By Dave Parsons
On October 22, 2024, the Capitol Theater in Wheeling, West Virginia, served as the perfect backdrop for an evening with Little Feat and The Hot Tomato Horns. The iconic band, now over five decades into its storied career, brought the Can’t Be Satisfied Tour to life with a masterful blend of Southern rock, funk, jazz, and blues. The performance wasn’t just a concert—it was a celebration of the band’s enduring legacy and a testament to their unparalleled musicianship.
Stepping into the Capitol Theater is like taking a step back in time. The incredibly high ceilings of the way a theater should be built, the new plush red seating, and incredible acoustics were the perfect setting. Somehow the Capitol, which has hosted nearly every act from the last 50 years, had never hosted Little Feat before. Some of Little Feat’s long-time fans marveled at the historic theater’s features before the show as if they had stepped into a time machine.
Opening the show was Duane Betts and Palmetto Motel. As the son of Allman Brothers Band co-founder Dickey Betts, Duane has established himself as one of the leaders of the next generation of Southern rock. He blends the genre of his father’s sound with his own style, offering incredible guitar playing between himself and his lead guitarist, that had shades of his dad’s band, with rich harmonies and great solos.
Little Feat took the stage and wasted no time in proving why they are still on the road. They opened the show with Fat Man in the Bathtub, and in no time the audience was bopping along as one. Little Feat played a nice mix from their deep catalog. From Two Trains to On Your Way Down the audience responded and was familiar with each song.
One of the evening’s highlights was Southbound, and they invited opener Duane Betts to sit in with them. They all took their turns with the leads, and truly enjoyed sharing the stage with each other. Another highlight came during Dixie Chicken, which morphed into Tripe Face Boogie, and then full circle back to the first song. Each member on stage took an extended solo and it lasted well over 15 minutes.
The energy and musicianship never let up for the 2-hour show, clear through the classic hit Feats Don’t Fail Me Now and the closing number, Let It Roll. For their part the crowd in the Capitol Theater never let up either, and that is testimony that Little Feat’s legacy is as strong as ever. The Can’t Be Satisfied Tour is a nod to the past but a bold statement that Little Feat still has plenty to offer.
Little Feat & The Hot Tomato Horns Setlist:
1.) Fat Man in the Bathtub
2.) Walkin’ All Night
3.) Oh Atlanta
4.) Two Trains
5.) On Your Way Down
6.) Spanish Moon / Skin It Back
7.) Rad Gumbo
8.) Southbound (with Duane Betts)
9.) Easy to Slip
10.) Church Falling Down
11.) Willin’
12.) Rocket in My Pocket
13.) Dixie Chicken / Tripe Face Boogie
14.) Teenage Nervous Breakdown
15.) Feats Don’t Fail Me Now
16.) Let It Roll
