‘Feats First: The Life & Music of Lowell George’
(Pride/MVD)
4 stars out of 5
Though I’ve long admired the music of boogie/blues rockers Little Feat, I’m not especially well-versed in the history of the band other than the fact that founding member Lowell George died in 1979 at the age of 34. My appreciation for Little Feat increased last spring with the release of the CD/DVD set “Live in Holland 1976” and grew by leaps and bounds after watching compelling new documentary “Feats First: The Life & Music of Lowell George.”
Clocking in at 131 minutes, the DVD provides an exhaustive look at George’s career — from his early days working with Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention and the 1969 formation of Little Feat to the early struggles the band endured and their eventual acceptance and success. The film ends with George’s too-early demise from a heart attack just when his career appeared on another upswing.
There are plenty of interviews with former bandmates, industry professionals and music journalists, as well as archived interviews, concert footage and assorted other goodies that make “Feats First” — surprisingly the first-ever film to chronicle George’s life, music and career — a fascinating viewing experience. (Jeffrey Sisk)
Pittsburgh In Tune 