Concert Review
Kris Kristofferson
Seneca Allegany Events Center
Salamanca, NY
Saturday January 28, 2017
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
Sometimes he’s an actor, sometimes a songwriter, however on Saturday evening inside the Seneca Allegany Events Center, his talent as a singer and musician was on full display. Kris Kristofferson performed with not only an acoustic guitar and a harmonica draped around his neck, but did so without anyone else. Quite a feat considering Kristofferson has now reached 80. He performed with a zest and had the attention of the crowd from the first note. Generally when artists play acoustically there are a lot of people hooting and hollering throughout the show. This show was different as the fans really paid attention to what Kristofferson sang as he reeled off 28 songs most of which without as much of a water break between.
The ninety minute set featured many familiar songs. Kristofferson is regarded as one of the greatest songwriters in the history of music. He has had many famous artists record his songs. Perhaps his best known song “Me and Bobby McGee”, made famous by Janis Joplin, was played very early in the show.
Kristofferson has always said “I can’t think of a song that I’ve written that I don’t like the way somebody else sings it better.” He has never considered himself a good singer. Despite his advanced age, his voice was still strong and as rugged sounding as it ever has.
Among the many highlights were “Sunday Morning Coming Down”, “Help Me Make It Through The Night” and “For The Good Times”, the song Ray Price took to the top of the country charts in 1970. Other songs which stood out for me lyrically were “Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)” and the emotive “Why Me” which topped the Billboard Country charts in 1973.
Thought at first to be battling Alzheimer’s disease the last few years, doctors have recently determined he has Lyme disease. He was experiencing memory loss and contracted other side effects due to being on the wrong medications. Seeing him perform Saturday night, you can tell he was feeling better as he really seemed to be enjoying himself. At this time in his life he has nothing left to prove and could easily ride off into the sunset. He still keeps quite busy doing small acting parts and playing occasional shows. The lucky ones though were the the fans who attended the show as they were able to see a legendary outlaw perform from a remarkable catalog of songs.
Set List
Shipwrecked in the Eighties
Darby’s Castle
Me and Bobby McGee
Here Comes That Rainbow Again
Best of All Possible Worlds
Help Me Make It Through The Night
Casey’s Last Ride
Nobody Wins
Rocket to Stardom
Feeling Mortal
From Here to Forever
Broken Freedom Song
Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)
Just the Other Side of Nowhere
Duvalier’s Dream
I’d Rather Be Sorry
They Killed Him
Jody and the Kid
The Pilgrim
Jesus Was a Capricorn
The Promise
To Beat the Devil
Sunday Morning Coming Down
The Silver Tongued Devil and I
For the Good Times
A Moment of Forever
Why Me
Encore
Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends
