06162014Mon
Last updateMon, 16 Jun 2014 12pm

Dr. House brings down the house

Hugh Laurie, the British actor who famously played Dr. House in the long-running television series, came and conquered Guadalajara on Wednesday as a musician/singer/entertainer extraordinaire.

Beginning with “Let the Good Times Roll,” Laurie and his excellent back up musicians and singers kept up that theme throughout the three-hour concert. Laurie’s love of old blues music came through as his Copper Bottom Band took on numbers made famous by Bessie Smith, Jelly Roll Morton, Dr. John, Randy Newman and many more. A tango was played and danced by Laurie and accompanying singer, Gabby Moreno.

Laurie was celebrating his 55th birthday and a mariachi band surprised him mid-concert as the whole audience stood up to sing “Las Mañanitas.” As is his custom, the band broke for a drink and he toasted Guadalajara and wished Mexico well in the World Cup.

When the band came back for their first encore, Laurie was decked out in a Mexico soccer team shirt and the band appropriately played Santana’s “Samba para ti,” while the audience sang and danced along. Laurie danced and pranced along the stage and even did a Jerry Lee Lewis finish on the piano.

At the second encore, Laurie, this time in a UdG Leones Negros soccer jersey, played the piano and sang “You can never tell” solo to an audience that just didn’t want the night to end.

“Evenin,” “Bona sera,” “What kind of man are you?,” “Day and night,” “Kiss of fire,” “Lazy river,” “You never can tell,” “Didn’t it rain,” “Wild Honey,” “I hate a man like you,” “Green rocky road” and “Such a night” were just some of the blues and musical songs spanning the 20th century that kept the crowd enthralled.

Laurie's new album, "Didn't It Rain,” came out last month and is available at Amazon and iTunes.