Kris Kristofferson at Cadogan Hall
Cadogan Hall, 29 July 2010
"That's a depressing song to be singing at my age," quips 74-year-old country legend Kris Kristofferson on a song he's just sung about going down to the river's edge to die. But, despite his advancing years and song subjects that run the gamut from lonesome laments to political statements to alcohol and the devil (of course, he is a country star after all), this was anything but a depressing show, rather a joyous celebration of a great man and his work.
And great he is: he's a merely competent guitar and harmonica player and his voice is a gruff Johnny Cash-like speak-sing, but yet, standing alone on the beautiful Cadogan Hall stage, silver-haired and armed with just his black guitar, he manages to transport the audience with every song, all little stories that sum up humanity from their bleakest moments to the small kindnesses that make life worth living. There's no doubt that not only does Kristofferson have the kind of charisma to overcome his shortcomings to mesmerise his audience, he also exudes a kind of realness to carry these tales off: everything he says you believe him, he really has lived these tunes. Most of all though, he's one hell of a songwriter and hearing him sing them back to back, you suddenly realise just how many incredible iconic songs he's written, not just for himself, but for other singers too (many of which he namechecks): Me & Bobby McGee for old girlfriend Janis Joplin, Best Of All Possible Worlds for Roger Miller, Sunday Morning Coming Down for old friend and fellow Highwayman Johnny Cash, to name but a few (because I really could go on and on).
One that struck me the most though was a song I hadn't heard before but apparently appeared on the third Highwaymen album. Called, Here Comes A Rainbow Again, it was a tale of a waitress lying about the price of some candy so some poor kids could afford a piece each and her kindness being paid back by a watchful customer in his tip to her. So simple, just a little slice of life, but incredibly moving for it: Kristofferson's lyrics poetic yet relatable, it felt like we were gathering around him (especially in the intimacy of such a small venue) to hear the stories he had to tell.
There were plenty of other poignant moments in the songs he had written for his kids (he has eight apparently!) and "all their mamas" but I was particularly taken with a song written for his father called The Heart in which he sang of his dad being able to "light up the room with just his smile" and "I was proud of hell to be his kid." It reminded my of my own dad and made me tear up a little, such is the power of music.
Clearly at the end of it all the audience was feeling much the same way as I was and he was called back for two encores, ending with a beautifully emotional version of Why Me Lord that seemed almost a thank you to the appreciative audience. In fact, rather touchingly, Kristofferson appeared overwhelmed by the warm, loving feeling towards him, which was 100 per cent deserved and rather nicely spent a long time at the very end of the show shaking hands with those at the front and signing autographs.
But throughout I knew that this was a show that was a real privilege to be at and Kristofferson is certainly proof of his own lyrics: "the heart is all that matters in the end" because heart he has in spades, in his songs, in his performance and in his demeanour. All the marks of a true legend in fact.
And great he is: he's a merely competent guitar and harmonica player and his voice is a gruff Johnny Cash-like speak-sing, but yet, standing alone on the beautiful Cadogan Hall stage, silver-haired and armed with just his black guitar, he manages to transport the audience with every song, all little stories that sum up humanity from their bleakest moments to the small kindnesses that make life worth living. There's no doubt that not only does Kristofferson have the kind of charisma to overcome his shortcomings to mesmerise his audience, he also exudes a kind of realness to carry these tales off: everything he says you believe him, he really has lived these tunes. Most of all though, he's one hell of a songwriter and hearing him sing them back to back, you suddenly realise just how many incredible iconic songs he's written, not just for himself, but for other singers too (many of which he namechecks): Me & Bobby McGee for old girlfriend Janis Joplin, Best Of All Possible Worlds for Roger Miller, Sunday Morning Coming Down for old friend and fellow Highwayman Johnny Cash, to name but a few (because I really could go on and on).
One that struck me the most though was a song I hadn't heard before but apparently appeared on the third Highwaymen album. Called, Here Comes A Rainbow Again, it was a tale of a waitress lying about the price of some candy so some poor kids could afford a piece each and her kindness being paid back by a watchful customer in his tip to her. So simple, just a little slice of life, but incredibly moving for it: Kristofferson's lyrics poetic yet relatable, it felt like we were gathering around him (especially in the intimacy of such a small venue) to hear the stories he had to tell.
There were plenty of other poignant moments in the songs he had written for his kids (he has eight apparently!) and "all their mamas" but I was particularly taken with a song written for his father called The Heart in which he sang of his dad being able to "light up the room with just his smile" and "I was proud of hell to be his kid." It reminded my of my own dad and made me tear up a little, such is the power of music.
Clearly at the end of it all the audience was feeling much the same way as I was and he was called back for two encores, ending with a beautifully emotional version of Why Me Lord that seemed almost a thank you to the appreciative audience. In fact, rather touchingly, Kristofferson appeared overwhelmed by the warm, loving feeling towards him, which was 100 per cent deserved and rather nicely spent a long time at the very end of the show shaking hands with those at the front and signing autographs.
But throughout I knew that this was a show that was a real privilege to be at and Kristofferson is certainly proof of his own lyrics: "the heart is all that matters in the end" because heart he has in spades, in his songs, in his performance and in his demeanour. All the marks of a true legend in fact.
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