As one of the founders of Little Feat, keyboardist Billy Payne has seen a lot of changes in the music industry.
"First off, Little Feat is in a totally different category than all the new bands coming out today," Payne said during a telephone interview from a San Jose, Calif., hotel room. "And I feel the audience is as eclectic as we are when it comes to choices of music.
"They also have more ways to access different types of music, and they know how to use them. I think that's one of the problems of the industry today. The stuff they're selling isn't what a lot of people want to hear. So the consumer is going to different places to get the music they want."
That school of thought is what has helped Little Feat throughout the years. While the band doesn't hear itself on the radio, as in the past, it has still managed to keep itself afloat by touring and releasing albums, without the help of major record labels. "The first thing we have to do is become inquisitive. We have to ask questions and become informed about what's going on around us. If not, we lose ground."
The second things is to keep working, no matter what or where the gig is. "We need to lay ourselves open to different influences. Once you find out what's happening out there, you have to take a deep breath and wade into the pool."
Over the past few years, Little Feat — which includes Payne, guitarist Paul Barrere, percussionist Shaun Murphy, bassist Kenny Gradney, drummer Richie Wayward, multi-instrumentalist Fred Tackett and percussionist Sam Clayton — has hooked up with Jackson Browne, Bla Fleck, Gov't Mule and the Allman Brothers Band's Warren Haynes, Joe Ely, Levon Helm and Leftover Salmon, to name a few. "We've also played countless session work with other artists across the board. It's just part of our idea to keep ourselves ready for anything."
Little Feat formed in 1968 with Payne, Hayward, Roy Estrada and Lowell George. Through the years, the band experienced line-up changes after George's death in 1979. Shortly after, the band split.
In the late '80s, the band reformed, and after some more, albeit minor, line-up changes, the band solidified itself as a workhorse jam band. "We've always been known as a 'musician's musician' band," Payne said. "We didn't rely on flashy clothes and eye-catching sets to present our music. And today we don't have to resort to stunts like Madonna and what's-her-name."
Six years ago, the band decided to dedicate itself to rebuilding its fan base. "We started off real grass roots in the '60s. I mean our first gig was in Atlanta, playing to a room of 50 people. So we decided we needed to take charge of our own music and play anywhere we could."
During this time, Warner Bros. Records, the band's first label, began releasing remastered Little Feat albums, and in 2000, with the help of Rhino Records, released a box set, "Hotcakes and Outtakes."
The band has been involved with its own label, Hot Tomato Records, and will release a new album on Oct. 21, "Kickin' It In the Barn."
"We've always played music that gives us room to grow," Payne said. "Sure, we'll play old favorites like 'Dixie Chicken' and 'Fat Man in the Bathtub,' but we're also doing them in ways that will keep us on the radar. That's important for bands to do these days. If not, you die."
If you go
What: Little Feat
Where: Zephyr Club, 301 S. West Temple
When: Sunday, doors at 7 p.m.
How much; $30-$40
Phone: 467-8499 or 1-800-888-8499
Web: www.smithstix.com
E-MAIL: scott@desnews.com