Bonnie Raitt @ Sage Gateshead - June 9

Bonnie Raitt (guitar, piano, vocals); Duke Levine (guitar, mandolin, backing vocals); Glenn Patscha (organ, keys, backing vocals); James 'Hutch' Hutchinson (bass guitar, double bass, backing vocals); Ricky Fataar (drums)

Hall One sold out some months ago. As soon as tickets went on sale they were quickly snapped up for a rare appearance by the Grammy award-winning Bonnie Raitt. The American superstar told the Sage Gateshead audience she was happy to be on the road again following the dark days of Covid lockdowns. It didn't greatly matter that during the course of the evening she announced on more than one occasion how happy she was to be here in 'Newcastle'. We can forgive visiting stars confusing Gateshead with Newcastle!

The American's ace band comprised long-serving bassist James 'Hutch' Hutchison (Earl King, Professor Longhair, the Neville Bros., and countless others), drummer Ricky Fataar (the Beach Boys, one of many on his glittering cv), Canadian Glenn Patscha (Ry Cooder and a host of jazz associates including Brian Blade, Donald Harrison and Lizz Wright) and, on this tour, replacing George Marinelli, guitarist Duke Levine (Mary Chapin Carpenter, J. Geils Band, Otis Rush).                            

Material from Raitt's album 2022 Just Like That...featured alongside numbers from way back. The passing years haven't diminished Raitt's vocal power, her famed slide guitar playing was on show, although perhaps not as much as some had hoped for, and, for one number, our Rock and Roll Hall of Famer sat at the keyboard. Made Up Mind from Just Like That..., Used to Rule the World from 2012's Slipstream, Raitt raided her extensive back catalogue. Guitar techs frequently wandered on and off stage handing Raitt (and Levine) yet another, differently tuned guitar. Glenn Patscha alternated between organ (a Hammond?) and a bank of keyboards, Hutchinson and Fataar making do with a little less hardware. 

Blame it on Me, Bob Dylan's Million Miles, an excellent Livin' for the Ones from the new album, and several tributes to friends no longer with us, notably Raitt's heartfelt remembrance of John Prine, the one hour and forty minutes' performance flew by. A brief encore, a bow and Bonnie Raitt was gone.        

 

Bonnie Raitt's set list included: Made Up Mind; Used to Rule the World; Blame it on Me; Million Miles; Something to Talk About; Livin' for the Ones; Angel from Montgomery.

Earlier, Bonnie Raitt's special guest on the tour, Gareth Dunlop, received an enthusiastic reception in the rapidly-filling auditorium.

Gareth Dunlop (guitar, keyboards, vocals); Pete Wallace (guitar, vocals)

A singer-songwriter from Belfast, Dunlop was joined on stage by guitarist Pete Wallace. Dunlop spent a decade or so in Nashville, America as a composer (film and television) and performer. Our man confided supporting Bonnie Raitt was a surreal experience, the Irishman a fan since his teenage years. Raw, soulful vocals, Gareth Dunlop won himself many new fans here on Tyneside. Russell