The Travel Channel referred to Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. as “the Mick Jagger of the marsh,” and his band has been referred to as “zydeco’s royal family.” It was easy to see why when the Louisiana-based Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. and the Zydeco Twisters performed before a moderate-size - but very appreciative - audience Thursday at Wildwood Park for the Arts.
Attendees, who included some New Orleanians, were already worked up, judging from a shout or two of “Let’s get this party started!” while the band was warming up. And when Dopsie - wearing his signature ensemble of cowboy hat, sunglasses, sleeveless vest over sleeveless T-shirt, waiter’s apron, dress pants and pullover rubboard - urged, “Somebody scream!” people didn’t need to be told twice.
Dopsie and the Twisters launched into a medley-like number including bars from “Who Shot the La La” and “Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu.” The band then went into the traditional New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian song “Iko, Iko,” a bit of the “Who Dat” New Orleans Saints chant and “When the Saints Go Marching In.” But the band proved that its talent goes considerably beyond classic zydeco. Other selections included Fats Domino’s “Blue Monday” and “Walking to New Orleans,” James Brown’s “Get On Up,” Aaron Neville’s “Tell it Like it Is,” and Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Stormy Monday.” Dopsie and the boys also gave audience members a chance to dance the Cajun Waltz and provided a zydeco version of Ray Charles’ “I Got a Woman.”
The climax came when the band slid into the New Orleans white-hanky-waving number “Second Line” … prompting a conga line that snaked in front of, and even across, the stage.
Arkansas, Pages 11 on 06/28/2013