On Tour With Bonnie Raitt
Just back from opening a few shows for Bonnie Raitt. What fun it was and what an honor to be asked. I've been a fan of Bonnie's music since the beginning. Her debut album has the song "Any Day Woman," with the lines: "Boy, it's time you learned, not to talk so loud or walk so proud when you're comin' on." Written by Paul Siebel, and delivered by Bonnie in support of all women and therefore in encouragement of thoughtfulness, in everyone.
That is the mark Bonnie has made on the world and continues to make. Bonnie has taken the opportunity of her fame to actively address the injustices of the world. She does something about it and encourages you to join her in the doing. I don't need to mention that it couldn't be more important in the current state of the world.
Of course, I love her music. Whatever she's singing about, she brings joy to the table. What a killer guitar player she is. Her slide- playing is soulful and effortless. I need to ask her what tuning she uses. I love how she blends blues, RnB, folk, and jazz, and she rocks! I discovered two of my biggest influences through her versions of "Everbody's Crying Mercy" (Mose Allison) and "What is Success" (Allen Toussaint.)
Bonnie recorded my song "Nobody's Girl" on her album "Nick of Time", then I co-wrote a song "Slow Ride" on her album "Luck of the Draw." Imagine what a magic feeling it is for me to hear my personal musings being sung back to me by Bonnie. What a lucky person I am. Bonnie reveres songs and so do I.
Touring is exhausting. Sleep deprivation, endless hours of driving through a no man's land of cities and countryside rolling by. So many places I'd love to stop and explore but soundcheck is at 4 pm.
I drove down the Saw Mill Parkway. It was still almost winter in Maine, but in New York, the flowers were blooming. I have a friend with a beautiful house an hour or so north of the city, in Putnam Valley. Nestled among the trees, near a lake. It's magical, the best of both worlds, surrounded by nature and in only an hour or so, you are surrounded by human nature. I need both
I saw a sign that said Pleasantville. I stopped there for coffee. A perfect small village with an old school diner. Then I headed down through New Jersey and into Philadelphia to pick up my bass player. I don't know Philly. Sort of a miniature New York it seems. I would love to be shown around there. I used to play at a small club there called The Tin Angel.
On we went to Lancaster, PA., to our first show. What a lovely small city. It made me realize how much of America I haven't seen. We played at an old theater for a few thousand people. A warm receptive audience, great sound, and all of Bonnie's crew so warm and welcoming. She and her band are so good, and such nice guys, some of whom I've been around for a long time, Hutch Hutchinson, Ricky Fataar, Glenn Patscha, and Duke Levine, legendary Boston guitarist. I would've been happy to have stayed on the road with these guys for the remainder of 2025.
After the show, we drove on to Atlantic City. We arrived at 2:30 a.m. and the casino was going full tilt. I didn't leave the building until we rolled out for New York City 30 hours later. I had morning coffee with my growing-up friend from a band we had as teenagers, Thee Dirty Shames, and said hello to a friend I know from Lisbon, Portugal. Fun to have my music friend Katie Matzell there. I love traveling. Often I'm not sure where I am for a few minutes after waking, and what difference does it make anyway?
The next morning we drove into New York for a day off. It was a beautiful warm sunny day. I lived in New York for 9 years and know it well. Yes, I know what a pain in the ass New York can be, but it feeds me, it feels like home to me, Bar Pitti on 6th Avenue, McNally Jackson Books on Prince Street in Soho, The Mud in the East Village, and more, a lot more.
The next day it was off to Richmond, Virginia. A long drive, but the further south we went all the leaves were out, along with the heat and humidity. Richmond is the coolest college town, with vintage music stores, hipster restaurants, etc. The show was in a magical old theater. The audience was very lively, responded to my banter, and sang along with me when I sang "Nobody's Girl." Bonnie and I walked and talked and had lunch together. We talked of changes great and small, music, musicians and all points in between. Love to you Bonnie, until we meet again.