Little Feat Receives a Big Ovation at Sanctuary Concert

Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett of “Little Feat” performed to a packed house Saturday night at the as part of the Sanctuary Concert Series, treating the crowd to acoustic renditions of Little Feat songs and a good sense of humor.

“We’ve been trying to get these guys for five years,” concert organizer Scott Sheldon said before the two took the…pulpit. “It’s one of our most anticipated concerts ever.”

The charming duo, who played together on the 1973 Little Feat album “Dixie Chicken,” and subsequently became full members of the band, played for nearly two hours, joking the whole time about their venue (a church) and the subject of some of their songs (marijuana and alcohol).

The two kicked off their set with “Ain’t Had Enough Fun,” off their 1995 album of the same name and then launched into versions of “Honest Man” and the classic “Down on the Farm,” off their 1979 album, which got whoops and claps from the audience.

Barrere’s voice and Tackett’s guitar, strong throughout the performance, sounded especially good on “Candy Man Blues,” a head-bopping tune that ended with thunderous applause from the audience. 

The crowd loved sing-a-longs to “Rocket in my Pocket” (I’ve got a rocket in my pocket…) and “Willin" (And I’ve been from Tucson to Tucumcari, Tehachapi to Tonapah).

“Sailing Shoes” was a highlight of their performance. When Barrere’s third-grade daughter asked him (when he happened to be high) to play music for her third-grade class, he eagerly agreed.

Sober the next day and at the school, he realized that most Little Feat songs are inappropriate for third-graders. “You think pretty quickly when you’re in front of a bunch of third-graders,” he told the crowd. On the spot, he changed the lyric “cocaine” to “pecan” in “Sailing Shoes."

Mostly the two stuck to one-liners before songs, but the crowd eagerly devoured the longer anecdotes, which helped lighten the mood.

Barrere and Tackett performed throughout with the confidence of two people who have been playing music together for a long time. The crowd, excited and captivated with Barrere and Tackett, stood on their feet and clapped for an encore, and got two songs, including the gospel classic “Down to the River.”

The delighted crowd only had one rule to follow during the concert, according to Scott Sheldon, “have fun!” And they did.

“It was a great show. I really enjoyed it,” said Ted Smith, who traveled from New York to see the show. “It was modern and nostalgic at the same time.”

John Riordan, from Long Branch, has been listening to Little Feat for 40 years and said the venue’s intimacy added to the concert. “It was great,” he said.

Greg Murphy, from Short Hills, and his wife Sandy, attended with their friend Diane Moriarty, also of Short Hills.

“They were hot,” Greg Murphy said. Added his wife, Sandy, who saw Little Feat for the first time in 1979, “It was fantastic.”

For her part, Moriarty appreciated that the two don’t take themselves too seriously. “They were fun and they were having a great time out there,” she said. 

Many applauded the two’s musicianship, lamenting a time when Barrere’s and Tackett’s guitar work was the norm, not the exception. “You’re not gonna find that kind of guitar music here,” said Bill Heap, of Chatham Borough.

Added friend Kelly Fitzgerald, also from the borough: “The musicianship was excellent.”

Nick Annis opened for Barrere and Tackett. His honest and funny lyrics were a real treat, as was his melodic voice and self-deprecating jokes between songs. 

Scott introduced Annis as a dying breed—the troubadour, who “sang songs meant to entertain and tell stories.” Annis’ songwriting, filled with witty rhymes and clever alliteration, and his stage presence, which was wry and relatable, accomplished that. His final song, “By My Silence” literally sent shivers down this reporter’s spine.

The Sanctuary Concert series has been bringing national and small acts to Chatham for 10 years, specifically "singer, song-writers with a wry side and an ability to connect with the audience," according to Sheldon. 

“We’re very satisfied,” producer Mike Del Vecchio said. “We get national touring performances and opening are new… folk musicians playing 400 who wouldn’t see him otherwise.”

“It’s a natural thing to hear music in a church,” Del Vecchio added. “Every show sells out.”