Lady plays the blues: Raitt returns Tuesday for Thomas Wolfe show

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Lady plays the blues: Raitt returns Tuesday for Thomas Wolfe show
October 11, 2009
Michael Flynn
Take 5

Bonnie Raitt's first musical love wasn't the blues. “I fell in love with folk music from going to summer camp. I was about 12 or 14,” she said, in an interview with the Citizen-Times. Then someone gave her a copy of “Blues at Newport 1963,” an album featuring John Hammond, John Lee Hooker and Mississippi John Hurt.
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“I fell in love with country blues,” she said. “I got completely smitten.”

About 19 albums, nine Grammys and one Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction later, Raitt's love affair with music and the blues continues.

The acclaimed singer, songwriter and guitarist, who turns 60 next month, returns to Asheville on Tuesday with her band for a gig at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium.

Originally scheduled for March 17, the show was postponed to allow Raitt to care for her ailing brother, who died from brain cancer in April. Tickets for the March date will be honored Tuesday, according to Ticketmaster.

Raitt recently wrapped up a summer tour with Taj Mahal, and Tuesday's show opens with her friend Randall Bramblett.

A road regular who has made guest appearances on more than 100 albums in addition to her own projects, Raitt won't be slowing down because of her birthday.

“I don't think about it,” she said. “I am strong and healthy and firing on all cylinders.”

Raitt spoke from her Northern California home about music, activism and Warren Haynes' Christmas Jam.

Question: You come from musical family, but what other careers did you consider as a student at Harvard/Radcliffe?

Answer: I was always interested in being a social activist, and my family being Quaker, I was interested in the AFSC (American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker humanitarian group). I was always politically active. For me music and politics were married because of my heroes like Pete Seeger. It seemed natural to me.

Q: What motivates you as a performer at this stage of your career?

A: When you play, it's nice to get awards, have more security, and raise attention and money for causes you believe in. But when it's down to just me and the songs, and getting on stage and playing for people who really care about what I'm singing, I'd do it whether I sold records or got awards or not. It's a relationship I really value. My fans have stayed very, very loyal all these years.

Q: Asheville's music scene is often praised — is it on your radar?

A: There are certain smaller cities around the country that are bubbling pockets of music, and Asheville has always been one, like Eugene, Ore., or Lafayette, La. Asheville has its own really unique artistic community; it's got a really great counterculture scene. A member of our crew lives in Asheville. I've played there a bunch of times and visited as well.

Q: What can folks expect at the show?

A: We mix it up to keep it fresh. I certainly get around to the ones people know from “Nick of Time” and “Luck of the Draw.” And I like to whip out some things people aren't expecting. We just came off a two-month national tour with Taj Mahal, which was a blast. We played our own sets, and then we played the last 45 minutes with both bands on stage. Asheville will be the first time we get to play our own show all the way through.
Activism and optimism

Q: What guides your activism these days?

A: We're continuing to raise money for grass-roots groups, whether social justice, environmental issues or music education. The nuclear industry is doing whatever they can to get their foot in the door. We're doing what we can do promote wind and solar.

Q: Are you optimistic about the future?

A: We've got our work cut out for us. We need to not get so polarized. I have confidence in the basic goodness and intelligence of the American people. In that sense I'm optimistic, but there's never been a more important time to be involved.

Q: What is it about the blues that appeals to people?

A: The blues is good for what ails you, whether you're in pain about love, or lost your job, or dejected. But it's also a celebration and a call for righteous activities of all kinds. It lifts people up.

Q: Can we expect you at a future Christmas Jam?

A: I'm hoping down the line I'll be able to. There's a lot of wonderful Christmas benefit shows organized across the country by friends of mine, but Warren's is legendary, and I hope one day I'll be able to do i