Live Review: Little Feat with Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley at the Atlanta Symphony Hall, 7/12/23

Little Feat kicked off their Boogie Your Summer Away Tour in Atlanta to a mass of humanity, seemingly the band’s followers for their entire 52-year history. Granted, the only surviving member from the original lineup is keyboardist and singer Bill Payne, who formed the band in 1969 with Lowell George (who passed away in 1979). The band shone with a freshness and relevance in tune with their seventies heyday.

Nearly every member had their shot at lead vocals on this night, but the main guy is Scott Sharrard, whose voice and guitar work is second to none. The group moved through an eclectic and wonderful set of musical history, some of which helped to define the Southern Rock sound, a.k.a. bluesy country rock, if you will. The first tune was “Easy to Slip” off of Sailin’ Shoes, the band’s second album from 1972.

A personal favorite, “Down On the Farm,” was a true crowd pleaser. From the album of the same name, it was released just five months after George’s death. You know, “It ain’t true, it ain’t true, Linda Lou.” It was apropos when the sextet burst out with “Oh, Atlanta,” singing, “I said yeah! yeah! yeah! Atlanta, got to get back to you / Well you can drop me off on Peachtree / I got to feel that Georgia sun,” as this actual concert was on Peachtree Street! The 20-song set brought a generation back to their youth while dragging younger attendees into the fold.

Openers Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley provided a fiercely innovative set with two of music’s best guitar slingers. Ickes has been named Dobro Player of the Year fifteen times by the International Bluegrass Music Association. Formerly with the Nashville group Blue Highway, Ickes has recently collaborated on three albums with Trey Hensley. The two are still on the road touring across America. Hensley is a world-class guitarist who is one of the fastest pickers around.

Together, the duo performs at a level not matched by many. Hensley first took the stage at age 11 along with Marty Stuart and Earl Scruggs on the Grand Ole Opry. His bass voice complements the guitars and adds layers to the sound.

Along with some terrific originals off their new album Living in a Song, the covers were well-chosen and excellent. Those were “Brown-Eyed Woman” by The Grateful Dead, “No Way Out,” by Sonny Boy Williamson, and the terrific Stevie Ray Vaughn classic “Pride and Joy.” These aren’t just rehashed tunes, but evolved triumphs done the Ickes and Hensley way.

Catch this tour if you can. It’s a barnburner.

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