DR. JOHN, Red Butte Garden, Thursday
A crowd primed to celebrate was delivered a sampling of Bourbon Street decadence and a tribute to New Orleans by Dr. John Thursday night at Red Butte Garden.
Although not as rambunctious as some might expect from one of New Orleans' legendary funk artists, Dr. John managed to keep the crowd on its feet much of the night with a rich blend of primarily mid-tempo favorites. Considering the surprisingly cold wind blowing through the venue much of the night, which chased away almost a third of the crowd early, dancing was not only desirable but necessary.
Although he started slow with a decent "You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby," by the time he went into the Louis Jordan classic, "Saturday Night Fish Fry," he had the crowd right where he needed them. With the exception of some too-long jams, the crowd seldom took a break the rest of the night.
That song was only the first of many in what became a night of honoring the musical hometown of both Dr. John and his opening act, Terrance Simeon. Mostly, they chose to focus on the unique culture of New Orleans and provided multiple reminders that, even after Hurricane Katrina, the city and its addictive lifestyle will survive.
Two of the best songs of the night were written by New Orleans musicians who preceded him, although both are previously recorded on the "Goin' Back To New Orleans" album: "How Come My Dog Don't Bark (When You Come Around)," penned by Mickey Baker, was easily the most enjoyable five minutes of the night, and later, "Goodnight, Irene," a Leadbelly classic, was the most stunning single song of the show.
Dr. John did not address the hurricane damage until late in the show, when he introduced his backing band as "The Lower 9/11 Band" and urged people to help by sending donations to local organizations instead of big groups like FEMA. He also played a song written after the hurricane, "Sweet Home."
Opener Terance Simeon and His Zydeco Experience also played two ballads honoring the crippled city, although neither of those did as well to remind people about the significant losses suffered by New Orleans as his joyous Bayou sounds.
Bouncing around the stage with an accordion and tossing Mardi Gras beads to the audience, Simeon brought to the stage the true, original spirit of the French Quarter — where sadly, genuine zydeco bands are rare today.
E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com