FIRST OFF . . .

Although they haven’t yet coalesced behind one presidential candidate, Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley, Herbie Hancock and other politically active recording artists are supporting Countdown ‘87, the national coalition of political and religious activist groups lobbying Congress to shut down aid to the Nicaraguan rebels--with a series of three benefit concerts. Friday, “Bonnie Raitt and Friends” (Henley, Hancock, Peter Case and comedian Bob Goldthwait) appear at a Countdown ’87 benefit concert at the Wiltern Theater. Tickets: $25. A private cocktail party honoring Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) will be held before the concert. Peter, Paul & Mary, Judy Collins, Bruce Cockburn and others will perform in Washington Sept. 22; Joan Baez appears Oct. 7 at Carnegie Hall. Organizers hope to contribute $100,000 from the concerts to the $1-million fund, a spokesman said.