Qualcuno potrà stancarsi, ma non mi stanco io – in questi giorni – di ascoltare dischi stupendi. L’ultimo in ordine di apparizione è MAN IN MOTION, di WARREN HAYNES, che decide di fare le cose in solitaria, pur se accompagnato dalla solita schiera di bei musicisti (all’hammond Ivan Neville, Ian McLagan al piano, George Porter al basso, Ruthie Foster ai cori e Ron Holloway al sax, in un misto di ispirazioni soul e country, visto che è andato a registrare allo studio di Willie Nelson).
Il disco suona meno southern di altre sue produzioni, molto più orientato al soul e al rhyhtm’n'blues, che poi erano la base musicale di partenza di questo chitarrista nel North Carolina che il 6 aprile ha compiuto 51 anni. I dieci titoli del cd sono tutti di altissimo livello compositivo, emotivo, chitarristico, mettendo insieme bei pezzi funk-rock di feroce groove (la titletrack) con cose che sembrano arrivare da Steve Wonder (River’s Gonna Rise), da James Brown (Sick of My Shadow) e da Wilson Pickett o Solomon Burke (On a Real Lonely Night e Take a Bullet).

Intenso, trascinante, convincente, con la solita bella chitarra in evidenza che emerge perfetta interprete di quei pezzi lenti di mostruoso feeling che sono da sempre nelle corde del Warren autore e che qui appaiono nella forma di Everyday Will Be like a Holiday e You’re wildest dream.
Perchè un disco solo e senza Gov’t Mule: semplicemente perché c’è meno rock e più gospel-soul, come confermato dal pezzo di chiusura, gli stupendi sei minuti di Save Me, roba da RayCharles-OtisRedding-Aretha, senza percussioni e “quasi” senza chitarre, una preghiera per sola voce-hammond-pianoforte, roba da brividi autentici: “Salvami, proteggimi dalla pioggia scrosciante…“.
Niente altro da aggiungere, se non che Warren si conferma uno dei migliori autori di questi ultimi anni. Alcune tra le top songs della Allman brothers band hanno la sua firma e in questo MAN IN MOTION si capisce il perché. Da ascoltare senza alcuna remora, nella speranza che Haynes arrivi presto sui palchi italiani con questa scaletta strepitosa..

Walter Gatti

Non ha bisogno che lo presenti: Gregg Allman, è uno dei simboli viventi del rock, l’unica voce bianca (insieme a quella di Van Morrison) che può cantare blues senza apparire unamacchietta dei Simpson. Musicista verso cui nutro una stima inenarrabile, nato a Nashville 64anni fa, Gregg è stato ed è l’anima della Allman Brothers Band, formazione senza cui tutta la mia visione della musica sarebbe differente e impoverita.

Ogni tanto Gregg si prende una vacanza dai compagni di avventure e produce dischi non sempre memorabili. Nel passato ci ha azzeccato con The Gregg Allman Tour (’74) e con I’m no angel (’86). A quattordici anni dal precedente titolo solista (Searching for simplicity, disco interessante e… nulla più), Gregg è ora uscito con con Low Country Blues, un disco di reverenti omaggi ad brani più o meno classici della tradizione blues registrati con la guida di T Bone Burnett (in mancanza di Tom Dowd), uno dei produttori più autentici nel solco della tradizione made in Usa, la cosiddetta “americana”.

Bella la cover e ottima la scelta (girano leggende su come TBone abbia convinto Gregg nella selezione) con dodici pezzi nella tracklist, ricca di tradizionali e titoli di padri del blues, che nella voce insuperabile di Gregg assumono una contemporaneità densa e fascinosa. Grandi comprimari di questa operazione sono gente navigatissima con in testa Dr.John, il chitarrista Doyle Bramhall II e il trombonista e arrangiatore Darrel Leonard: tutti insieme rendono Little By Little (di Little Milton), Please accept my love (di B.B.King),Rolling Stone (in una versione che sa di palude e di Louisiana) e Tears, Tears, Tears (di Amos Milburn), le perle di un disco che si ascolta rilassati e sognanti, fortissimo nella capacità di evocare suoni vintage alternando sensazioni acustiche a slides elettriche vibranti. L’unico titolo non tradizionale (o non riferibile ai “padri”) è Just another rider, di Gregg e di Warren Haynes, in riferimento per nulla velato alla classicissima Midnight Rider ed è uno dei brani migliori, forse il migliore del Cd, a confermare che Gregg anche dal punto di vista compositivo non ha perso la vena (e non a caso l’ultimo disco della Allman brothers band, Hittin the note, del “lontano” 2003, era ricco di bellissime canzoni sue tra cui Old before my time, High Cost of Low Living e Desdemona).

Bel disco, intenso e piacevole. A mio parere non è il capolavoro di cui qualcuno ha scritto, ma va bene così: applaudire Gregg è una cosa che non fa male, anche perché in Low Country Blues (e qui si non ci sono discussioni) canta in modo perfetto, con quella vena soul-blues e quel tono tristemente roco che lo rende unico. Cosa c’è che non mi convince a dargli un voto “9″? Forse attendevo qualcosa che non poteva arrivare, il capolavoro assoluto, un disco fatto di…. cose insuperabili. Invece è “solo” un bel disco. Beninteso: già da oggi si candida ad entrare tra i migliori dell’anno, però secondo me gli manca qualcosa. Magari mi sbaglio. Anyway, al cuor non si comanda e quindi: long live Gregg!

Walter Gatti

A voi la scelta:::::…….. e AUGURI!

personalissimo giudizio sui migliori del 2010. Mi piace da matti l’ultimo dei Widespread Panic, che con Herring fanno faville più che mai. Trovo che alcuni autori, tra cui la tostissima Gretchen (finalmente matura, anche se un po’ sorniona con i riferimenti “testuali” ai Lynyrd Skynyrd), abbiano fatto un ottimo lavoro. Non includo Charlie Daniel (The Land That I Love) perché ha dentro alcune cose veramente da ridere (il patriottismo con tanto di orchestra è superiore alle mie forze). Inserisco Peter Wolf perché la J.Geils Band aveva una forte anima sudista. Tom Petty è tornato autorevole ed è figlio con quel southern accent di cui abbiam già scritto. Niente da dire su alcuni chitarristi: di Derek Trucks non dico più nulla (però la sua band non è all’altezza) Andy Aledort, tecnicamente stupendo, Joe Pitts (che intensità); Billy Crain (grandi canzoni, molto west-coast oriented), e Barry Lee (grandi canzoni da uno che è stato a lungo con Allen Collins). 

Finalmente i Confederate fanno un live e quindi val la pena ascoltarli forever. 
Più country e meno dark i nuovi Drive By Truckers hanno  confezionato un disco splendido. Inoltre okkio al bellissimo disco  di Shaun Murphy: l’ex cantante dei Little Feat ha fatto colpo!

2010: THE BEST

WIDESPREAD PANIC, DIRTY SIDE DOWN
TONY JOE WHITE, THE SHINE
CONFEDERATE RAILROAD, LIVE BACK TO THE BARROOM
ANDY ALEDORT & THE GROOVE KINGS, LIVE AT THE NORTH STAR
BARRY LEE HARWOOD, SOUTHERN PART OF HEAVEN
DEREK TRUCKS, ROADSONGS
PETER WOLF, MIDNIGHT SOUVENIRS
GRETCHEN WILSON, I GOT YOUR COUNTRY RIGHT HERE
DRIVE BY TRUCKERS, THE BIG TO DO
TOM PETTY, MOJO
JOE PITTS, TEN SHADES OF BLUE
BILL CRAIN, SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET
SHAUN MURPHY, TROUBLE WITH LOVIN’

Comunque – visto il lunghissimo silenzio – chiedo scusa. Ma siamo sempre in pista.

E soprattutto buon 2011 a tutti!WG

Ciao a tutti, scusate per il lngo silenzio, ma ho dovuto – per forza – staccare da tutto, per cercare di finire il nuovo libro, che uscirà dopo l’estate.

Dopo HELP! IL GRIDO DEL ROCK e COSA SARA’, ora è la volta di AMAZING GRACE, volume tutto dedicato a Gospel Blues e Soul….

Nel frattempo la mia colonna sonora è stata:

BROTHERS OF THE SOUTHLAND – rimane enorme, con dentro qualche capolavoro (title track, Rock and roll survivor, Long goodbye….)

ALLMAN LIVE SECOND SET – che dire……

SHOOTER JENNINGS – LIVE – c’è dentro una versione di Southern Comfort da brividi elettrici

A presto, con altre cose…..
Abbracci, fratelli………

ROMA 12 luglio
PADOVA 14 luglio
MILANO 15 luglio

E quindi aspettiamo al varco Billy Gibbons and company.
Nel frattempo sul sito della LITTLE OL’ BAND FROM TEXAS, si annuncia il TORU EUROPEO per questa estate, ma a parte Londra non ci sono altre date segnalate (http://www.zztop.com/index.php?module=tour).

(here we are again……..!)

The same question in a different (and global-artistic) way: how is possible for a great artist to participate with heart to his own music and not only with professional technique?

I BELIEVE IF YOU HAVE WRITTEN THE SONG, IT HAS A PERSONAL TOUCH TO IT, EVEN IF ITS JUST A MADE UP STORY, THERE IS ALWAYS SOME BASIS OF TRUTH IN IT, AND BEING AN ARTIST THAT MOSTLY DOES MY OWN MATERIAL, EITHER WRITTEN BY ME OR SOMEONE ELSE IN THE BAND THERE ARE FEELINGS TO DRAW FROM THAT YOU MUST EMOTE TO MAKE IT REAL TO THE AUDIENCE … THE SAME HOLDS TRUE FOR SONGS WRITTEN BY SOMEONE ELSE, IF YOU WANT TO PERFORM IT YOU SHOULD HAVE SOME FEELING FOR IT, OTHER WISE THERE IS NO REASON TO DO IT-THAT SAID I HAVE BEEN HIRED TO SING SONGS ELSEWHERE THAT I HAVE NO FEELING FOR, BUT YOU MUST MUSTER UP SOMETHING, SOME RECOLECTION OF A FEELING TO SELL THAT SONG, ITS REALLY LIKE ACTING IN A WAY …

The last LT’s work, Join the band, has been a great reunion for friends of the band: are you proud of this product? I especially loved the Inara’s version of Trouble and the whole collaboration with Buffett… 

THIS WAS A FUN PROJEST TO DO AND TO ENLIST PLAYERS OF SUCH CALIBER TO JOIN THE BAND ON LITTLE FEAT SONGS WAS FANTASTIC, INARA’S VERSION OF TROUBLE WAS TRULY INSPIRED, AND THE WAY THAT WE CHANGED UP ARRANGEMENTS OF OLD FEAT STANDARDS WAS SUCH FUN TO DO, IT’S LIKE WHAT I SAID BEFORE ABOUT PLAYIING SONGS SO MANY TIMES AND LOOKING FOR NEW AND DIFFERENT WAYS TO PLAY THEM …. ALSO TO HAVE JIMMY BUFFETT INVOLVED AND TO RECORD AT HIS STUDIO IN KEY WEST FLORIDA WAS FANTASTIC, A GREAT ENVIRONMENT TO WORK AND PERFORM … VERY PROUD INDEED OF THIS WORK ….

I like the North cafè cd with Fred Tackett: it’seems there is a great legacy between you and Fred, a “heart legacy”…. How is possible a deep musical unity after long years of collaboration? Many people and artists after years become enemies, not friends….

I THINK THAT FRED AND I, AS WELL AS ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE BAND HAVE SUCH A DEEP RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER THAT THE FRIENDSHIP RUNS DEEP, I DON’T THINK THAT YOU CAN BE CREATIVE WITH PEOPLE YOU HATE, MAYBE OTHERS CAN BUT CERTAINLY NOT ME, WE ARE LIKE FAMILY AND LIKE ANY FAMILY THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU DON’T AGREE WITH ONE ANOTHER, BUT FOR THE MOST PART YOU ARE ON THE SAME PAGE AND HAVE COMMON INTERESTS AND DESIRES, LITTLE FEAT IS LIKE THAT, WE HAVE A DEEP LOVE AND RESPECT FOR THE MUSIC, AND THEREFORE FOR EACH OTHER…FRED AN I IN PARTICULAR SINCE WE HAVE BEEN PLAYING TOGETHER SO LONG EITHER WITH LITTLE FEAT OR ON RECORDING SESSIONS OR NOW FOR THE LAST DECADE TOGETHER IN OUR DUET … AND THE DUET IS SO DIFFERENT AS IT ALLOWS US ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO INTERPRET THE SONGS IN AN ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT WAY … MORE ORGANIC I THINK AS ACOUSTIC AND STRIPPED DOWN, THE SONGS BECOME THE FOCAL POINT MORE SO THAN THE GREAT PLAYING OF THE ENTIRE BAND …..

Why Shaun left the band? 

UNFORTUNATELY THIS WAS A SIGN OF THE ECONOMIC TIMES, WE HAD COME TO A POINT WHERE WE WERE EITHER GOING TO STOP PLAYING AS LITTLE FEAT OR HAD TO CUT BACK FINANCIALLY,AND SHE WAS THE ONE MEMBER WHO WE COULD CONTINUE WITHOUT, WE HAD DISCOVERED THAT WHEN SHE WENT ON THE ROAD WITH BOB SEGER AND WE CONTINUED TO PERFORM WITH OUT HER, AND IT WAS LIKE THE OLD LITTLE FEAT, WITH A PURELY MALE PROSPECTIVE, I MISS HER, I REALLY DO, BUT FINANCIALLY WE COULDN’T MAKE IT HAVING 7 MEMBERS ANYMORE, WE ALSO CUT A COUPLE OF PRODUCTION JOBS TO MAKE IT MORE FINANCIALLY POSSIBLE TO KEEP THE FEAT TRAIN ROLLING …. I HOPE THAT THIS ECONOMIC DOWNTURN CHANGES SOON OR WE’LL PROBABLY SEE THE END OF OUR TOURING AS A BAND BECOME A REALITY, UNLESS SOMEHOW WE HAVE A HIT RECORD OR SOMETHING THAT INCREASES THE FLOW OF FINANCES …. SAD REALLY, BUT I KNOW THAT EVERYONE IS FEELING THE PINCH, AND PEOPLE JUST DON’T HAVE THE MONEY TO SPEND ON MUSIC AND CONCERTS LIKE THEY USED TO ….

Richie: do you have good news about him or not….? 

GOOD NEWS IS THAT HE IS PLAYING HIS DRUMS AGAIN, SLOWLY BUT AT LEAST PLAYING … HE HAS A VERY LARGE HILL TO CLIMB WITH THE CANCER IN HIS LIVER AND ONCE AGAIN THE COSTS OF MEDICAL TREATMENT IS STAGGERING, FOR SOME REASON AMERICANS DON’T SEE THAT THE COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE HAS COME TO A POINT WHERE MANY JUST CAN’T AFFORD DOCTORS OR MEDICAL TREATMENT THAT IS REALLY NEEDED .. IT IS SUCH A POLITICAL BOONDOGLE, A GREEDY ASPECT OF POLITICS THAT KEEPS US SCRAMBLING TO DO BENEFITS AND SUCH FOR HIS TREATMENTS … HE IS LIVING IN CANADA NOW WITH HIS WIFE WHO IS CANADIAN, AND SOON HE WILL QUALIFY FOR THE NATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM THERE, BUT FOR NOW HE MUST PAY FOR THE TREATMENTS AND THAT’S HARD, THANKS TO SWEET RELIEF, A PROGRAM THAT HELPS MUSICIANS GET FINANCIAL HELP THROUGH DONATIONS HE IS COPING WITH IT, AND IF ANY ONE IS INTERESTED IN MAKING A DONATION THERE IS A WEB SITE, SWEETRELIEF.COM THAT WILL TAKE THOSE DONATIONS AND FUNNEL THE MONIES TO RICHIE AND HIS FAMILY ….

 A few question – if I can – about your “personal life”: Where do you live now? Do you have a family or do you live alone? What are your interests beside music? Are you a religious person?

I LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, A FEW MILES OUTSIDE OF LOS ANGELES WITH MY WIFE PAMELA AND THREE CHILDREN, SON GABRIEL WHO IS ALMOST 21, AND DAUGHTER GENEVIEVE 18 AND MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER IS GILLIAN WHO IS 12, AND THEY ARE THE JOY OF MY LIFE, AND WHILE I AM A VERY SPIRITUAL PERSON, I AM NOT A RELIGIOUS ONE, THAT IS I DON’T BELIEVE IN BELONGING TO ONE RELIGION, I FEEL THAT RELIGIONS HAVE UNFORTUNATELY BECOME POLITICAL ENTITIES AND ARE BUSINESS ORIENTED, I AM A PACIFIST, I BELIEVE IN PEACE AND LIVE AND LET LIVE, AND EVEN THOUGH I KNOW IT IS UNREALISTIC, I STILL HOPE THAT SOMEDAY THE WORLD WILL BE AT PEACE AND THUS WE ALL FIND WHAT HEAVEN IS ALL ABOUT RIGHT HERE ON EARTH ….

Tell me something about the music that you like today: are there new bands and new songwriters that you love more than others?

MY MUSICAL TASTES ARE STILL PRETTY MUCH LIKE ALWAYS, I LOVE MY OLD JAZZ RECORDINGS, AND BLUES, I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN LISTENING TO BILL FRISELL AND JOHN SCOFIELD AS I THINK THEIR GUITAR PLAYING IS AMAZING, ALSO THERE IS A NEW BAND FROM LOS ANGELES CALLED GRYPHON LABS WHO ARE GREAT PLAYERS, AND THEY PLAY WITH DWEEZEL ZAPPA AND HAVE JUST MADE A CD CALLED MODERN MYTHOLOGY, ALSO A NEW BAND FROM AUSTIN TEXAS CALLED BAND OF HEATHENS WHO PLAY A LOT LIKE LITTLE FEAT AND THE BAND … 

Rock music: do you think is still alive? If yes: where and how…? 

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ROCK MUSIC, TODAYS FORM IS REALLY MORE HIP HOP AND THE NEW R&B BUT IT IS STILL ROCK AND ROLL WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, GENERATIONS ALL HAVE THEIR DIFFERENT SOUND, AND THIS IS THE ONE OF TODAY BUT IT ALWAYS EVOLVES AND CHANGES WHICH IS WHY I LOVE ROCK AND ROLL, IF ITS GOT A BEAT AND GROOVES SIGN ME UP … ONE WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT ROCKK AND ROLL IS ALIVE AND WELL JUST LISTEN TO THE SOUNDTRACK OF LIFE, ALL OF OUR COMMERCIALS, AND LOTS OF MOVIES HAVE THAT ROCK AND ROLL SOUND TRACK GOING ON, IT’S WHAT ATTRACTS US …

And what about the southern rock? I think that Allman brothers are living a great moment with Greg, Derek and Warren…. 

YOU HAVE JUST MENTIONED TWO OF THE FINEST GUITARISTS ON THE PLANET, I LOVE HOW EACH ONE OF THEM PLAY AND BOTH OF THEIR STYLES ARE SO DISTINCTIVE, AND OF COURSE GREGS PLAYING AND SINGING IS THE SIGNATURE OF THE BAND, I’VE ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND, AND THEY ARE SUCH NICE PEOPLE AS WELL … ON THE SUBJECT OF SOUTHERN ROCK I THINK THAT TODAYS COUNTRY MUSIC OUT OF NASHVILLE HAS REALLY TAKEN OVER THAT MANTLE, THERE ARE SO MANY OF THE NASHVILLE BANDS THAT SOUND MORE ROCK THAN COUNTRY SO THAT WOULD GET MY VOTE FOR SOUTHERN ROCK!

New Orleans: what’s about the city? The Kathrina days passed: people and music are still alive?

AND NEW ORLEANS IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL, NOW THAT THEY HAVE A SUPER BOWL CHAMPION I THINK THE CITY IS UNDERGOING A REVIVAL THAT WILL CONTINUE FOR YEARS TO COME, THE BANDS FROM THERE, THE RADIATORS, PAPA GROS FUNK, THE METERS, THE NEVILLES, JOHN MOONEY, ANDERES OSBORNE,  AND SOME NEW ONES LIKE IVAN NEVILLE AND DUMPSTA FUNK OR BONEARAMA, THEY ARE ALL AMAZING, AND LETS NOT LEAVE SONNY LANDRETH OFF THE LIST, EVEN THOUGH HE’S FROM LAYFAYETTE I STILL THINK OF HIM AS A NEW ORLEANS LOUISANA BOY!!!

Blues music is your cradle: do you think at yourself like a blues artist in the way (for example) of Jorma Kaukonen? Any plan to record an acoustic classic blues album?

WELL I LOVE THE BLUES AND STILL PLAY A LOT OF BLUES, AS A MATER OF FACT WITH FRED A LOT OF THE LITTLE FEAT SONGS WE DO AS A DUET COME OF MORE BLUESY, DOWN ON THE FARM AND OLD FOLKS BOOGIE IN PARTICULAR, WE HAVE A NEW CLASSIFACATION FOR MUSIC IN THE STATES CALLED AMERICANA, LEVON HELM IS A BIG INFLUENCE IN THE GENRE, AND THAT’S WHERE MY INTENTIONS ARE THESE DAYS IN WRITING, IT ENCOMPASES BLUES AND ROOTS MUSIC, YOU SHOULD REALLY TAKE A LISTEN TO LEVONS TWO RECORDS PRODUCED BY LARRY CAMPBELL, REALLY FINE WORK

Future and new projects: what move on in the future of Little feat and Paul Barrere?

FEAT ARE IN THE BEGINNING STAGES OF WRITING AND GETTING READY TO DO ANOTHER STUDIO RECORD, IT WILL BE IN THAT AMERICANA VEIN AND INCLUDE BLUES JAZZ AND COUNTRY, AND FRED AND I JUST RELEASED ANOTHER LIVE RECORD CALLED LIVE IN THE UK 2008 FROM RECORDINGS WE MADE ON OUR TOUR IN 2008 THOROUGH OUT GREAT BRITAIN …. IT WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR WEB SITE PAULANDFRED.COM … 

Do you have plans to tour in Europe and expecially here in Italy?

I WOULD LOVE TO GET BACK TO ITLAY, WE HAVE TOURED IN EUROPE NOW THE LAST 4 YEARS USUALLY IN THE SUMMER, AND FRED AND I  DO IT IN THE WINTER, SO IF ANYONE IN ITALY WOULD LIKE TO GIVE US A GIG, LET ME KNOW, WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD GREAT AUDIENCES IN ITALY, THEY ARE VERY SOPHISTICATED IN THEIR MUSIC TASTES!!!

Thanks Paul, God bless you
Walter
And THANKS to Steve KLEIN!

paul barrere

I had the fortune to share some q/a with one of my favourite musician: Paul Barrere, the man that still represent (with Bill Payne) the LITTLE FEAT! This is the interview. I liked it. Thank you Paul. From the heart.

Hi Paul: LITTLE FEAT is a great story of real American music. You passed through 40years of music, adventures, bad and good days, and are still here with fans everywhere. What do you think about all of this if you look back?

PAUL BARRERE: I AM AMAZED THAT IT HAS LASTED SO LONG, AND IT’S REALLY A TESTEMENT TO THE MUSIC WE PLAY, IT’S SO ENJOYABLE AND ALWAYS NEW AND FRESH FROM NIGHT TO NIGHT I NEVER GROW TIRED OF PLAYING THESE SONGS-THE ROAD ITSELF CAN BE A CHALLENGE NOW THAT WE ARE OLDER, BUT FOR THE 2 HOURS ON STAGE IT MAKES IT ALL WORTH WHILE – WE ARE TRULY LIKE A FAMILY WE’VE KNOW EACH OTHER SO LONG ……

Have you ever had the perception that your music was loved everywhere, also …. here in Italy?

PAUL BARRERE: I KNEW THAT THE FEAT WERE LOVED ALL OVER THE WORLD, WE HAVE GOTTEN FAN LETTERS FROM JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE, AND EVEN HAD A TOP 10 SONG IN SOUTH AFRICA ONCE, RECEIVED AWARDS FROM GERMANY AND JAPAN, AND JUST FROM TOURING GOT TO KNOW OF OUR POPULARITY, BUT SINCE THE INTERNET THAT FAN BASE HAS BROADENED AS WE GET LETTERS FROM EVERYWHERE ON OUR MYSPACE AND FACEBOOK SITES … I ALSO KNOW THAT FOLKS WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN TO AMERICA DO GET A PICTURE OF WHAT OUR WORLD IS LIKE THROUGH OUR MUSIC, ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES I THINK ITS NOT THE BEST PICTURE YOU COULD HAVE OF OUR LIFESTYLE, CERTAINLY LITTLE FEAT HAS NOT BEEN IN FAVOR WITH SOME OF OUR POLITICAL LEADERS IN THE PAST, BUT OVERALL ITS FLATTERING TO KNOW WE HAVE THESE FANS ALL OVER

Have you ever lived moments in which you though “Now everything ends. No more music, no more art, no more band”. If yes: what keep you always on the road? Strong belief in yourself? Friends? Wife? Lovers? Faith? The power of music?

PAUL BARRERE: I THINK WE ALL FACE MOMENTS LIKE THIS, FOR ME THEY’RE ALWAYS FLEETING AND NEVER TO SERIOUS, I LOVE PLAYING MUSIC AND EVEN IF LITTLE FEAT WE’RE TO END I WOULD PLAY ON, AS A MATTER OF FACT FRED TACKETT AND I PLAY WITHOUT THE BAND A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR, USUALLY IN THE UK AND NORTHERN EUROPE, WOULD LOVE TO COME TO ITALY AND FRANCE SOMETIME BUT SO FAR SPAIN AND THE NEDERLANDS HAVE BEEN THE ONLY SPOTS ON THE CONTINENT THAT WE’VE DONE OUR DUET … I HAVE A GREAT WIFE WHO KNOWS OF MY LOVE FOR PLAYING MUSIC AND SHE ENCOURAGES ME TO DO SO SINCE IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY, AS I GET OLDER THE TOURING GETS HARDER, JUST THE TRAVEL PART, BUT I STILL LOVE IT …. PERHAPS THE FINAL TIME WHEN I THINK EVERYTHING ENDS WILL BE WHEN I CHECK OUT FROM THIS PLANET AND MOVE ONTO THE NEXT!

Lowell George: which are the best memories that you have of him and with him?

PAUL BARRERE: ONE OF THE FIRST IS IN 1969 WHEN HE WAS JUST STARTING LITTLE FEAT AND ASKED ME TO AUDITION AS THE BASS PLAYER .. I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS A GUITARIST AND THAT I DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO PLAY BASS REALLY .. HE TOLD ME “WELL ITS TWOI LESS STRINGS”  WE ALL KNOW THAT IS NOT THE ONLY DIFFERENCE AND I FAILED THE AUDITION BADLY, BUT I THOUGHT THAT WHEN THEY GOT ROY ESTRADA TO COME OVER FROM THE MOTHERS THAT THAT WOULD BE THE REAL GLUE TO THE SOUND …. I ALSO TOLD THEM AT THE AUDITION IF THEY EVER WANTED A SECOND GUITARIST THAT I WOULD LOVE THE CHANCE TO DO IT, AND GOT THAT CHANCE 3 YEARS LATER IN 1972, AND WE WENT ON TO MAKE DIXIE CHICKEN AND I WAS THRILLED TO BECOME A MEMBER OF WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE THE BEST AMERICAN ROCK AND ROLL BAND GOING …  AND ONE OF MY FONDEST MEMORIES OF HIM WAS BEING AT THE RECORDING SESSION OF THE MAKING OF THEIR FIRST RECORD AND HIM DOING A SOLO ON THE SONG WAIT TIL THE SHIT HITS THE FAN, AND HE WAS DRIVING THE PRODUCER CRAZY, NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT VERSION NEVER MADE IT TO THE RECORD BUT I LOVED HOW HE WAS STICKING IT TO THE PRODUCER … LOWELL WAS BRILLIANT …. HE WAS MY MENTOR AND INSPIRATION

The Dixie chicken version from Live from Neon park was gorgeous! It’s a suite with a mixture of American different musical traditions. How do the band create that version of the songs?

PAUL BARRERE: DIXIE CHICKEN IS ONE OF THOSE SONGS THAT HAS TO EVOLVE FROM YEAR TO YEAR, AND THAT VERSION IS JUST ONE OF MANY, WE LIKE TO INCLUDE JAZZ, DIXIELAND, BLUES, FUNK, COUNTRY BLUES OR WHAT EVER WE CAN DIG UP TO MAKE IT INTERESTING FOR US TO PLAY, AND THUS MAKE IT INTERESTING FOR OUR FANS TO LISTEN TO … ACTUALLY AS OF LATE SOME OF OUR MORE ARDENT FANS HAVE WANTED US TO GO BACK TO PLAYING IT LIKE THE ORIGINAL RECORD AND NOT JAM SO MUCH, BUT WE LOVE HAVING THE ROOM TO IMPROVISE EVERYNIGHT AND EXPAND OUR OWN INTEREST LEVEL … FOR A MUSICIAN THERE IS REALLY NO BETTER FEELING THAN BEING CREATIVE ON THE SPOT, I KNOW THAT’S HOW ALL THOSE GREAT JAZZ MUSICIANS FELT PLAYING THE SAME BOOK NITE TO NITE – CHANGE THE TEMPO, THE FEEL, USE THE MELODY AS  AN ANCHOR BUT ALLOW FOR SOME FREEDOM TO LET THE MUSIC SOAR THROUGH YOU – REALLY LIKE HEAVEN WHEN IT ALL WORKS ….

I think Willin remains one of the more emotional song in the rock history. I always hear it with a deep feeling about love, loneliness, destiny. After long years and thousands gig, do you feel anything when you play it? I mean: is it possible for an artist to feel something about a song after years and years?

PAUL BARRERE: OF COURSE I HAVE FEELINGS ABOUT THIS SONG, AND LOVE TO PLAY IT, IT IS NOT ONLY ABOUT ALL THOSE FEELING YOU DESCRIBE IN YOUR QUESTION BUT ALSO HAS A BIT OF HUMOR ABOUT IT AND THE LIFE OF A TRUCK DRIVER-LOWELL USED TO SAY TO THE AUDIENCE “IF YOU GOT IT, A TRUCK BROUGHT IT” AND THAT’S SO TRUE STILL TO THESE DAYS, AND I’M SURE IT’S THE SAME IN EUROPE … COMMERCE IS REALLY DRIVEN BY THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY, EVEN IF ITS JUST THE SMALL TRUCK THAT OFF LOADS GOODS FROM TRAINS, YOUR STORES WOULDN’T BE STOCKED WITHOUT A TRUCKER BRINGING YOU THOSE PRODUCTS … TRUCKERS ARE A UNIQUE GROUP OF FOLKS, THAT’S WHY TRUCK STOPS ARE SO INTERESTING, AND NOT ONLY IN THE USA BUT ALL OVER THE WORLD

(part two: wait a moment…..)