Las Vegas Mixtape v2: Diving Into the City’s Culinary Gems and Top-Shelf Entertainment

Track #8: Little Feat, Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center

You could immediately feel the love from the crowd when Little Feat stepped onstage at Reynolds Hall inside The Smith Center. The ‘70s iconic band then proceeded to dip the grand multi-tiered venue into a deep-fried batter with their distinctive, funky New Orleans syncopations.

Launching with their 1988 hit “Hate to Lose Your Lovin,’” the band established a real communion with the audience. Longtime members Bill Payne (keys), Kenny Gradney (bass), and Fred Tackett (guitar), along with new recruits, brought their soulful vocals, jaw-dropping musicianship, and improvisational mojo. No wonder Little Feat is also worshipped by young jam band followers who want “magic” from performers, not pre-recorded tracks.

At Reynolds Hall, Little Feat favorites like “Oh, Atlanta,” “Dixie Chicken,” “Fatman in the Bathtub,” and the countrified “Willin’”—a song that truckers and stoners could always agree on with its celebration of “weed, whites and wine”—all shined like the diamonds they are.