When Bonnie Raitt sat down at the piano beside keyboardist
Mike Finnigan to play the title track off her Grammy winning 1989 commercial
breakthrough “Nick of Time,” there was such an arms-in-the-air eruption from
the crowd you’d have thought the Panthers scored a touchdown.
The crowd for Raitt’s return to Ovens Auditorium Wednesday
was subdued and respectful (though obviously not dead), even following the
instructions to put away their phones and enjoy the show in real time, per the
pre-show announcement. Maybe that’s why their response wasn’t soft golf claps
between juggled drinks and electronics. And honestly, it was nice not to have
30 phones bobbing in the air at any given time during the show (although it
made it hard to take notes) – she did allow photos during the final song.
That attentiveness was reflected on stage as well. Less a “show”
and more of a performance, Raitt and her band were of course supremely
rehearsed (although with the caliber of musicians on stage little rehearsal is necessary),
but it wasn’t the kind of rehearsed that results in the same show night after
night. Her banter seemed genuine as did her interpretations of the songs, which
change to some degree in order and choice nightly.
Following the California Honeydrops (the hand-picked Bay
Area jazz and blues-inspired funk and soul act who have been on the tour since
March), Raitt sauntered on stage in a leather and sparkle accented blue top and
straight legged slacks looking, at least from the crowd, as if she hadn’t aged since
“Nick of Time.”
Although she wrote a number of songs on her new album “Dig
in Deep” (like the moving “All Alone with Something to Say,”), she often chose
the standout covers like her opener, INXS’ “Need You Tonight” and later a
rollicking version of Los Lobos’ “Shakin’ Shakin’ Shakes.” But Raitt is as much
an interpreter of ongs as she is a vocalist and slide guitar player, both of which
were spot-on. Has she ever known a bad note? She chose to honor her influences
and mentors throughout the night playing Sippie Wallace’s “Woman Be Wise,” Skip
James’ “Devil Got My Woman,” and letting Finnigan take lead on B.B. King’s “Don’t
Answer the Door.”
Although hits like “Something To Talk About” and “Thing
Called Love” were crowd favorites that had folks dancing in the aisles, it was
just as fun to see Raitt and the band breakout of the blues and adult
contemporary by taking on spiritual world music with Zimbabwean
musician/activist Oliver Mtukudzi’s “Hear Me Now” and the encore of Talking
Heads’ “Burning Down the House.”
Of course, Raitt couldn’t leave without belting out “I Can’t
Make You Love Me,” which she sang slow and purposeful as if to demonstrate the depth
of the ache in the lyrics.
Raitt may technically be retirement age – she turns 67 on
election day – but she shows no desire to pull back from the road. Her passion
for playing and her audience’s passion for her playing remains vibrant nearly
five decades into her career. And the show served as a reminder of why she’s
remains such a revered presence today.
Posts
