Honolulu Weekly

After the three consecutive weekends of Pearl Jam, U2 and Billy Joel, the island may be jonesing for another big Billboard chart-topping, celebrity concert and here to turn down the lights, turn down the bed and turn down those voices inside your head is Grammy award-winner Bonnie Raitt.

Although she’s been working since the late ’60s, she never really reached pop commercial success status until her album Nick of Time and its single ‘Thing Called Love.’ Then came Luck of the Draw and its hit ‘Something to Talk About.’ (When Julia Roberts romantic comedies are being named after your songs, that’s a good sign you’ve reached mainstream recognition.) Also from the same album was the instant, mopey, just-got-dumped, karaoke classic ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me.’ (When George Michael decides to cover one your singles, that’s a good sign thatÖactually that must feel just plain weird.)

How Raitt’s bluesy twang will play off with Honolulu’s decidedly untwangy culture remains to be seen, but odds are she will definitely put on a decent show and you’ll laugh just a little too loud, stand just a little too close and stare just a little too long. Even in the Blaisdell nosebleed seats, her hill of red hair with the trademark Rogue-white stripe should be clearly visible. Just hold her close, don’t patronize.

Waikiki Shell, Sat. 1/6, 7:30pm, $27.50-$55, tickets at the Blaisdell box office and all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 1-877-750-4400 or online at [www.ticketmaster.com]