Patti Smith Sings and Reminisces at the Miami Book Fair

Eventually, Smith introduced long-time collaborator Lenny Kaye, who picked up a guitar as Smith took off her glasses and revealed that even at 75, she still has a captivating voice

She opened her set with the folksy tune «Grateful» off her 2000 album Gung Ho. Her voice got soulful with the occasional backing harmony from Kaye, and her delivery of the lyrics never went down the obvious route. Like the devout student of the great poets she is, Smith always has found a surprising way to recite her lyrics waking up the deepest of sleepers in the crowd.

«Lenny and I wrote it as a call for unity and dedicated it to the Hopi Indian Tribe. I want to dedicate it tonight to the women and all genders who are fighting for freedom in Iran,» she told the crowd. Again, her voice sounded as powerful as ever, with her hands shaking with a purposeful ferocity every time she sang the line, «Shake out the ghost dance.»

She saved the best for last as she called for the audience to stand up for «People Have the Power.» First, she explained the song’s origin: «This song was written with my late, great husband Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith. I was pregnant with my daughter and in a feisty mood.

I was peeling potatoes when he said people have the power. We sat and talked for hours on this song to empower and inspire the righteous causes. He didn’t live to see it happen, but I did get to see people get together and sing it.»

Her voice had you thinking it was still 1975, and then she took off her sweater and moved those arms in that distinct Patti Smith way. For a second, you could imagine you were not in a brightly lit auditorium but at CBGB, watching a performer channel everything alive about music.

I’m not sure if this evening convinced anyone to read her book, but it inspired at least one person to catch a full Patti Smith concert if ever granted the chance.