Spring Break
The Daily OrangeDr. John brings jazzy New Orleans 'voodo' to Landmark
By Alexander Suskind
Posted: 3/26/07, 11:43 PM EST Section: Feature
New Orleans is a city known for its delicious food, its eccentric band of people and most notably, its toe-tapping, body-moving, blues rock scene. On Saturday that music scene arrived in Syracuse, as legendary musician Dr. John played in front of a small, yet enthusiastic crowd at the Landmark Theatre.
Dr. John, who began his career as a session musician in the late 1950s, is best known for his mixture of New Orleans rhythm blues and traditional rock, a genre fittingly entitled "voodoo." On Saturday John played several of his "voodoo" originals, along with a wide range of covers.
After opening the show with two upbeat blues songs, John, along with his Lower 911 Band, played "Makin' Whoopee," a lighthearted, piano-heavy song written by Gus Khan and popularized by Eddie Cantor in the late 1920s. After a tribute to Professor Longhair, a legendary blues musician from New Orleans, John went into the popular American folk song, "St. James Infirmary," followed by "Blues in the Night," a song from his 2006 release "Mercenary."
John, who was a generation older than most artists during his rise to popularity in the 1970s, still had the ability to keep the crowd entertained.
At one point during the concert, the 66-year-old John got up from his grand piano and began dancing onstage, his band swelling behind him. His New Orleans-style dance moves got roars of appreciation from the crowd, as John smiled back as if it was just business as usual.
John and his band also showcased the song "Sweet Home New Orleans," from his 2005 release "Sippiana Hericane," a four-song EP celebrating the city of New Orleans after the destruction of Hurricane Katrina.
John let his voice be heard on the subject of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath as well.
"People asking me if the House of Blues (in New Orleans) is coming back?" he said. "I was like f*ck the places, what about the people?" a statement that grew loud applause from the Landmark crowd.
After the New Orleans tribute, those in the crowd who had been sitting most of the night began to stand up and dance as John played "In the Right Place," one of his most popular songs. The enthusiastic crowd clapped in unison as John showed off his piano skills.
Toward the end of the show, the backing band was able to show off its full musical abilities as well, as the drummer directed a montage of songs from Fats Domino to James Brown.
After an hour and a half set, Dr. John and the band came out for an encore. Twenty girls were invited to join them onstage during the last song of the night as they broke into a cover of "Thank You" by Sly and the Family Stone, capping off an already dance-filled, toe-tapping, entertaining show. Just the way New Orleans likes it.
Dr. John, who began his career as a session musician in the late 1950s, is best known for his mixture of New Orleans rhythm blues and traditional rock, a genre fittingly entitled "voodoo." On Saturday John played several of his "voodoo" originals, along with a wide range of covers.
After opening the show with two upbeat blues songs, John, along with his Lower 911 Band, played "Makin' Whoopee," a lighthearted, piano-heavy song written by Gus Khan and popularized by Eddie Cantor in the late 1920s. After a tribute to Professor Longhair, a legendary blues musician from New Orleans, John went into the popular American folk song, "St. James Infirmary," followed by "Blues in the Night," a song from his 2006 release "Mercenary."
John, who was a generation older than most artists during his rise to popularity in the 1970s, still had the ability to keep the crowd entertained.
At one point during the concert, the 66-year-old John got up from his grand piano and began dancing onstage, his band swelling behind him. His New Orleans-style dance moves got roars of appreciation from the crowd, as John smiled back as if it was just business as usual.
John and his band also showcased the song "Sweet Home New Orleans," from his 2005 release "Sippiana Hericane," a four-song EP celebrating the city of New Orleans after the destruction of Hurricane Katrina.
John let his voice be heard on the subject of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath as well.
"People asking me if the House of Blues (in New Orleans) is coming back?" he said. "I was like f*ck the places, what about the people?" a statement that grew loud applause from the Landmark crowd.
After the New Orleans tribute, those in the crowd who had been sitting most of the night began to stand up and dance as John played "In the Right Place," one of his most popular songs. The enthusiastic crowd clapped in unison as John showed off his piano skills.
Toward the end of the show, the backing band was able to show off its full musical abilities as well, as the drummer directed a montage of songs from Fats Domino to James Brown.
After an hour and a half set, Dr. John and the band came out for an encore. Twenty girls were invited to join them onstage during the last song of the night as they broke into a cover of "Thank You" by Sly and the Family Stone, capping off an already dance-filled, toe-tapping, entertaining show. Just the way New Orleans likes it.
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