Dr. John

One of the best concerts that I have seen in years. A real magic evening by two greats with perfect backup

Mac Rebennack, AKA Dr. John, is one of the true legends of New Orleans music. And if you can't make it down to the Big Easy this year, then seeing him is about the next best thing. He doesn't just perform the music of the Crescent City, but also captures its spirit. He played all his classic tunes, and a few new things. You never know quite what to expect; there's always some new wrinkle or surprise to his music. This time it was the new trombonist and musical director.

I've been listening to Dr. John for many years. Have seen him a couple times. This show was highly memorable for a couple reasons. He was great, of course, and his backup band was excellent. This was my second time at the Howard and I have to say I think it's one of my favorite venues, it's small enough that you're right there with the artists, the atmosphere is beautiful with very good acoustics and the service is very good. For the kind of place it is, the food and drinks are good too. A service charge is included but we chose to tip as well. I couldn't have asked for a more enjoyable evening of great New Orleans Dr. john blues.

The Blind Boys of Alabama were just flat out FABULOUS!!! Their harmonies were tight, the patter by the lead singer was funny, the sighted assistants were seamless and non-intrusive. Will definitely keep an eye out for their next Boston gig. We bought both of their CD's. But Dr. John was not on the good foot. By his 3rd song I was daydreaming....about work! All his songs sounded the same. Even when he did one of my old time favorites, "Right Place, Wrong Time," I was just bored. Disappointing because I really used to love his music.

We traveled many miles to see the legendary Dr. John. The opening act of the Blind Boys of Alabama we had heard of before, but they were not the reason why we were there. Let me say that they stole the show!! What energy and talent. They had the entire audience up dancing and singing and brought such life to the venue. We were sorry to see them leave the stage. Then there was a 25 minute intermission!! Dr. John came on at 9:30 and we saw on the set list written in big numbers that said 10:30. So we suspected he was going to only play for one hour, which was all he did. He had no energy, people left early and he only sang two of his popular songs, the rest were new and then we had to have the politcal speeches, which was all he spoke about when he did speak. Needless to say it was my first and last time seeing Dr. John. What a HUGE disappointment. He had three songs listed as his encore, but only played one and then left the venue. I understand that he is 69 and I heard he may be in ill health, then don't tour. His roadies were also really rude, while the members of the Blind Boys were gracious and went to meet the crowd. I wish that the Blind Boys of Alabama stayed and played the entire time. We will certainly see them again, but we are done with the Doctor.

One of the best concert I've ever attended. Robert Santelli was also a great interviewer.

The Grammy Museum Rock's... The soul of Louisiana is in Dr.John and The Lower 9-11 Band. The Nite Tripper gave us a wonderful spectrum of his life. The Music and presentation was fantastic, it was a cosmological wave of Dr. Johns universe. I recommend a Headliner museum membership; so we can keep having a record of historical events like this. Thank You Grammy Museum for keeping the narration of music and it's past alive for our next generation. Mary

Best live show I ever attended. This was historical.

These Grammy museum shows are a real treat. Even if the Q&A sometimes stiffs, the opportunity to see amazing talent in such an intimate setting is not to be missed. Last night, the doctor was definitely in!

Great evening. Went into the show light on knowledge of Dr. John's catalog, but knew it is a can't miss occasion. Let it be known- Dr. John has an aura about him, he's forgotten more about music than I'll ever know, and it shows! If anything, seeing the band in a small dinner thearte venue, it showed how effortless and carefree Dr. John playes his piano and organ! Truely awesome. I would prefer to see them again in a true concert setting, as my only shortcoming was that at times, the band played to the room, which was all sitting at tables, instead of letting loose and getting funky!

For fans of this living legend, he will not disappoint! He is effortlessly cool and one of the most amazing musicians in the world.

Great show! Everyone was up on the dance floor or boogieing in their seats. We were in the right place at the right time!!

A phenomenal artist. He played a variety of old songs and new, the opening act was amazing, and he kept it New Orleans.....i like it.

Dr. John was as good as ever, as was the band. The sound was too loud however. Too much bass and percussion sound. There were nice things Dr. John was doing on the piano that couldn't really be appreciated over the cluttered mix. After about the fourth song, I could finally hear what Dr. John was singing. Somehow, the mix has to be corrected sooner than that. The sound woud've benefited from turning things down that drowned out others instead of always turning up what couldn't be heard. I don't like to leave a concert with my ears ringing.

Always good energy with the good Doctor plays in NO

very good show in a great venue. small, intimate setting, the warm up, the sauce boss bill wharton was fun to watch and played a smokin' guitar. dr john was better than i thought and put on a great show. his backing band, the lower 911 were excellent musicians and the whole show, smelling the sauce boss' gumbo while listening to dr john had that great funky new orleans feel.

It was well worth the money to see a legend like Dr. John. He played duo piano/organ and kept the crowd moving the entire show. Love the crazy magenta socks and his band totally rocks!

Dr John was such a fun show! It felt a little like being in New Orleans. The bass player was also incredible. Go see him if you have the chance!

Dr John is always a treat. He sounded great and In good form. Anytime I have the chance to see this legend, I am there! He even looked happier than I have seen at other shows. Also Bergen PAC is a lovely venue, comfortable with good acoustics.

I am a Dr. John fan.I have been to many of his shows over the years. I've seen him when he's played with four or five sidemen in his band up to about 15. This was the smallest number of side man I've ever seen him play with. Not that they were bad, but I miss the regular guys that he has working with him. There was no horn section, and only one melody guitar. The guitarist was great, the bassist was OK. The drummer was good. And Dr. John as usual was fantastic. He never misses a note. He actually looks a lot healthier than he has for the last three or four years. He played some of his favorites, and some of mine. But the lack of a horn section and the depth of the string section was truly missed.! Also, the sound mixing was bad for about the first third of the show. The orchestra section was almost totally sold out. I'd see it again tomorrow!

Dr. John was great and played nonstop. The venue couldn't have been better and we had great seats. The band's trombonist/manager was fabulous and I'm sorry we didn't get her name.

Doctor John might have a hard time walking but he had no problem with his singing or piano playing. He's still got it.

Dr John is such a great representation of the New Orleans sound. I feel honored to have seen him in such an intimate setting. Thank you Dr for your music over the years. God bless you.

Great night with the Doctor. Venue was very nice, no bad seats and easy free parking. Can't beat the location. Look forward to their next concert

Great concert! Dr. John is amazing. His voice and piano sounded great! The musical director, who played trombone and sang backup, was very cool. The entire band was awesome.

One of the best concerts I have ever seen. Great setting,great sound, great preformance by Dr. John! The man is a legend at 75.

Dr. John was amazing. Although he is somewhat frail, his voice and piano playing are as great as ever. A memorable night!

What an incredible opportunity to here Dr. John live!!!! I'm am unsure how many times you will get the chance in the future given his age. That said, there was no lack of energy to his performance or that of his backup band. His musical director/ trombonist, Sarah Morrow< was incredible. I really would love to hear more from her. Dr. John dished up the expected gumbo of his particular New Orleans funk, visiting old favorites and newer compositions too. The incredibly complex rhythms he creates along with his virtuosic keyboarding did not disappoint and guitar, drums and trombone met the challenge of keeping up with this ageless septuagenarian. The only disappointment, in fact, in this superb show came in the first 20 minutes when the sound mixer failed to bring up the voice mikes and the piano to a level where the drumming did not overpower them. I don't know if it was a lack of a proper pre-show sound check, or a residual artifact of the opening act that caused the problem but is was annoying that it took so long to be corrected with several trips off stage by Ms. Morrow to assist. Were it not for that I would have given a 5 star rating to this excellent concert.

Dr.john still has it even at 70 plus years. Everyone should see him while they still can. The trombonist is really impressive. I wish he played the song "how come my dog don't bark when you come around" but i guess he can't play everything. The venue was a little wierd with some drunk people running around shirtless and then other people sitting in their seats. Overall it was good though.

This festival was very well organized, the music was great and the day was beautiful. However after spending $200 we have decided not to go back next time. $80 for two entrance tickets, $15 to park, $8 beer (where was the Abita?) and expensive crawfish.

A great eclectic mix of musicians and genres, the sound Outdoors was great but, the sound indoors was horrible, the Distortion and mixing of the instruments and voices was amateurish at best. We knew the words to a great many songs and could not make out what they were singing. Very disappointing . The video team had no clue what they were doing, when the instrumentalist would take a solo, the camera will be pointed elsewhere almost every time. Just my opinion, the energy was great in spite of these issues. Outside there were tables for people eating and nothing else, and you were not allowed to bring a lawn chair? I read in advance that lawn chairs were not allowed but nothing was said of nowhere to sit, 8 hrs of standing? Not coming back for this reason.

really enjoyed all of the music and food, but we purchased the VIP tickets and were very disappointed with what a VIP got compared to non vip. I did not attend the morning brunch, so maybe that was the difference but the set ups for the vip outside and inside were nothing special

I can't say much about the music as the day progressed, but from the festival opening at noon, it was pretty frustrating. There was a security check which was noted before we arrived, but the line was really long and the people working the security check were super unorganized and slow. For such a large venue, I was expecting more booths and more food options. There was only ONE place that sold crawfish - and you could only get them boiled. No etouffee, no po boys, no fried crawfish. That was super disappointing. There may have been around 15-20 booths but that was it. Sadly Raisin Cane was there, but was not serving food. To have paid over $80 for 2 to get in, I expected far more. The first band that played the outside stage was great, but there was no shade and no seating and you could not bring in your own chairs even. The only seating available was in the sun and at tables for eating. I expected high prices, but $5 for a bottle of water was pretty ridiculous. The inside stage was only open to VIP until 4 or 5 in the evening, which I did not understand from the emails sent out ahead of time. The lady working there wasn't sure what time it would be open to the general public and since we were there at noon, we were not hanging out outside in the sun standing until 4 or 5. Turned out to be a huge bust for our party. We did enjoy that first band on the outside stage and had Amy's ice cream at least. And then we left. I have attended other crawfish festivals with great booths and more crawfish options that were cheaper and much better run. Sadly this was a waste of our time and money. We will not be attending this one again.

I thought the festival was fun and the music was good. However we paid the $150.00 for the VIP tickets and I do not feel we got anything worth $150.00. The brunch was fun but I would have expected to get at least one drink on the house for that price not a $12.00 bloody mary. Also, I expected to have our own line for crawfish instead of having to wait in line with everyone else that paid just the general admission. I have been to other boils where the same VIP cost gets you a private bar that is discounted from the other bars that are for general admission, a private crawfish line and designated restrooms only for VIP. The VIP areas are also normally shaded and definitely have enough seating for everyone that purchased tickets. None of that was the case at this festival. It was very disappointing with the amount of money we paid.

Perfect weather, cold beer and decent music. Not enough food vendors or shade. Needed some big tents to cover the tables where people were sitting and eating. Bob Schneider phoned it in.

This event was a great way to spend a sunny day in Austin. Great blend of cajun and Texas music. I look forward to seeing the event grow with more vendors and food trucks/booths. They underestimated the number of crawfish eaters in Austin and ran out to early but lines weren't too long and the music was great!

Aside from a rather chilly stadium, this event was fantastic. The food selections were delicious and echoed the Cajun flavors that we were seeking. Getting to see legends like Leon Russell and Dr. John alongside great Texas artists was a treat. I hope the event continues to grow in future years.

Dr. John can still rock it. His bluesy sound delighted both my husband (very longtime fan) and me. He played from his new album as well as some of his old favorites. Gave us a solid 1:45 with no breaks. If you ever liked Dr. John, you won't be disappointed!

The Dr. is still clearly Qualified to play and sing the blues.

Dr. J was great. He's an American classic and he doesn't disappoint. His back up group is excellent as well. He's got a female trombone player/singer that is out of this world great. I really enjoyed his show. If you like his New Orleans style music, you'll love the show

It was probably the sound engineers who determine the volume level, but whoever was responsible set the volume way too loud for Dr. John and his band. At first it was fine, but very soon it became painful to the ears. I have always had good hearing and I'd like to keep it that way. We were at row K so not right on top and still way too loud. No matter how good the music is, if they play it at a volume that your ears are ringing, than it is no longer enjoyable, it is a hazard to one of your most important senses. 3 days later I can still feel the effect. In addition, it was disappointing to hear many of the same old stuff like Iko Iko and Right Place Wrong Time. How about playing more stuff from his good-size repertoire? However, I am definitely a fan of the Parker Playhouse as a venue. Elegant atmosphere and the seats give you plenty of room. Complete opposite of the sardine-can seating at the Hard Rock.

great show, highly recommended this is the second time I am watching him

Great band great night Dr John played to the end sounded fabulous loved song choice Good Night Irene was my favorite made my whole night !!!!

Amazing show in a very good venue with well priced drinks and good acoustics. Dr. John sounded strong and was backed up by a tight band. His Music director and Trombone player stole the show a few times with her incrediable command of that instrument. They played a straight 2 hours and I felt like I got my money's worth from the good Doctor.

Great show. The Dr. may 74 but he still has it. Sarah Marrow really added energy to the whole thing.

Dr John put on an amazing show!! His trombone player is awesome. We had a great time. The only drawback was an audience that did not want to get up and dance. Don't know how they could have stood still. For this reason I doubt that we will go to this location again.

The music was good, but there was NO interaction from Dr. John with the audience. The one lady playing horn misc was the highlight of the show. All the other band members were hidden in the back to where even during their solos they were not to be seen and I was in the third row center. Due to this, there was little to no interaction from the audience in return. I was amazed that after about half of the set, I turn around and prob a quarter of the audience had left. However it was past everyone's bedtime for I am 50 years young and I think I only saw one person younger than myself; oh my. I really like Dr John music but this was just not a good idea being I had different expectations.

Dr. John was vibrant and energetic like I have not seen from him in years. The addition of the female trombone player is interesting and mostly good. He looked at her and smiled alot so maybe it is she who is bringing the energy. The new band is good, but I miss the stand up bass alternative. Venue was stale and bartenders rather surly. I had to wonder if they weren't getting tipped or something as there was no reason to be so rude with the simple order of a red wine.

At 75 years old, Dr John still shows how he can cure the blues! Great song selection and great band management by Sarah! Lots of wonderful moments of blues, jazz, funk, and rock. Love his new group of musicians who all worked so well together!

Really fun show. Dr. John is a bit 'mellow' these days but he has a great band. The trombone player was exceptionally talented and she was fun to watch. The show did start a few minutes late, but who cares. We also appreciated that the volume wasn't too loud. It was just right.

I've seen Dr. John several times over the years. It's been awhile since the last time I saw him in concert and he was still just as great as always. I've been a fan of his since his first album.

Great stuff from the New Orleans hit maker, who has been around for 40 years, and going strong. Special Guest Appearance from Jazz Master Bradford Marselis who lives in Durham close by, showed up to play the night with his buddy Dr. John. They played the hits, and some great newer stuff. The Dr. still sounds damn good! Go see them!

In the 1840's a teenaged Louis Moreau Gottschalk left his home in New Orleans to seek his forutune in Paris. He made such an impression that no less a luminary than Frédéric Chopin proclaimed him "the King of Pianists". Since then the Crescent City Crown of pianistic royalty has had many worthy claimants, from Professor Longhair and James Booker on down to Tom McDermott today. Yet, undoubtedly the undisputed reigning King is Dr. John, Mac Rebennack. Dr. John brought his tranformative blend of voodoo funk blues to the Canyon Club in a rare local appearance amazing an audience where every third member was a piano player. LA's own Sayed Sabrina opened the show with a powerful performance, by turns reminiscent of Dinah Washington, Tracy Nelson, and Janis Joplin. When you close your set with "Turtle Blues", the intent is pretty clear. Many try, few succeed. "I'm your hoochie-coochie gal," she sang. Oh my, yes you are. In the 1950's young Mac Rebennack worked as a musician in New Orleans playing guitar and piano as well as producing records for numerous local artists. He moved to California in the early '60's for his "health". In New Orleans he'd had part of a finger shot off, served time in prison, and developed a serious drug problem. He got to LA just in time to join the famous Wrecking Crew, playing on numerous hit records. Yes, that's him backing Sonny and Cher. In the late '60's he had the notion to combine New Orleans VooDoo and Screamin' Jay Hawkins theatricality with a touch of psychedelia. In a puff of purple smoke, "Dr. John, the Night Tripper" was born. Making his way onto the Canyon Club stage, he set aside his skull-headed cane, sat down at the piano and launched into "Iko Iko"/"Shoo Fly Marches On". The groove was set, and it led straight down the bayou. Though at 74, his chops may not be as crispy clean as they once were, the sheer inventiveness of his playing was a wonder. The flashy solos and mighty left hand still amaze, but the real joy is watching him accompany the rest of the band. Every genre has its standard licks and fills, but Dr. John never just riffs without intention. The sheer imagination of the man is stunning. On the thematic (and necessary) "Tipitina", for example, he plays around with the beat, a little drag here, a little push there, and although we've all heard the song a million times, it sounds fresh and new. The hour and a half show surveyed a half century of performance from 1968's "I Walk on Guilded Splinters/Gris Gris Gumbo Ya Ya", to his most recent release. And, oh yeah, 1973's "Right Place, Wrong Time" featuring some of the nastiest funk clav this side of the '70's. Dr. John's most recent release is Ske-Dat-De-Dat: The Spirit of Satch, a reimagining of songs associated with Louis Armstrong. The two songs selected from that album provide a contrast in mood and style. "Wonderful World" becomes an uptempo joyous romp, while "Mack the Knife" is dark, funky, and menacing. The farewell song, as always, was Allen Toussaint's little pop wonderbox, "Such a Night", and 'though we all know Dr. John will take it out in a syncopated chromatic break, it's how he does it that keeps us marveling in slack-jawed amazement. A word needs to be said about the Night Trippers. A strong performer like Dr. John needs a strong band. All aces on their instruments, they are led by the wonderful Sarah Morrow on trombone, a world-class musician and bandleader in her own right. While it's not always easy being in a touring band, these guys were having a blast, playing off of the piano and each other. At the end of most shows it's customary for the performer to thank the audience. How many shows have you seen where the audience yells out "Thank you!" to the performer? It happened at the Canyon Club. Such a Night indeed.

AMAZING SHOW! They entire show was tight and fun! Loved Sarah! I walked away feeling great. Blue Ocean was packed with fans who simply enjoyed and appreciated the music.

Dr John gave a great concert. Played both old and new songs - he's still got it. Backup band was awesome.

Dr. John puts on a classic show, and this was no exception; at age 72, he's still got it. Also, this time he had the opportunity to do it in a new venue in Westbury, L.I. -- NOT the W'by Music Fair/NYCB Theatre, but rather The Space at Westbury: The Space At Westbury opened up about 3 weeks ago (early Oct. 2013) on Post Avenue, in the former Westbury Movie Theater (1927 - around 2000), as a new venue for concerts (and private parties). I was curious, from a sense of nostalgia, to see what they'd done with the place where I'd seen all my childhood movies; it'd lain empty and fallow for nearly the past decade, until it was bought and recently renovated. They did a great job with the place -- attractive, spacious (it seats up to 1,500 depending on configuration), comfortable, relatively inexpensive, and well-organized (easy access and egress, two bars, comfortable seats, nice bathrooms, etc.). And my daughter and I enjoyed the show put on last night by Dr. John and the Night Trippers. Check it out: http://www.thespaceatwestbury.com/ (BTW, I receive no kickbacks for this promo! We really had a good time, and want them to fill their seats and keep presenting good concerts locally.) Unfortunately the place was half-empty (or half-full) because the venue didn't seem to do enough marketing/advertising...but once they gain traction, it'll be rocking.

Most awesome Blues ever. If you don't really care for the blues music just go to a festival and you will have a change of heart for sure. I'm hooked.

This show was by far best music/food festival in Jackson in a long long time! From the great blues to the awesome hand rolled cigar shop on wheels. It was a terrific stage show with Trampled Under Foot kicking it off to all the different stages set up with terrific artists all over the place. The Jailhouse stage was brilliant with Kenny Brown and his '54 Guild to D'Mar and Chris Gill wowing us with their blues originals. Can't wait for next year, I am praying that this festival will happen again!

My boyfriend and I took his sister to celebrate her birthday, and brought my three children (aged 11, 9 and 6) along with us. Everyone had such a great time! The music got us ALL dancing in our seats (and some up out of them too). There was never a dull moment. The sound was spectacular. Another hit at The Bowl.

Jr John came out and did all his long time hits...soooo much fun.Then the Bkind Boys joined him and the place realy rocked!!They came out in the croud and got everybody dancing...see this show!!

We have seen the Blind Boys of Alabama 4 or 5 times over the last several years, and they never disappoint. They sing with amazing harmonies, they engage their audience, and they perform with humor. They have incredible energy, especially considering that these men are no spring chickens! They performed for about an hour, and each song was better than the last. Dr. John also put on a great show. Having seen him several times in his hometown of New Orleans, I feel he puts on a better, more spirited show in New Orleans. But he was still excellent. He performed some new material, much of it expressing his opinions about current issues, and it was all good. Great band too.

Amazing to hear Dr John Live again. Henry Butler was an added amazing treat. Worse audience I have ever experienced. All ages! Some were late which disturbed others, some got up to dance in the aisle, took videos & cell photos, texted. Right after the announcement of no cell videos , arms went up taking videos. I wanted to jump on the stage & yell at how rude & disrespectful to these musicians & the people who came to hear them!!

Dr. John has a soul & music translation that is transcending

The Dr's voice was on point and his band was great. Very happy to have seen a living legend doing his thing. Docked one star for not having the best view from the front row.

PCVH provides personality to Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. It's hometown vibe with a variety of acts that appeal to all musical tastes. Dr. John and The Nite Trippers was another example, whose eclectic Voo Doo style combined with the New Orleans jazz makes for a fun evening. Add the incredible staff and you have the perfect location! We always enjoy going to PVCH. Thank you,

Excellent concert he performed non stop for 1 hour and 45 minutes

Dr John and his group were GREAT!!! The seating at L'Auberge Baton Rouge was terrible. The chairs were not comfortable and the aisle between rows were almost impassable.

I was in the right place AT the right time. Da man hasn't lost his voodoo. Shout out to drummer and trombone artists - killer good. Thanks for a trippin' nite.

I have been a Dr. John fan for many years and was eager to see him in person at the Uptown Theater in Napa, CA, a very good venue for musical shows. My disappointment in the show was caused by 3 things: 1) On many numbers the band overpowered his vocals so he could not be understood. 2) When he could be heard, the sound adjustments (treble/bass, etc) made his voice sound very harsh. 3) He didn't interact with the audience at all. No banter or explanation of the song selections, etc. So while he is a good musician and singer, he was no showman; at least on that night.

We couldn't see Dr. John but we saw the bass player, the drummer and the trombone player and they were excellent. I wanted to hear more of his piano since it took center stage Good show!

I first saw the Dr in the late 60s and was totally blown away by his show. Threw the years I've since seen him several time the last time 6 years ago. Since then he now carries two canes and has the help of another person to get around the stage. With me was a 26y/o friend who had never heard of the Dr. We've seen many shows together and I must say that this was a total treat for both of us. He played nonstop for a hour and half in the Uptown Theatre where the acoustic are so fine.I worry about the Dr and his health and for how long he will be able to preform. All I can say is that if you haven't seen he is a true pleasure for any ones bucket list.

Competent musicians on stage. Magnificent performances. Icon in old age singing as if it had 20 years ago. In the audience was distracted people, eating and drinking as in a picnic, seen pictures, talking, as if the musicians weren't working. I, Brazilian, cucaracha, was shocked. Show respect for your cultural heritage, I wanted to scream!

Concert was rocking. Hollywood Bowl incredible venue

Amazing talent from beginning to end . . . never a dull moment.

The Allen Toussaint concert was good--Cyril Neville and Irma Thomas were terrific, and I liked Dr. John. But everyone around me in Section F1 talked, loudly and continuously, through the entire concert. Even with the amplification it was hard to focus on the music. Toward the end of the concert I moved to an empty row across the aisle, only to discover the people right behind me were also talking. So I stood in the exit row to listen to the last two numbers, only to find that two ushers were also talking loudly. If the Bowl doesn't start making announcements to remind people not to talk (audience members AND ushers) during the concert, I'm not going back to the Bowl.

This was an awesome shoe from start to finish! Dr. John is a great artist and the Nite Trippers were so talented. I could have stayed through another set.

Seeing him was on my musical bucket list. He and the group did not disappoint with a classic set list and huge energy. Go see him before you cant.

took him a good 5 minutes to walk out across the stage but he made it and he looked mad cool for an aged man. it was very evident that his age & medical conditions??? have certainly caught up to him -but he braved through & did a spectacular job, voice sounding great!!! very short show,lacking energy,& NO encore. sound mix was bad!!

The legendary Dr. John, 6 time Grammy award winner, inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, graced the stage of Town Hall on February 28th 2015. The concert was called In The Spirit of Sacthmo, it was Dr. John's tribute to Louie Armstrong. Massive band with in the vicinity of 6 horns, Dr. John on Piano, organist, Guitarist, Base and drums. Sarah Morrow is the band director and Trombone player. The music consisted of several of Louie Armstrong's songs. the evening was luminous as you seldom see this type of band, especially kicking as it was. Dr. John has not played New York City in at least two years. Should you ever get the chance to see him do not miss the opportunity.

This show wasn't about the Dr's music per se, although he ended show with When the Saints Come Marchin In from N'awlinz: Dis Dat or D'udda. He interpreted classic's from Louis Armstrong with his definitive N'awlinz flavor and to see and hear that was a real treat. But if you are expecting to hear his own work, then you may be disappointed. The good Dr did an encore with a couple of his songs, Such a Night and Lay My Burden Down. His band the current Night Trippers are great and the arrangements are tight and full of soul.

I cannot believe how wonderful Dr. John was in this show. For a man that needs 2 canes to walk on to the stage and still perform that wonderful was an amazing experience. He also walked off with his canes and came back for an encore!

At 74 - he can still funk it up. As a Dr. John fan and a Louis Armstrong fan what better combo can there be other than having both musicians there in person. The band was fun and having a grand old time playing the music they love. Some songs he was accompanied by Nicholas Payton who is a great trumpet player. Dr John aslo gave his fellow musicians a chance to do some solos. The music was mostly off the new album which was Satch music.

The show was great. Dr. John's interpretation of Louis Armstrong was so Dr. John. His piano and keyboard playing was wonderful. The band with him was so good. Ms. Morrow on Trombone was fantastic, as were the four sax players (2 alto, 1 tenor, 1 baritone). My favorite band member was the drummer who was outstanding. It looked like the bass, organ player, and drummer stepped right out of Preservation Hall together and they were awesome. Town Hall is a great venue for a show like this.

Dr. John and his band and guests were the perfect prescription for a cold night in a tough winter in New York. He work heated up the room and one piece after another the crowd was totally into what the band was doing. A brilliant evening.

Dr. John and his band were incredible. The audience loved every minute ot it!

Dr. John is one of my favorite vocalist/oianist and I have always looked forward to seeing him perform live. Unfortunately this concert was not up to par with the music I listen to on his albums. The music seemed to take a long time to connect with the audience except for a few yahoos yelling out his name. Dr. John was reading the words to almost every song which was probably due to the newness of the material. The added female vocalist was not prepared and even got completely lost during one song. The biggest disappointment was the overall sound of the band which was overpowered by a booming bass guitar whose notes were practically indistinguishable. The individual members of the band were excellent highlighted by the drummer, the wonderful Nicholas Payton on trumpet, and Bostons own horn section. I enjoyed hearing the different arrangements of songs associated with Louis Armstrong just as the Dr. did with Duke Ellington. Three quarters of the way though the concert the band seemed to catch fire although it took the next to the last song before i heard what might be called a traditional New Orleans groove. I still enjoyed the Dr's vocals although most of the lyrics were not clear. Overall i enjoyed myself with several exceptions.

I am so glad that I went to this Dr. John show! The Horns were GREAT, The Organ Was Amazing and Finally, his Guest Female Vocalist, MICHELLE WILSON, KILLED IT!! He should take her on tour with him! The show was dynamic. I loved that there were so many AMAZING musicians on that stage!!

It was great to see Dr. John; he was very thin and looked like he has been ill. His voice was right on key, and he sang a great variety of songs from him and Louis Armstrong. Some great stuff! His voice is not as powerful as it used to be. A fun back up band, especially the horns! The sound was not so evenly adjusted; don't know why, as The Wilbur is a great place to see acts; quite small and we were close to the front. Worth the trip!

Coming onto the stage aided by a pair of canes, walking tentatively to the piano, Dr. John shows his age. But once he sits down at the piano, starts to play and starts to sing... Watch out!. He still rocks like no one else. His voice, his keyboards are still phenomenal. He is a force of nature, still and for me one of the great, great NOLA musicians.

Ive been a big fan of the good Doctor and his music for decades. This is by far the most number of back up musicians that I've seen him work with- only two familiar faces, all excellent. Dr John himself was different than I've ever seen him. Age and a hard life are beginning to take its toll, but that being said, he rose to the occasion and gave his usual stellar performance. Every song was.tight and well orchestrated. Sara Morrow's does her job in keeping the performance on track (and plays a good trombone.) Nicholas Payton, guest trumpeter was excellent. The female vocalist, who's name I forgot, was great and added a lot to the venue. Dr John's show has definitely changed, but it still is better than most! It was a great night of music.

The concert would have been so much better if Dr. John would have played SOLO. The backup musicians (especially the drummer) were much TOO LOUD and they were not "tight". We were not aware that Dr. John would be playing mostly Louis Armstrong's songs and were truly disappointed with the concert.

Scheduled to start at 19:30, started closer to 20:30. Now I could deal with late, if he had shown some sign of a pulse. I don't mean to belittle the guy, he has done some great stuff, but I did pay to see a show and if he wasn't (isn't?)able to perform he should cancel before ripping people off. In all fairness, they did turn up his mic after the 4th or 5th song when he started moving around on his seat a little bit, and then we could actually hear him... mumble. Don't think I am giving him a fair shake? I can say that long before the 'concert' was done that almost half the balcony seats were empty and there was a steady flow off the floor as well. People just got up and walked out, there was really no show to see.

This was a wonderful setting for Dr John's music. I've sen him perform two , or three, times before but the settings were outside venues. This time, the Heymann Center contributed greatly to the acoustics necessary to enjoy a big band (11 suppot personnel) sound. Dr. John seemed relaxed, if not talkative, and seemed to get into the groove early on and maintained his enthusiasm throughout. The only downside is that the ushers need to do their job enforcing the no camera policy. This show, as well as the Roseanne Cash show I saw here awhile back, had too many people on their phones-- and for lengthy durations.

This was supposed to be a tribute to Louis Armstrong. The show was supposed to start at 7:30pm. At 8:10 someone who did not introduce himself came onstage and read off a list of sponsors for 5 minutes. At 8:20 the disappointment continued when Dr. John and the band took the stage. When the drums weren't drowning out everything else, the horn section was out of sync and Dr. John's piano playing was sporadic nonsense at best. The vocals were even worse. We left after the third song. So did a couple hundred other folks.

The show was 50 minutes late in starting. The quality of the music at the beginning of the show did not seem to be in sync and was difficult to hear. However, it did improved. I didn't have really high expectations about Dr. John because we are all getting a little long in the tooth! And I knew the music was going to be his tribute to Louis Armstrong, so that's what I expected. But - he couldn't adjust his microphone, he didn't know the name of the female singer, and his back was to the stage quite often. He just wasn't engaged - seemed to be simply going through the motions.

First few songs were unrecognizeable as anything remotelt close to Sachmo. Dr. John was not clear and not in tune. Later in the show his singing and the songs got a little better. He wasn't playing to the crowd - I wonder if he even knew we were there. At 74 he definitely doesn't have the spirit he put in his earlier work. I think it's time for him to retire.

I'm sorry to say that unless you just want to "see" Dr John to say you went to one of his concerts, take a pass on him. Sadly, he is almost unable to perform, having to be helped onstage, constantly has to be reminded of what is going on, and never even looks at the audience or addresses it. When introducing his lead female vocalist, he forgot her name. During one song he forgot to sing until midway through a verse. He did a brief guitar solo; sort of. A roadie came out, prepared the guitar for him, and waited while Dr John struggled to get up and turned around to accept it. After having the strap put around his shoulder, he did do his solo, but forgot to turn around to face the audience, merely bending over to do his riff, then handing the guitar back, and slowly sat down to his piano again to continue the song. We love the man's body of work, but it really is a waste of time and money to go see him. As far as the music played, it was supposed to be a tribute to Louis Armstrong, but the songs were almost unrecognizable since they were "re-imagined" to put Dr John's flavor to them. Unfortunately, it really was not his type of music. The drumset was too loud and there were far too many horns. Dr John played the piano so softly, it could almost not be heard and was drowned out by the drums. The bandleader did a good job of trying to keep Dr John on task, but you could tell she was struggling to adjust to his failure to keep up with things. He continually watched her for cues, not driving any of the music at all.

Dr. John was the only performer and when we walked in to the Heymann Center we were told that there would not be an intermission and that the show would be about 1-1/2 hrs. Show was to begin at 7:30pm. It was 8:20 before any band members or Dr. John came out to the stage with no announcement for the audience and the show was about 1-1/4 hrs. Disappointing to say the least.

I am a Dr John fan. The band was good, but... the late start, and the fact that Dr. John did not appear to be well, along with the fact that the crowd was ready to leave (and lots did) before the show was over (and even before the show started, 8:20 for a 7:30 performance), is evidence that the show should have been cancelled and we should have been refunded our $. Dr. John was so great last time he performed in Lafayette, I bought 4 tickets this time. That was a mistake. Good luck, Dr. John.

Came out 50 minutes late-wobbling on a cane. At first we felt sorry for him-thought he was just infirm or getting old. Then we realized he was totally stoned! Songs had no melody whatsoever. He never looked, talked or engaged with the audience AT ALL! Couldn't remember the name of his lead singer! Very disappointing performance.