Little Feat – Strike Up The Band (CD)

Read our review of Little Feat's Strike Up The Band from June 2025 on jambands.com.

Released in May 2025, Strike Up The Band marks Little Feat's triumphant return to rock 'n' roll with new original material—their first studio album of fresh songs in twelve years. Produced by Grammy Award-winner Vance Powell (Phish, Chris Stapleton, Jack White) and co-produced by Bill Payne, the album showcases the current six-piece lineup firing on all cylinders: Payne's swirling keyboards, Scott Sharrard and Fred Tackett's tantalizing dual guitars, Kenny Gradney's anchoring bass, Sam Clayton's percolating percussion, and Tony Leone's propulsive drums.

The album demonstrates that Little Feat remains a genuine article rather than a nostalgia act. Shipwrecks feels timeless across decades, featuring an unexpectedly delightful synth break from Payne that echoes a time when Little Feat was mentioned alongside fusion pioneers like Weather Report. The title track features Larkin Poe on guest vocals, while Bluegrass Pines—co-written by Payne with the late Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter—showcases Molly Tuttle and Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams. Songs by newest members Sharrard and Leone contribute fresh perspectives while honoring the band's swampy southern soul foundation.

Strike Up The Band proves that fifty-six years after Lowell George and Bill Payne founded the band on Frank Zappa's advice, Little Feat's inimitable groove endures. Like 1988's reunion album Let It Roll, this serves as a reintroduction—showcasing a band still capable of producing vital, muscular rock 'n' roll that honors their legacy while pushing forward.

CD format: 13 tracks. Produced by Vance Powell and Bill Payne. Features guest appearances by Larkin Poe, Molly Tuttle, and Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams.