This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Aug. 31, 2012 - When New Orleans’ musician Mac Rebennack decided it was time to revive the “Night Tripper” side of his famed Dr. John persona, the natural place for it to happen was at the Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee. Bonnaroo, the most popular annual outdoor music festival in the country took its name from a Cajun word that became widely known through the title of the 1974 Dr. John album, “Desitively Bonnaroo.”
Bonnaroo is a term for a major party – literally, “a good time on the streets” – and that’s exactly what Bonnaroo the festival had become, attracting crowds of more than 70,000 over the years.
And the right time for it to happen was in 2006, as a way for Rebennack to use the “Night Tripper” side of Dr. John – complete with a voodoo shaman personality bedecked in full Mardi Gras finery and playing music that blended NOLA R&B with a touch of psychedelic rock into a funky, irresistible gumbo – as a persona to communicate that Louisiana music and culture was still alive and kicking after the horrors visited by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Rebennack will be headlining the annual Big Muddy Blues Festival this weekend in St. Louis, capping off the two-day Sept. 1 & 2 event with a 9 p.m. Main Stage performance that will close the Laclede’s Landing fest. (Check the story on festival basics for information about planning in case of heavy rain.)
The Beacon caught up with Rebennack for a phone interview before a performance at Gulf Shores, Ala., last Saturday. During the rambling conversation, Rebennack talked about his latest recording, “Locked Down,” which involved a collaboration with guitarist Dan Auerbach of the band, The Black Keys; the band he’ll be bringing to the Big Muddy and his memories of St. Louis over the years; his 2011 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and taking his music on the road as he nears the age of 72.
Beacon: Mac, how are you feeling? I understand you’re playing a big outdoor concert in Gulf Shores later today.
Rebennack: Well, I’m breathin’, so that’s a good thing. Yeah, we’re here for some big celebration of the SEC football season about to start. So we’re just gonna get out there and do our thing for the people.
Your latest CD, “Locked Down,” has you working with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. How did that come about?
Rebennack: Dan got in touch with me and told me he wanted to do a “Night Tripper” record, and that he would produce it and play guitar and line up musicians. He asked me to check them out at Bonnaroo last year, so I did. They sounded like they knew what they was doin’, so I agreed to come up to New York and do the recording.
The music definitely captures that “Night Tripper” vibe you perfected on albums like “Gris-Gris,” “The Sun, Moon & Herbs” and “Dr. John’s Gumbo.” I also noticed the song credits are divided up between you, Dan and the four other musicians who played on the session.
Rebennack: Yeah, it was definitely a collaboration by everyone on the music. When we got in the studio, it turned out to be a good time, with everybody contributed in terms of the music. It was all happinin’ as it went down. Dan and I got together on the lyrics, but the music came from everybody.
In concert, you usually play piano and Hammond organ. But on the recording, you’re also playing Farfisa organ and a Fender Rhodes piano.
Rebennack: I never even played a Farfisa since I first played one about 50 years ago! I always hated the sound of those things. But Dan made it work. But I definitely won’t be bringing a Farfisa to St. Louis!
Last year you were finally elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. What are your feelings about that happening?
Rebennack: I was glad for the honor, but I have to tell ya, I was really mad that Joe Tex didn’t get in. To me, that’s ignorance and disrespect. Joe helped me learn how to write songs when I was first coming up in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. He was just as important as James Brown and other great musicians. So I would rather he go in than me. I would put him in front of me if I could. So to me, it’s the Hall of Shame until Joe and some other musicians get in.
For your performance at the Big Muddy, I’m assuming you’ll be playing some music from “Locked Down” – plus some old favorites too?
Rebennack: We’re definitely going to mix it all up. That’s just what we do. Whatever we’re playin’ just seems to happen the way it happens after we leave the startin’ gate.
It also looks like you’ll be bringing your regular 911 band you’ve been working with for a long time to St. Louis.
Rebennack: Yeah, I’ll have my usual band. The horn section will be Sarah Morrow and also Ronnie Cuber – he’s been with me forever. I’ve got Jon Cleary backing me up on every kind of keyboard I’m not playin’. And of course, my buddies Jon Fohl on guitar, David Barard on bass and Herman Ernest III on drums. And since we’re in St. Louis, we’re hoping to have some special guests join us on stage.
Anybody you can name in particular?
Rebennack: Yeah. I’m hoping Robbie Montgomery will be up there singin’ with us Sunday. She was part of my band back in the “Night Tripper” days, touring and on albums too. Robbie was on TV about her restaurant [NOTE: Montgomery is the owner of Sweetie Pie’s in the Grove section of Manchester Avenue and Upper Crust on Delmar Boulevard. The former was the subject of a series called “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” on Oprah Winfrey’s OWNTV channel]. It’s a blessing to me to still see people who were such an important part of the music we made back in the day – and still be able to play music with them.
In an interview several years ago, when you were in town for the Benson & Hedges Blues Festival concert with Ray Charles, you mentioned that St. Louis was one of your favorite places to play.
Rebennack: Yeah, it used to be we were playing in St. Louis all the time, but it doesn’t happen as often as I would like it to these days. It’s a place that’s got that Missi-sloppy River vibe goin’, just like New Orleans.
I was checking out some reviews of your concerts earlier this year on tour. It sounds like you’re getting up and dancing during your shows.
Rebennack: Hey, I’m in my 70s now, but you know I’m gonna work a crowd any way I can!