THE ANGEL WHO FLEW US TO MONTGOMERY

There are moments in life, sometimes if not oft times that take us to a new level, that catch us by surprise, that transcend.

Last night at the Bonnie Raitt concert at Massey Hall,  we experienced one of those moments. We love Bonnie. We have for years; chances are if you love this singer/guitarist you have been carrying on this affair for years as well.

Her show was flat out wonderful. Her band, many of whom have been with her for 25 years was of course spot on. And she demonstrated that her voice and guitar playing are as effective and moving as ever they were.

Bonnie Raitt's slide guitar is sensual, sexy, expressive, dirty, fat and full of feminine kickassery. Her voice is something special, full of depth and and heart, it is fluid and smokey and rich and silky; it can be quiet and it can be raunchy and it's always powerful.

Ms Raitt has recorded the John Prine classic Angel from Montgomery several times and it is a staple in her show. She's been singing it since the 1970's. I have always loved this song, it is one of my Prine favorites and it has been successfully covered many times.

But last night, from the very first note, I knew something special was about to happen. Several times Bonnie talked with a glow admiration and even adoration of the venue in which she was singing. Massey Hall is a very special place. It is hands down my favorite place in which to hear music. Almost every musician I've seen there have seemed in awe of the place.

Last night Bonnie Raitt expressed her awe of this Victorian venue in the way only a true singer could.

What she did with Angel From Montgomery was magical. I mean that. Magic is something unexplained that takes you to an unexpected place. It transports you. You transcend.

I don't know if people were breathing as Bonnie sang this song. She is obviously familiar with this song but she is more than familiar, she feels it and last night every iota of that feeling flowed out over us in the audience. It is a sad song but there is also a hint of rage in it but a quiet rage, a defeated rage and that makes it all the more sadder. Bonnie knew what the characters in the song felt, she respected those feelings and through her interpretation so did we.

It was more than a special moment. And it reminded me why I see live music.

Ms Raitt gave us another special moment. The first song of her encore was one of her biggest hits, I Can't Make You Love Me, another incredibly familiar song. One of those songs that casual fans gravitate towards. You wonder if she's sick of singing it. Bonnie's career is so long and multi dimensional I wonder if she almost resents being pigeon holed by this song and a couple other of her hits

After last night, I would have to say know. Bonnie sat on a stool, not holding her guitar, spotlighted softly, her nimble band playing softly. She did not just sing this song, it poured out of her, it came out of her, and it rolled over us. It's a sad song. It is an incredibly true hurtin song and my god ... this woman just sang it in a way that I will remember for a long time

Bonnie's opening act was Marc Cohn. Marc is a long time favorite of Collette and I. We saw him many years ago, in a small venue (now defunct) on the Danforth on his first Canadian tour. We have seen him a few times since but not for a long time.

We were happy to see that Marc's voice and his piano playing and his endearing honesty have all remained over the years. He is heartfelt and he is funny and he can just damn sing. We all knew that Walking In Memphis was coming. In the early years he almost threw this song away. It is the song for which he is best known but there is so much more to him; as I did with Bonnie I wondered if he almost resented the song.

Nope. Not a bit.

Marc's version of Memphis last night was moving, it was fresh, it was lyrical in both words and playing and it brought him and I back to those moments in Memphis many years ago that not only inspired the song but most of his career.

Another moment that surprised, that moved, that lifted.

That transcended