Bonnie Raitt and Roy Rogers Dealt the Blues at Riverwind Casino’s Showplace Theatre in Norman, OK
Bonnie Raitt blew into Riverwind Casino’s Showplace Theatre in Norman, Oklahoma this past Saturday night for a stop on her extended “Just Like That” tour, so named after her 18th and most recent 2022 studio album, and released via her own Redwing label. There had been a date in Tulsa back in 2022 during the album’s initial tour, but this was her first trip back to the OKC area since way back in 2006, and she was welcomed back with a completely sold out and appreciative audience at the Showplace Theatre.
I’d last seen Raitt back in 2002 in Houston, and I was excited to catch her again after all that time. I’ve seen her four times now over the years, and I can honestly say, I’ve never been disappointed. This one was no exception. Kicking things off with “Split Decision” from 2012’s Slipstream, and “Time of Our Lives” from 2002’s Silver Lining, Raitt and band settled in nice and easy as the stragglers made their way to their seats, just in time for Raitt’s always raucously fun version of John Hiatt’s “Thing Called Love.” Raitt paid homage over the next several songs, with wonderful versions of Mabel John’s “Your Good Thing (is About to End),” Oliver Mtukudzi’s “Hear Me Lord” and always the highlight, Sippie Wallace’s “Women Be Wise,” before dipping back into one of her own, and the tour namesake, “Just Like That.”
Next up was “Something to Talk About,” likely a favorite for many, myself included. A Shirley Eikhard song that Raitt recorded on her breakthrough 1989 album Nick of Time, the song carries a lot of personal meaning for me as well. Back when that album came out, my future wife Stacie and I were just a pair of twenty somethings working in a record store in the midst of a workplace romance that everyone knew about. Now, here we were, all these years later, about to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary exactly one month later, and getting another chance to hear “our song” performed just perfectly. Crazy how these things work out.
Keeping with songs from Nick of Time, Raitt continued with Bonnie Hayes’ “Love Letter,” and then slid over to stage left to play piano on the title track before taking up her acoustic guitar for perhaps her most beloved cover song, John Prine’s “Angel From Montgomery.” With the set winding down, Raitt closed it out with the recent “Livin’ for the Ones,” and a new song to the setlist, a cover of Annie Lennox’s “Little Bird.” Raitt returned for an extended encore, with a beautiful version of Mike Reid’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” and another highlight of mine, Richard Thompson’s “Dimming of the Day,” before inviting opener and frequent collaborator, Roy Rogers back out for “Gnawin’ on It.”
Rogers’ opening set was short and a solo endeavor, but it was every bit as enjoyable as, and the perfect compliment to Raitt’s set.
Throughout the evening, I was struck by just how good Raitt and her band were, and by the way, what a band they are. All are longtime collaborators, and it shows not only in how tight they sound, but also in how much fun they’re having. All though the show there were smiles abound, and it’s obvious that, in addition to being a well oiled machine, these folks really enjoy playing together. Raitt’s wonderful band is comprised of, Ricky Fataar on drums, James “Hutch” Hutchinson on the bass, Glenn Patscha handling keys and vocals and Duke Levin on guitar. Raitt herself was in top form. Her playing was impeccable, and her vocals simply perfection. Throughout the evening she regaled us with history and road tales both of the songs and the legends that composed them. It was a special night shared with a special artist, and I highly recommend catching a date if you’re able. Bonnie Raitt has tour dates in the United States through September with June/July run across the pond to the UK.
You can check out all that information on her official website right here: https://www.bonnieraitt.com
Enjoy our previous coverage here: At Wolf Trap, Bonnie Raitt and Lucinda Williams Remember Those We’ve Lost