In celebration of what would have been his birthday, the Official Estate of Dr. John and Omnivore Recordings are releasing a previously unheard live performance: Live at the Village Gate. The double-CD and digital album arrives November 21, the day after his birthday, giving fans over 90 minutes of the Night Tripper in full flight.
Recorded on the evening of March 5, 1988, Live at the Village Gate is a rare performance including fan favorites like “Mess Around,” “Georgia on My Mind,” “Mardi Gras Day,” and even a crowd-requested “Mama Roux” from Gris Gris, all delivered with the charisma and precision that defined Dr. John live. For Karla Pratt, Mac Rebennack’s daughter and executrix of his estate, the song “Rain” is her favorite. Perhaps it’s because of the vulnerability her dad could interlace so naturally in his music and lyrics.
With the good doctor, a song doesn’t have to be a show-stopper like “Right Place, Wrong Time” to carry the same kind of power. While it has good reason to be noted for its lush piano, sax, and orchestral touches, “Rain” also features blues‑tinged guitar lines that weave in and out of the arrangement. These lines burnish the perfect melancholic color and rhythmic depth, complementing Dr. John’s cascading, impeccably rainlike piano playing. The bluesy phrasing reinforces the song’s emotional weight, and through this release, “Rain” opens a window into a more introspective side of his artistry.
The release has been fully restored and mastered by Grammy-winning engineer Michael Graves and features new liner notes from Joe Marchese of The Second Disc, offering fresh insight into this remarkable show — one that fans can now re-experience. In the words of Mac himself, “Let the good times roll.”
