Dr. John at Yoshi's, Early Show, February 14, 2013

Dr. John
Yoshi's
510 Embarcadero West, Jack London Square, Oakland, CA
Early Show, 8:00 PM, Thursday, February 14, 2013

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[8:03 PM band onstage, waiting to go]

1. (Intro jam to bring on the Dr.)
2. Iko-Iko » Shoo Fly, Don't Bother Me
3. Let's Make a Better World
4. ? lie down
5. Revolution
6. Do You Call That a Buddy?
7. Love for Sale
8. Big Shot
9. Walk on Guilded Splinters
10. Right Place, Wrong Time
11. ?see me with you baby (white strat)
12. The Monkey Speaks His Mind
13. Big Chief > drums > bass > guitar > B3 > bone
14. (Outro jam)

[set ends 9:25 PM]

1. Such a Night

[show ends 9:32 PM]

* Dwight Bailey: bass, harmony vox; * James “Pookie” Hudson, Jr.: Hammond B-3, harmony vox; * Reggie Jackson: drums; * Joel C. Johnson: guitar, harmony vox; * Sarah Morrow: trombone, percussion, harmony vox, music director; * Dr. John AKA Mac Rebennac: piano, keyboard, guitar, percussion, vox.

Sitting with Tim & Susan at Table 72

It's always a pleasure to see the good Doctor when the medicine show comes to town, and this visit was no exception!

I was surprised to learn a few days ahead of the gig that Dr. John had fired both his management and the Lower 911, his band of the last decade or so just after new years, but the new krewe ran a tight ship and they had plenty of room for laying down the fonk just when it was called for. Sarah Morrow, the lone hold-over from the Lower 911, also took over a music director and she definitely had those boys whupped into shape for this gig, and that despite wearing a sling on her right arm! For the most part, the Dr. split his time between a keyboard (facing the audience) and the grand piano (sitting crosswise), but for at least one tune, he got up and pulled on a white stratocaster to lay down a few guitar licks. First time I recall seeing him do that! Coming at the end of the set, Big Chief was more of an open-ended jam, extended by long solo sections from each member of the supporting band, capped off by a return to the head for the finale, and then an outro jam while the good doctor ambled off stage.

Not surprisingly, the crowd was up on their feet in an instant, hooting, hollering, clapping and stomping like a bunch of nut cases, quieting down only when Reggie poked his head through the curtain and winked at us before pushing on to take his seat back at the drum throne.

Back to the previous event ☸ Back to the 2013 yearbox ☸ Back to the 2013 event list! ☸ On to the next event!