My ticket from last night. As I said there are no pictures only stories. And the stories are so long I cannot tell them all here. http://www.bonnieraitt.com/
Bonnie came out last night and she still looks the same as the last time I saw her. Hell, she still looks the same as the first time I saw her thirty-two years ago. The best part about last night was I was eight feet from her, the first time I was in the balcony watching her and Lyle Lovett play on a stage at UNC Chapel Hill so long ago. . Last night she was all smiles and she looked like she was twenty-five years old. Ok so there is a winkle in her face. On November 8th she will be sixty years old. All I can say is it looked like she jumped into those jeans and any guy in his right mind would be doing flips to hang out with her for an evening. The best part? She plays that Strat like a master. And her voice is off the meter. She rocks! I wish I had a picture of those roses a guy threw her last night. She smiled and held them tight. I am glad he gave them to her. Very nice.
I never tire of listening to Bonnie. I have been listening for most of her career. This is because she was always hanging with my favorite bands like Little Feat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO3ZMdcL8Pc people like jackson Browne, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6AgpzsnHo8 Stevie Ray, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Mylo0piAgc on and on. Not to mention the fact that her voice is a one of a kind – this generation. Oh yeah and as you know she plays guitar like a blues master.
Bonnie played a song she recently recorded which was written by Randall Bramlett last night. She asked how many people had been to New Orleans since Katrina. I raised my hand given my love for the town. She said something about Jazzfest smoking…and yes I agree…Then she broke into the song…
God was in the water that day
Pickin’ through the roots and stones
Trippin’ over sunken logs
Tryin’ not to make his presence known
God was in the water that day
Wadin’ in careful steps
Bubbles risin’ from his feet
Comin’ up from the muddy depths
Castin’ out a line
Castin’ out a line to the shadows
Castin’ out a line but no one’s biting
I should add that I saw something last night that made me think about how this lady performs. As I stood there so close I really watched her every move. At times as she explained the song she was about to do she would get almost in a mood to do it. Almost like an actor. She really feels the emotion of the song when she sings it. That is a sign of a performer that has figured out how to pull off a great song. Even John Prine has said many times “Angel from Montgomery is “Bonnie’s song.” Last night I heard her sing the opening acappella and I thought…yes it really is her song. Yes it is.
Bonnie was on last night and I was really glad I was there. The stage at this venue resonates the audience feedback. She noticed that last night and mentioned it twice. Everyone who plays that stage says that. You can see the performers light up and crank up the show. It is such a cool experience to feel that.
If you go surf pages of up-coming female artists they aways say something like oh “She sounds like Bonnie Raitt” as if this is the pinnacle of what a female artist should be. Well maybe it is. If you can play like that and have the voice she does, maybe you can make it in a tough music world today.
What can I say about last night? Well I saw many great pictures I didn’t take, many smiles, a great performance, some awesome slide guitar, a few masters at work, a great crowd, a cool place, and a great show. I certainly plan to see Bonnie again. She was fantastic.
A quick story. As we in the crowd were exchanging stories before the show which I must add is one of my favorite parts of a show….anyway…we were talking about Robert Palmer for a moment. The last song last night was an unrehearsed version of “Bad Case of Loving You” which was pre-ceeded by Randall Bramlett playing sax on Jr. Walker and the All-stars’ “Road-Runner.” Did I mention I had a great time last night?
Doctor, doctor give me the news
I’ve got a bad case of lovin’ you
No pill’s gonna cure my ill
I’ve got a bad case of lovin’ you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNLfQkHQlE8
http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Junior%20Walker.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ek1UslvFps
‘Nuff said. until next time, I will see you down the road.