July 2, 2006
Boston, MA
I am not going to begin with, “Bonnie Raitt is a legend come to life on the stage." Or even, “Ms. Raitt shows us what female guitar icon really means.” Nor will I use, “Bonnie wears her guitar as easily as second skin.” Though I wouldn’t be lying.
But no.
This is how I’m going to start. The girl is fearless.
On a hot Sunday night, at the Bank of America Pavilion, fearless Bonnie proclaimed, “It’s good to be back here!” She then banged out Jr. Walker’s “Roadrunner” which set the tone for a show that was at times absolutely rocking, and at times profoundly reflective but always pleasing. Raitt played several songs from her new CD, Souls Alike, such as the mystical “God Was in the Water," dedicated to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. She then teamed up with keyboardist Jon Cleary for a duet on “Unnecessarily Mercenary,” a bouncy bluesy track from the same album.
Bonnie also called on a local blues great Jim Fitting from The Coots (formerly of Treat Her Right) to play snazzy harp during “Never Make Your Move too Soon," and the steamy “Love me Like a Man." The crowd of nearly 5,000 went nuts.
Bonnie spoke of how great her band was, praising their synchronicity in a slightly wicked fashion as “the best car, the best ride… the best ‘umm’ you ever had!” It’s these kind of statements that she uses to make the audience feel like they’re just sitting around in her living room. Lifting up her heavy red hair, she also commented on feeling the heat in these last few venues of this leg of the tour. At another point she explained her slight wriggling in her chair, because “my jeans are riding up." Fearless!
Bonnie Raitt grew up with not only artistic roots – her father, singer John Raitt was well known on Broadway, and her mother was singer/pianist Marge Goddard – but with Quaker sensibilities as well. In the late 1960s she moved from Los Angeles to Cambridge, MA and quickly became engrossed in university (Harvard/Radcliffe) studies by day, and the coffeehouse life at night; learning more about music and social activism. She’s thrived in both areas. She helped co-found MUSE (Musicians United for Safe Energy) and has worked in numerous projects for preserving our forests, women’s rights, and the anti-apartheid mission. After winning multiple Grammy awards, Bonnie Raitt was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. In 2004 she joined the Vote for Change tour (Along with this night’s opening act, Keb’ Mo’). As part of her Green Highway project, Bonnie Raitt currently uses biodiesel fuel (B20) in her tour buses and semi’s.
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
i love seeing shows at this venue....except for the people who talk during the songs.
2 - DJRadiohead
She is, to me, a little like Tom Petty in that it is easy to forget what a great catalog of songs she has contributed over such a long career. I would not mind seeing her live one day at all. Well done, Sir Mary.
3 - Mark Saleski
yes. i think the first Raitt tune i ever heard was "Me & The Boys", but it was a cover done by NRBQ...another band that should have been famous.
4 - Aaron Fleming
Good stuff Mary! I'd like to comment on the content but alas this isn't an area I'm proficient in. But if you want to withdraw an i, I'd be happy to discuss the band synchronicity and passed-over intro analogies of Ratt.
5 - Mat Brewster
Very good review. I was hoping she sang "Angel From Montgomery." What an absolutely gorgeous song, and nobody does it better than Ms Raitt.
6 - Mary K. Williams
But if you want to withdraw an i, I'd be happy to discuss the band synchronicity and passed-over intro analogies of Ratt
You're on Aaron! Go for it!
7 - Mary K. Williams
except for the people who talk during the songs.
Watch it buster! Or I'll talk at you for hours on end! (and you know I can do that!)
8 - Mary K. Williams
Thanks DJ.
Yes, she's been very prolific over the years - and churned out lots of good stuff.
9 - Mary K. Williams
Oh, Sir Mat -
The song is so nice - i'm listening to it right now.
*sigh*
10 - DJRadiohead
Sir Fleming, I can join you in a discussion of Ratt as I happened to listen to a couple of their albums "back in the day."
11 - Mat Brewster
Sir Mary you simply must here her duet on "angel" with John Prine. It's about as perfect as a performance can get. If you don't have it let me know and I'll see what I can do to hook you up.
12 - Mark Saleski
mat's right, that is a fabulous version of that song.
13 - Mary K. Williams
Sirs:
I'm not sure who she's singing with on my version - I pulled it off of Napster. I can find out though.
I will say that it was outstanding with Keb' Mo'.
14 - Mary K. Williams
OK - evidently the version I have (from Road Tested) she's joined with Jackson Brown, Bruce Hornsby, Bryan Adams and Kim Wilson. Some nice little accordion action too.
So, Mat - I'm open to acquire the version you speak of.
15 - Mary K. Williams
hold that thought - I found the version w/John Prine. Very nice - thanks for the suggestion guys!
16 - Mat Brewster
You're welcome. The song is worth the hunt. The verse about her husband being gone all day and still have nothing to say absolutely kills me.
17 - Connie Phillips
This article has been placed at the Advance.net websites, a site affiliated with about 12 newspapers.
One such site is here.
18 - Mary K. Williams
Thank you Connie!
19 - M.D. Sandwasher
Excellent article. I learned of new information about Raitt. Congrats. on your editor's pick of the week!!!
20 - Mary K. Williams
MD - Thank you so much! I learned a lot of new stuff as well - and except for I may have seen her in college (wayyy back - and I was probably drunk at the time) this was really my first time seeing her. It was a great, great show.