I saw Bonnie Raitt in concert last night. She performed at the Ntelos Pavilion in Portsmouth as a part of the Virginia Arts Festival, more specifically, the Ruth Brown Blues Festival. It was my first trip to this venue and although it was a bit chilly, it was a very nice concert. Raitt, paying tribute to her good friend and mentor, Portsmouth native Ruth Brown, was in rare form. Her voice was amazing, her slide-guitar playing even more so. The opening act made me a little concerned about the sound system – I couldn’t understand half the words – but I need not have worried. Perhaps that guy just couldn’t enunciate very well. Raitt was absolutely awesome.
Of course, I was waiting to hear “Something to Talk About” as were many members of the audience. When she introduced the song, she said she was glad that Sanjaya had chosen to sing one of her songs on American Idol but that she was about to show us all how it was supposed to be sung 😉 And she did, earning one of several standing ovations of the night.
She came out for an encore and sang not one, not two but three songs. I’ve heard that Raitt loves to perform and she certainly showed that last night. She’s headed to Charlottesville tonight and I hope her fans there are as entertained as I was.
Thanks to Bonnie Raitt for erasing from my memory that horrible rendition of her song that Sanjaya left 🙂
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Hey! I was there too! But I was one of the cops on the traffic post near the construction signs when you came off the interstate. I could hear her though and it sounded like a spectacular concert!
Glad you had a good time. What did you think of the venue itself?
She’s here in Charlottesville tonight and a friend of mine is working security, he’ll let me know how wonderful it is tomorrow. I would have gone myself but tomorrow is work and I’m not in my twenties anymore.
Bonnie has done her homework studying with the very best of the bluesman and women while others were in bands making money and being in the limelight. She on the other hand used her contacts in music to meet and be with those withwhom she could refine her talents. Smarter than the average bear I’d say
I’m sure it is an outstanding concert tonight just within a mile from where I sit tonight
Scott – I pulled into the parking lot there before the construction signs. As for the venue – well, I wished that they had video screens on the stage as well as on the side (I had pretty good seats but would have liked to have been closer), and the camera angles on the video screens were weird – always from the side, never face on. Other than that, it was a nice venue. But I have to admit that I’m not a big fan of live concerts.
John – if her concert there was about the same length as the one in Portsmouth, you’d have been fine. I was at home in bed by about 11:30. And yes, she did use her contacts to get to the very best – and it shows in her performance.