A power outage couldn’t stop Deacon John from lighting up Tipitina’s well into the night at his birthday celebration yesterday evening.
Crackling lightning had been threatening a storm for hours, and just before the band was meant to go on at 9 p.m., the clouds finally opened up. A brief, furious downpour knocked the power out, and it stayed out until well past 10 p.m.
Despite the wait, only a few people actually ended up cashing in when the venue started offering refunds. For the most part, the atmosphere was thick with an anticipatory camaraderie.
Flashlights illuminated the bar (which was still operating cheerfully, as if having the registers down was no trouble at all) and strangers traded nostalgic stories about the days before Tip’s had AC. In keeping with the electricity-free brand of coziness, it was noticeable how few people seemed to be messing around on their phones while we waited on the word from the energy truck.
Outside, genteel-looking middle-aged-and-older folks in khakis and pearls lounged around on the Neutral Ground like teenagers, leaning on tree trunks, sitting cross-legged in circles, and evidently not giving a damn about grass stains or wet pants.
Photo by Pat Jolly
When the lights finally went back on, the cheers could be heard down the block. The crowd piled back into the sweaty hall and greeted Deacon John to the tune of “Happy Birthday.” It was a half hour still before the band got up and running, but the show in store was well worth the wait.
Backed by an 11-piece band (that, as photographer Pat Jolly pointed out, somehow managed to sound like a full-sized big band) and two additional vocalists, the guest of honor launched into a long set that showcased his powerful voice, incredible guitar work, and sprightly dance moves.
Not to mention some pretty sweet velvet shoes. (He certainly didn’t seem anywhere near 75.)
His repertoire must be infinite. He kicked off the night on the Sinatra side of things (with the perfect showman’s grin and tuxedo-clad band to match), but by the end had strapped on his electric guitar and turned a lot more Muddy Waters.
He covered all sorts of artists over the course of the evening, from Steely Dan to Allen Toussaint (and plenty of other local greats) to Jimmy Cliff, with a particularly powerful rendition of “Many Rivers to Cross.” After this last, an audience member, for reasons unknown, shouted out a question about what was in his wallet, and the Deacon replied in a cartoon-y quack, “Two joints and a condom!” (To universal delight.)
He’s known as the city’s preeminent events entertainer, and, watching everyone shimmying to Hall and Oates, it did sort of feel like we were all at wedding or Bar Mitzvah. But, at a wedding or Bar Mitzvah where the lead performer was a super-star and the guests were happy to wait two hours to celebrate his birthday with him.
He brought it all home to New Orleans at the end of the set, closing out with “Hey Pocky A-Way” and cutting up a giant German chocolate cake (his favorite flavor, bought by loving friends in the audience) to share with one and all.
