Concert Review |
Dr. John is peeved.
He's annoyed at the White House, angry at the mayor of New Orleans and the city's police force, mad at insurance companies, carpetbagging contractors, chiseling roofers and other cheaters making money off the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina.
His agitation animated the longtime singer-songwriter-pianist's performance Friday night at the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville, where he appeared with his band, the Lower 911. They shared the bill with the Neville Brothers, making it an all-New Orleans night.
The good Doctor has every reason to be upset, and his aggrieved condition has sparked some of his finest songwriting, playing and singing in years. His latest album, "City That Care Forgot," crackles with righteous indignation, including curses and insults at President Bush and other politicians. The CD sadly notes Katrina's toll on people and the environment but also offers hope.
He featured songs from it, including "Promises, Promises" ("The road to the White House, paved with lies"), "We Gettin' There" ("Ask anybody if they knew / A friend that died from suicide") and "Say Whut?" ("Say it's a job well done / Then you giggled like a bitch / Hopped back on Air Force One").
And yet there was an overriding sense of renewal and even joy in his set, especially during an extended version of "My People Need A Second Line," also from the new CD, which had concertgoers dancing and marching in a line, headed by a lady spinning a parasol.
"Life is a near-death experience," he sang in another new song, "You Might Be Surprised," which had an uplifting theme. "We always underestimate ourselves," he sang.
Resplendent in a shiny blue suit, gray fedora and matching gray ponytail, he played a big black grand piano, surrounded by his six-man band, including a locally recruited three-piece horn section. In addition to the new songs, he played some of his classics, most notably the funky "Right Place Wrong Time."
The Neville Brothers first performed publicly on another Friday the 13th, in 1977, at Tipitina's in New Orleans, and the four celebrated that long-ago night in their funky, rhythmic set, backed by a four-piece band. Charles played honking sax, Cyril pounded on bongos and other percussion instruments, Art was on organ, and sweet-voiced Aaron sang lead on most of the songs. They evoked the unbowed spirit of New Orleans, and had the crowd happily dancing in the cool night air.
Patrick MacDonald: 206-464-2312 or pmacdonald@seattletimes.com
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