Funk Fest: Dr. John Brings Us a Taste of Nawlins

Dr. John & the Lower 911 w/ John Fohl
Birchmere, Alexandria, Virginia, August 30

Recommended beverage for this show:
Flying Dog IPA (careful, it’s 8.4% ABV)

The good doctor, in his purple suit and with gators on his socks, shuffled on stage aided by his walking stick. But when he sat down at the piano, the 69-year-old Malcolm Rebennack, known as Dr. John, was full of energy as he opened the show with “Save our Wetlands,” from his 2009 and latest release, City that Care Forgot. The whole album is a cry for help for his beloved native city, New Orleans, which is still riddled with problems and injustices five years after Katrina , in a state still reeling from the BP oil spill.

Backed by the Lower 911 band (bassist Dave Barard is from the 9^th ward), Dr. John alternated between piano, B-3, and guitar while singing in his deep, bluesy voice, which at times sounded eerily reminiscent of Van Morrison. Much of his set was upbeat, with folks swaying and clapping in their seats. Although the concert hall is seated, by mid set, Dr. John beckoned the crowd to stand and dance during one of his classics, “Right Place, Wrong Time,” and everyone complied.

Dr. John played a good bit from his latest album and tossed in a couple from his 2008 release “Tribal.” But he also went back a few decades with such songs as “Let the Good Times Roll” and “I Been Hoodoo’d.” And, what Dr. John show would be complete without some Professor Longhair thrown in? His third song was the infectious “Tipitina.”

Opening act John Fohl also hailed from Nawlins and warmed up the crowd with his rockabilly guitar and soulful vocals. One fun instrumental he included was an old Fess tune called “Rum and CocaCola.”

It was a great night of boogie-woogie-style blues and jazz.