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Old 05-23-2017, 11:30 PM   #1
buzzard
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Default Kristofferson & Lightfoot

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to scratch an item off my bucket list – attend a Kris Kristofferson concert. Considering that the man is 80 and that on many days I feel like 80, I figured it was time to take action. So off we went to Shipshewana.

And I’m so glad we did. On the drive home from Indiana, I had lots of time to reflect and I thought a lot about Kris Kristofferson and Gordon Lightfoot – two great singer/songwriters who came into prominence around the same time and carved out two great careers that spanned over fifty years.

In March, we saw Gordon Lightfoot in Nashville. So I thought about the similarities and differences in the shows put on by a 78 year old Gordon Lightfoot and an 80 Kris Kristofferson. So here goes:

VOICE Kris’ voice was much stronger and closer to that of his prime. But that is not surprising considering the significant health issues that Gord has overcome.

BAND For Kris, there was none. Just him and his 6 string acoustic guitar (he also did play harmonica for three songs). This was probably the most significant difference. Because it was just him, he had to do it all – pick the notes, sing the words and maintain the tempo. As a result, all of the songs were MUCH slower than the originals. This was especially evident on Help Me Make It Through the Night. For most of Kris’ songs, he said “Thank you” before the audience began applauding – only because the end of the song was a bit unclear. I think having the band makes it much easier for Gord to maintain the tempos we remember.

AUDIENCE INTERACTION Gord is known for not having a lot of interaction with his audiences. But Kris had much less. I recall just one anecdote. After The Silver Tongued Devil, he said that many years ago he had played that song and his son, who was about five at the time, said “That’s a bad song”. He asked his son, “Why do you say that?”. The reply was “Because you are blaming someone else for the bad things you do”. Then Kris said, “I think we came together on that one”.

STAGE PRESENCE Kris came out with his six string, and didn’t move more than six inches either way until he left the stage. Gord frequently changed guitars – from 6 to 12 and back. He often tuned them a bit and moved over to various band members, especially when they did an instrumental solo.

CONCERT FORMAT Almost identical. Two sets of about 50 minutes each, with a 15 minute intermission and one encore song (Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends for Kris). Because his songs tend to be a bit shorter, Kris did a few more songs – 14 in the first set, 16 in the second, and an encore.

Finally, Kristofferson still has that devilish sparkle in his eye and great hair (even if it’s all gray). I had heard unfavourable reviews (forgetting lyrics, out of tune), but I did not see any of that. And the guy is off on a European tour next month!

Brian
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Old 05-24-2017, 09:15 AM   #2
charlene
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Default Re: Kristofferson & Lightfoot

They both make my heart skip a beat...still..and Kris was a fave of mine before Gordon. I saw Kris a few years ago at Casino Rama in Orillia, hometown of Gordon and he had been doing his one man show for a while at that time. He's a notoriously shy man and has always seemed incredibly uncomfortable onstage..even bak when I saw him in 1973 at Massey Hall with a band and Rita Coolidge, and when Gordon got onstage and sang Bobby McGee with him. I've seen Kris several times since then and must say I love the stripped down solo show so much. His songs are poetry, he has such emotion in his voice when he sings them that I think he feels a lot of emotion onstage. I have seen him receive awards, give awards, speak of his music buddies etc. and it is rare that he does not either get teary or actually cry.
That he and Gordon have maintained their friendship over the years makes me happy...
I am SO happy you saw Kris..a music legend for sure and another of his generation that still wants to put himself out there and be heard..
thanks for the report Brian!!
(and yes-he has awesome hair and still has that twinkle in his eye and sly grin that makes me smile..)
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Old 06-25-2017, 09:08 PM   #3
charlene
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Default Re: Kristofferson & Lightfoot

http://www.inquisitr.com/opinion/432...t-glastonbury/
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Old 06-26-2017, 09:47 AM   #4
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Default Re: Kristofferson & Lightfoot

Quote:
Originally Posted by charlene View Post
Great find Char I enjoyed reading about Johnny Depo's helping Kris out on stage at Glastonbury recently
I remember that Glastonbury wa a nice 20 odd mile journey from my hometown of Sherborne in the UK and how one Saturday near the end of my schooldays together with a friend (Alan Thacker now a Lightfoot fan who I took to see Gord at the Royal Albert Hall in May 1981 and again in February 2008 in Tampa Florida) we got permission to take a party of about 30 younger (12-14 year old boys) on a cycling outing to see the Tor. Everone completed the round trip but it took rather longer than 43 minutes each way!!!

the climb up the Tor was well worth it to see the view


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Old 06-26-2017, 11:07 AM   #5
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Default Re: Kristofferson & Lightfoot

On that walk up to tne top of Glastonbury Tor we would have undoubtedly seen some of the famous local sheep grazing,famous because their legs on one side are slightly shorter than on the other so that they do not fall over when standing on a hill!!!
But I see that Scottish sheep on the other hand have shorter front legs than back for the same reason ain't nature wonderful??

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