05/04/2007

Opinion mixed with experience

Chris Smither brings his music to Bay Theatre

By Tom Carr

tcarr@record-eagle.com

Chris Smither

SUTTONS BAY — Chris Smither refuses to think of songwriting and performing as a young man's game, so he's still penning and picking relevant music at age 62.

Smither will bring his wit, wisdom, well-traveled voice and finger-picked guitar to the Bay Theatre in Suttons Bay on Thursday, May 10.

"If you think it's a young man's game, you're doomed,” Smither said.

Growing up in New Orleans, Smither has lived in Boston most of his adult life. Writing since the 1960s, his songs have been covered by Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, John Mayall and Diana Krall. Clever wordplay and natural melodic sensibility shows through in his latest CD "Leave the Light On” released in September.

The song "Origin of Species” is his lighthearted take on the debate between believers of evolution and creation:

"Yes, you and your cat named Felix/Are both wrapped up in that double helix/It's what we call intelligent design.”

He woke up one morning with a verse about Darwin in his head and recited it to his wife Carol.

"I figured if I can make her laugh first thing in the morning, I should roll with it,” he said.

He also weighs in on the war, with "Diplomacy”:

"We got the guns, we got the oilmen, too/They're like a choir, they wanna sing for you/Wham! Bam! Slip-slidin' away/The less you got, the more you gonna pay.”

It's unusual for Smither to be controversial; most of the CD is introspective, his more typical style.

On the title track, he looks directly at age:

"I'll live to be hundred, I was born in 'forty-four/Thirty-nine to go, and I ain't keepin' score/I've been left for dead before, but I still fight on/Don't wait up, leave the light on.”

He doesn't know how close he'll come to 100, but said that's a goal.

"I've got a 3-year-old daughter, so I've got to live a long time,” he said.

Smither enjoys writing from the perspective of someone who's lived and had some hard times. His career included a 12-year absence from recording between the early 1970s and mid-'80s as he battled alcoholism.

Smither uses those experiences, but doesn't necessarily write directly about himself.

"It's ridiculous to think you could write without having the experience. But autobiographical?” he said. "I try to write about situations so people can say, 'I've been there.'”

Smither, who spends about half the year touring North America, Europe and Australia, is scheduled to perform at the Bay on Thursday, May 10, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance or $23 at the door. Tickets are available at Oryana, Cedar City Market, Kejara's Bridge and Eddie's Village Inn in Suttons Bay.