Dr. John at the Austin Music Hall - more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer

by harrison davis - club kingsnake staff

Despite an underwhelming crowd presence at the Austin Music Hall, both Dr. John and the Neville Brothers turned in fantastic performances at the Austin stop of the Mardi Gras Mambo tour.

Dr. John was first up and his blend of Cajun, rock, and blues had the crowd moving right away. Dr. John himself only moved from behind his piano a few times during the set, but he stayed solid all night, especially when he picked up a guitar for a song. His band, The Lower 911, was probably the most impressive from Dr. John’s set. They were able to lay down a huge groove with every song and every solo they took was very impressive. It was clear that the highlight of the show for many was the most well known song “Right Place Wrong Time”.

The Neville Brothers set was dominated by the performances of two people, saxophonist Charles Neville and guitarist Makuni Fukuda. Both players blew the crowd away with solos, especially Fukuda. From his first solo early on in the set, I loved the surf funk sound he got out of his guitar. Charles Neville took longer to get into the show, as did all the Nevilles, but his solos on the slower songs were fantastic and left the crowd speechless. Aaron Neville did little more than just sing the songs and often left the stage during the extended musical breaks. All the energy of the show came from Art Neville who really got into some of the classics, which really got the crowd into as well and turned the first few rows into a dance floor. It stayed that way the rest of the night.

Neville Brothers at the Austin Music Hall - more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer