september 22

    "I've never had it so good. These are the good old days for me," says singer-songwriter-guitarist Chris Smither, who turns 62 in November. "Album sales have had a steady climb every time. I'm playing more venues.'' Smither has just released his 12th album, "Leave the Lights On,'' and plays the Somerville Theatre Friday Sept. 22.

   And, as he plays in the blues-folk field, youth is not a particular concern and, perhaps, age is a boon. "Yeah, in a sense,'' he says. "I'm not sure it has to do with the times. It's a question of the fact that I've lived with the voice so long. It's down a little bit - you lose some highs, pick up the low end. For this album and last one, I thought the vocals were totally believable."

   Asked about success, Smither says, "I have two cars in the garage, the house is paid for, my wife and I adopted a little girl from China last year. By those measures, yeah. It's not the success i dreamed of at 18 when I thought I'd be a household name all over the world. But by any realistic standard, I am a success. I've got all the work i can possibly handle. If I didn't enjoy it, it's too hard to do if you're not having fun. I've said it for years: I write the songs so I can go out and play. That's where all the magic happens."

    "Leave the Light On'' is down and up-tempo songs. "It's a serious record," says Smither, "but I don't think it's particularly somber. It's pretty hopeful." He's got one song, "Shilling for the Blues," he calls "pretty bleak,'' but notes the other ones in that range were written by other folks. And he's got a protest song, "Diplomacy," that goes after the president with the line "it's the blind leading the lame." Smither: "It's preaching to the choir, but I felt I've got audience" so why not.

   For his gig, he'll play both solo and with a band. Tickets for the 8 p.m. show, opened by Ollabelle, are $22.50-$27.50.

Davis Square, Somerville   ticketmaster.com