Oh this is so, so sad!! I absolutely love Kris! I think he may have lost
his spirit when Stephen Bruton died in 2009.
Thanks very much for this article, Vickie.
Nance
On Sat, Mar 25, 2017 at 9:05 PM, Vickie <rolisonv@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Kris Kristofferson and the sad, off-key ravages of time
Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune
on
Mar 24, 2017
Published in
Entertainment News
Kris Kristofferson performs at at City Winery on March 22, 2017 in
Chicago. (Nuccio
DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune/TNS)
CHICAGO -- Few concert experiences are more dispiriting than watching a
proven artist
flounder onstage. Especially when the performer happens to be an icon. His
glory
days behind him, Kris Kristofferson played a 95-minute show Wednesday at a
sold-out
City Winery that engendered feelings of pity, discomfort and bewilderment.
Witnessing
the 80-year-old singer-songwriter/actor struggle to get through even a
single verse
without mistakes raised the question of why he chose the solo route -- and
put his
dignity at risk.
To their credit, a majority of those in the audience afforded
Kristofferson the respect
warranted by a legend and leeway justified by his age. While dozens of
people left
during the two sets and intermission, many warmly applauded, recognizing
the toll
time takes on musicians dependent on their voice.
Yet Kristofferson sounded ravaged, his once-flinty tone decimated and his
deliveries
reduced to croaks and wheezes. Frail and off-key, he often barely managed
to get
words out of his mouth. Relying on scrolled lyrics, he recited more than
he sang,
the approach worsened by abrupt halts and throat-clearing breaks. The
rough, weather-beaten
results -- full of creaks, crevasses and crags -- made for an extremely
difficult
listen.
Kristofferson's guitar skills fared no better. Akin to his singing, the
acoustic
instrument remained out of tune. He fumbled to find the right chords and
maintain
melody. Bum notes and reverberating strings distracted from the songs'
poetry. Kristofferson's
picking appeared random and uncertain, unable to follow any pattern. On
multiple
occasions, the Texas native tilted his head and stared at his left hand,
as if the
action might somehow cure the problems. Another guitarist, who could
provide steadiness
and facilitate storytelling banter, was sorely needed.
Tragically, Kristofferson realized his shortcomings and tried to joke
about them.
By doing so, however, he threatened to turn himself into a punch line at
his own
concert. Multiple remarks -- "That was horrible"; "There's no point in
playing when
you can't play, it's over"; "The only thing that matches my singing is my
guitar
playing" -- and the revelation that he forgot he was wearing a harmonica
around his
neck didn't seem humorous. Neither did his bizarre laughter during serious
moments.
Instead, it all came across as painfully awkward and matter-of-fact.
Particularly
given Kristofferson's recent battles with memory loss.
For all the challenges, the outlaw-country veteran enjoyed a handful of
consistent
segments during the second set. Kristofferson personally connected with
"Sunday Mornin'
Comin' Down," "Why Me" and "The Pilgrim: Chapter 33." He also framed
"Please Don't
Tell Me How the Story Ends" as a built-to-last farewell. Too bad it
arrived amid
such lamentable circumstances.
(c)2017 Chicago Tribune
