The renowned, award-winning guitarist and singer transfixed a sold-out crowd at Meijer Gardens on Wednesday night. The review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
As always, Bonnie Raitt can sing like an angel and play the slide guitar like nobody’s business.
From the opening bars of “I Sho Do,” the 74-year-old singer had Wednesday’s sold-out crowd at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Amphitheater in the palm of her hand.
Perfectly at ease fronting her band of stellar musicians, she delivered her own hits and songs by artists she admires in her sometimes velvety, sometimes raspy voice and almost always accompanying herself masterfully on guitar.
What’s remarkable about Raitt, besides the fact that age has not slowed her down one bit, is her generosity in sharing the music of artists much less famous than her. Take “Made Up Mind,” a lovable, rootsy tune written by a band from Winnipeg, Manitoba, The Bros. Landreth. Not only did she pluck it from relative obscurity for her live shows, but she also won a Grammy Award for her cover in 2023.
“Hear Me Lord,” a joyful petition to “whoever is going to get us out of pain and dissension in this country,” was written by the late Zimbabwean singer Oscar Mtukudzi. In Raitt’s capable hands, the song unfurls as a lament that gives way to hope in the divine.
Her voice exuded grief when Raitt sang her classic rendition of late friend John Prine’s song, “Angel From Montgomery.” Fans could hear how much she missed him in her reverent, devoted delivery. “I love him, too,” she said after fans cheered the song.
Perhaps the most moving moment came when Raitt sang “Just Like That,” which won her Song of the Year at the 2023 Grammy Awards. This heartrending song explores the story of a mother who hears her late son’s heartbeat in his organ recipient’s chest. It was, Raitt says, inspired by Prine’s death in 2020 from COVID-19.
The ever-graceful artist knows how to keep things from getting too sad, though. In her return to the venue that she last played in 2016, she praised the venue to the skies — for its lush gardens and sculptures, and even the food she ate before performing.
Fans enthusiastically greeted her beloved songs, with “Something to Talk About” and “Love Letter” at the top of the list.
By the time she crooned “I Can’t Make You Love Me” in the encore, the air had cooled but the crowd was still warmly responsive. “Maybe I’ll be like Mick (Jagger) and Taj (Mahal) and (other older artists who continue to tour),” she wondered out loud. “Maybe I’ll be back out here, keeping the music going.”
Opening for Raitt was the rockabilly/soul/blues band James Hunter & The Six from Essex, England.
With a leathery voice reminiscent of James Brown or Ray Charles, Hunter gustily sang lead vocals. He and his band, whose instruments included saxophone, double bass and organ, got things swinging with the “Okie Dokie Stomp” and paid homage to The Five Royales and their Carolina Soul sound with a smooth cover of “Baby Don’t Do It.”
Lorilee Craker is a veteran writer and author of “Money Secrets of the Amish,” “Through the Storm” with Lynne Spears, and “My Journey to Heaven” with Marv Besteman.
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Bonnie has contributed a new recording of "Prison Bound Blues" written by Leroy Carr to a project called Better Than Jail, an extraordinary new album benefiting Free Hearts and Equal Justice USA. Better Than Jail is available everywhere today and features covers of iconic prison songs from Steve Earle, Taj Mahal,Margo Price, The War and Treaty and many more. The album seeks to raise awareness and support for the urgent need to reduce the harm of the criminal justice system. https://found.ee/BetterThanJail.
I'm so proud to have joined in with so many illustrious artists in creating this very special album in support of rural prison reform. Overlooked for far too long, this issue cuts across all cultural and political divides and deserves all our focused attention to finally bring about some swift and meaningful action. Better Than Jail is one of the most inspired and heartfelt albums I've been blessed to be a part of and I hope it sets a fire in hearts far and wide to join in our efforts." ~ Bonnie Raitt
Released on: 2024-10-04 Executive Producer: Brian Hunt Producer: Kenny Greenberg Producer: Wally Wilson Producer: Bonnie Raitt Recording Engineer: Jason Lehning at Sound Emporium Mastering Engineer: Alex McCollough at True East Mastering Production Assistant: Shannon Finnegan Mixer: Justin Niebank at Hounds Ear Music Publisher: Universal Music Corp. Composer, Lyricist: Leroy Carr ℗ Believe Entertainment Group and Wyatt Road Records
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The Fabulous Thunderbirds - Nothing in Rambling Ft. Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Keb' Mo' & Mick Fleetwood
In celebration of the band’s 50th Anniversary, The Fabulous Thunderbirds have just released Struck Down, their first studio album in eight years on Stony Plain Records. The ten-track album includes a wonderful cover of Memphis Minnie’s “Nothing in Rambling,” featuring longtime friends, T-Birds founding member Kim Wilson, along with Bonnie, Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal and Mick Fleetwood. — BRHQ
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Little Feat - Long Distance Call
“I’ve always loved Little Feat and this new incarnation of the band is bringing some serious heat, cred and new blood to their enduring legacy. Every Feat fan loves us some Sam. I’m so glad he’s now gotten a chance to step out front and center and put his spin on these wonderful blues songs. I loved singing "Long Distance Call" with him, always one of my favorites, and Scott slayed on slide. Know you’ll enjoy hanging out with us at Sam’s Place!" -- Bonnie Raitt
“Long Distance Call” was written by blues legend, Muddy Waters. It has Sam Clayton and Bonnie Raitt on vocals, Scott Sharrard on Dobro, Fred Tackett on acoustic guitar, Tony Leone on drums, and Michael “The Bull” LoBue on harmonica. The album also features Bill Payne on piano and Kenny Gradney on bass.
Little Feat have composed an album that’s their love letter to the blues entitled, ‘Sam’s Place.’ “Long Distance Call” plus many other blues classics are on this album. You can stream and order ‘Sam’s Place’ here: https://orcd.co/samsplace
Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine, Vol. 2, the anticipated new John Prine tribute record from Oh Boy Records, is out today. Stream/purchase HERE.
Created as a celebration of Prine’s life and career, the album features new renditions of some of Prine’s most beloved songs performed by Brandi Carlile (“I Remember Everything”), Tyler Childers (“Yes I Guess They Oughta Name A Drink After You”), Iris DeMent (“One Red Rose”), Emmylou Harris (“Hello In There”), Jason Isbell (“Souvenirs”), Valerie June (“Summer’s End”), Margo Price (“Sweet Revenge”), Bonnie Raitt (“Angel From Montgomery”), Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats (“Pretty Good”), Amanda Shires (“Saddle in the Rain”), Sturgill Simpson(“Paradise”) and John Paul White (“Sam Stone”). Proceeds from the album will benefit twelve different non-profit organizations, one selected by each of the featured artists.
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Bonnie Raitt - Write Me a Few of Your Lines/Kokomo Blues
60 years anniversary celebration of Arhoolie
December 10, 2020
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Arhoolie Foundation celebrates it's 60th anniversary (1960-2020) with an online broadcast.
Bonnie Raitt - Shadow of Doubt
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival
October 3, 2020
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass celebrates it's 20th anniversary with an online broadcast titled “Let The Music Play On”.
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Bonnie Raitt & Boz Scaggs - You Don't Know Like I Know
Farm Aid 2020 On the Road
Sam & Dave classic written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter.
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Sheryl Crow & Bonnie Raitt - Everything Is Broken
[Eric Clapton’s Crossroads 2019]
Eric Clapton, one of the world’s pre-eminent blues/rock guitarists, once again summoned an all-star team of six-string heroes for his fifth Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2019. Held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, the two-day concert event raised funds for the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, the chemical dependency treatment and education facility that Clapton founded in 1998.
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'A Tribute To Mose Allison'
Celebrates The Music Of An Exciting Jazz Master
Raitt contributed to a new album, If You're Going To The City: A Tribute To Mose Allison, which celebrates the late singer and pianist, who famously blended the rough-edged blues of the Mississippi Delta with the 1950s jazz of New York City.
NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks to Bonnie Raitt about her friendship with the Mose Allison. They're also joined by Amy Allison — his daughter, who executive produced the album — about selecting an unexpected list of artists to contribute songs to the album.
Recorded on tour June 3, 2017 - Centennial Hall, London - Ontario Canada
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