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karohemdFinished work, caught the train, made it to the Forum just before 7 and joined a very short queue. Girl at the counter couldn't find my name on the guest list but believed the email I had printed.
Warm-up was a female singer/songwriter from Ireland (Sarah something, didn't get her last name), just with a guitar and a bloke at the keyboards. I like a lot of female singer/songwriters but she was just a bit bland and samey despite having a good voice. Her set was about half an hour and then we had almost an hour until the main act appeared.
The band (just three people:g, b, dr) got on stage first and played some riffs and then the master himself entered, dressed in a funky cream coloured suit with matching fedora, grey beard and hair in a rather long ponytail, supporting himself with a huge walking stick. Despite a bit frail looking, you could see the Groove in this man's body as he walked to his seat. He put down his cane on the piano (decorated with a skull and purple drapes), sat down on the bench and started. First, you couldn't hear his voice at all until finally the soundman twigged and increased the volume. This was the only bad bit during the whole set, though.
The rhythm section was fantastic and layed down a groove that was hard not to move to and there were a surprising number in the albeit small audience (if you squeezed them all together, they would have all fit in in front of the mixer desk with room to spare) who danced and grooved along. I didn't feel odd for a change.
A great repertoire of songs, from slow Blues to all out Funk and a bit of R&B, all with Dr. John's unique style. The finished with the two spirituals from the new album. Only one encore and at 10 to 11, it was all over.
Despite being a bit short, it was a fantastic gig.
The setup was a bit strange as only the piano was at the front and the bass and guitar were pushed to the back. This would have been OK if it had been just a backing band but they contributed much more. Everyone could sing, with the bass player having the best and most powerful voice. His vocals during When the Saints sent shivers down my spine.
The short gig had one advantage: I managed to catch the 11:15 train with only 3 stops, otherwise it would have been the midnight sloooow train.
Also, 14 quid for the Travelcard was an OK price, I would have felt slightly short changed had I paid full price. Then again, he isn't the youngest anymore.
Warm-up was a female singer/songwriter from Ireland (Sarah something, didn't get her last name), just with a guitar and a bloke at the keyboards. I like a lot of female singer/songwriters but she was just a bit bland and samey despite having a good voice. Her set was about half an hour and then we had almost an hour until the main act appeared.
The band (just three people:g, b, dr) got on stage first and played some riffs and then the master himself entered, dressed in a funky cream coloured suit with matching fedora, grey beard and hair in a rather long ponytail, supporting himself with a huge walking stick. Despite a bit frail looking, you could see the Groove in this man's body as he walked to his seat. He put down his cane on the piano (decorated with a skull and purple drapes), sat down on the bench and started. First, you couldn't hear his voice at all until finally the soundman twigged and increased the volume. This was the only bad bit during the whole set, though.
The rhythm section was fantastic and layed down a groove that was hard not to move to and there were a surprising number in the albeit small audience (if you squeezed them all together, they would have all fit in in front of the mixer desk with room to spare) who danced and grooved along. I didn't feel odd for a change.
A great repertoire of songs, from slow Blues to all out Funk and a bit of R&B, all with Dr. John's unique style. The finished with the two spirituals from the new album. Only one encore and at 10 to 11, it was all over.
Despite being a bit short, it was a fantastic gig.
The setup was a bit strange as only the piano was at the front and the bass and guitar were pushed to the back. This would have been OK if it had been just a backing band but they contributed much more. Everyone could sing, with the bass player having the best and most powerful voice. His vocals during When the Saints sent shivers down my spine.
The short gig had one advantage: I managed to catch the 11:15 train with only 3 stops, otherwise it would have been the midnight sloooow train.
Also, 14 quid for the Travelcard was an OK price, I would have felt slightly short changed had I paid full price. Then again, he isn't the youngest anymore.
