Dr. John + Rebirth Brass Band full review

Sounds from New Orleans made their way to the northeast at the recently opened Blender Theater at Gramercy in Manhattan with the Rebirth Brass Band and headliner Dr. John.

According to the box office, the show was sold out, but the theater never got more than half full.

Rebirth, an eight piece horn and percussion band, started the evening with a 45-minute set that had the crowd on their feet dancing. Celebrating their 25th year anniversary, the band mixed in traditional New Orleanian instrumentals with some hip-hop styled vocals, and even played a rendition of T.L.C.’s “Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls.” The songs were structured so that someone in the band would solo for a while and then everyone would come back together for a blasting horn interlude.

The band ended their set to roaring applause, and after a short intermission, the headline took the stage.

Dr. John’s band came onstage and started the groove before Dr. John himself, real name Mac Rebennack, drifted in with a big smile wearing a royal blue suit, blue sued loafers, and his trademark voodoo links of various animal teeth and beads hanging down to his belly.

They started the show off slowly with jazzy ballads, some from his new album due out in June, which mostly bored the crowd. But after a slow start, they dove into their most popular song, “Right Place, Wrong Time,” which finally got some people out of their seats and up near the stage to dance.

Dr. John seemed to have more political interests than musical ones singing socially conscious lyrics from his new album and taking time between songs to tell the crowd how we need to bring the troops back from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Much to my disappointment, the Rebirth Brass Band did not join Dr. John at all during his set. But even more disappointing was Rebennack’s performance, though nostalgic, lacked energy.

His band made up for some of the lost energy with solid playing and backup singing that sounded more like a full choir than three people.

But that did not seem to inspire Rebennack. After each song he turned the page on his music stand like it was a task he was not enthusiastic to complete. Even when he turned around and stood up to play his organ, he hardly moved any part of his body besides his fingers to push down the keys.

Like many musicians from New Orleans, Dr. John drew inspiration from Hurricane Katrina’s destruction in Louisiana for songs from his new album, many of which he performed. But the lyrics were trite and the music was bland. Even he seemed ashamed to play them.

Though I went to the concert more excited to see Dr. John, I left the theater impressed by Rebirth and sad about Rebennack’s soft performance. If you listen to some of his older albums, the music is funky and energetic, but none of that was the case that night. As much as I hate to admit it, Dr. John is getting old.