By Michael Swanger michael@dmcityview.com

The city of New Orleans may be knee-deep in the blues as it rebuilds after Hurricane Katrina, but the good-time spirits of Mardi Gras were on tap Saturday at the Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines courtesy of Dr. John's boogie-woogie, fonk 'n' roll.

Lest you think the dreary news coming out of Louisiana and Mississippi might put a damper on 65-year-old Dr. John's spirits, think again. The longtime purveyor of the New Orleans sound, decked out in a bright cranberry suit and black beret, seemed to take his ambassador role a little more seriously last weekend when he sang and talked about the Crescent City. But instead of beating the audience over the head with pleas to help those in need along the Gulf Coast, he let his music do the talking with a 100-minute performance that was as upbeat and rollicking as it was laid back and heartfelt.

The audience of about 550 people were polite enough to stay in their seats for the few tunes, including "One 2 A.M. Too Many" and "Makin' Whoopee." Then on "Right Place, Wrong Time," as Dr. John's backing trio kicked it up a notch and the good doctor mimicked the song's screaming background vocal parts on his Hammond organ with his left hand while soloing on the piano with the right, most of the crowd rose to its feet to dance like they were in the middle of a parade on Bourbon Street.

"Security, let the people dance," Dr. John said. "You get up and dance with them."

Of course, what people did once they were on their feet depended on the mood Dr. John set. One moment he had couples slow dancing to songs like "Such A Night" - which featured a lengthy piano solo that drew big applause - and the next he had them high stepping to tunes like Professor Longhair's "Big Chief" and "Goin' Back to New Orleans."

It was somewhat surprising, though, that Dr. John didn't perform tunes from his new album, "Sippiana Hericane." Released a few days before the Val Air Ballroom concert and featuring the band he had with him, it would have been the perfect opportunity to plug the new disc in which proceeds from its sales will benefit New Orleans Musicians Clinic, the Jazz Foundation of America and the Voice of the Wetlands. But given the enthusiasm for which he sang about New Orleans for the entire night, and the response from the audience, it's safe to say the crowd got the message while having a good time. And that's the best kind of relief any artist can hope to offer - just what the doctor ordered.