In another candid moment, Bonnie confided she wasn’t sure if she was going to play her next selection, “Nothing Seems to Matter," it had depended on if she was in a good mood, or a cranky one. She explained that she wrote the song when she was 21, living in Cambridge, and she’s “since made friends with it." “Matters," reminiscent of Carole King, was a poignant piece on lost love. It segued beautifully into the anthem “I Will Not be Broken” off of Souls Alike.
The last few years have not been easy for Raitt, both parents passed away in late 2004 and early 2005. A brother has battled brain cancer; luckily the disease is in now in remission. Her bittersweet performance of “Nick of Time” was prefaced by Bonnie stating, “ [sing] this for my parents, as I do every night now.”
She ended her main set with of her more popular tunes, “Something to Talk About,” “Love Sneaking up on You,” and slow, sad but sweet “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” Once again, Cleary was given the chance to shine on this last one – finishing the song with a fantastic keyboard solo.
A superb ending to the night was the encore with Keb’ Mo’, together they moved from “Love Letter” to the gorgeous “Angel from Montgomery,” and ended with playful cover of Wilson Pickett’s “634–5789.”
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.