giving it a goth country feel. Bob Seger came in for "Something in the Water." "He added a little spice to it." But the performer who most surprised Murphy was Dave Matthews. "I've never heard him sing quite like that. He did an excellent, excellent job."

Now, the group is getting ready to hit the road for several weeks after New Year's, followed by their now annual four-day extravaganza at the Grand Lido Resort in Jamaica at the end of January. For the past six years, the band has taken over the hotel for a long weekend, selling it out to their fans and performing all weekend.

Little Feat will be performing at the WHBPAC on Jan. 3 at 8 p.m. For more information, call 631-288-1500 or go to littlefeat.net.

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