Thanks to Rick Maue for submiting this review of Kris' show in Pittsburgh:'There are moments in all of our lives that help to define who--and what--we are. At age 47, I experienced one of those moments last evening as Kris Kristofferson took the stage at The Rex Theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. An old converted movie house, The Rex normally plays home to acts that are certainly much flashier, much louder, and much younger--and yet, I would also bet, much less passionate. The employees at the venue were very surprised at how early in the day the line began to form, but that is probably because they simply did not understand that this was not merely another concert--it was a reunion.
'At 8:00, a buzz near the back of the hall began, and it quickly grew to loud applause as Kristofferson was being led down the side aisle toward the stage. As he climbed the stairs, the crowd was standing--and they respectfully quieted themselves as the familiar opening chords of "Shipwrecked in the Eighties" rang out. From there, it was "Darby’s Castle", and "Me and Bobby McGee"--all of our old friends were here, and the reunion was in full swing.
'As with any concert, the audience was there to hear the songs that they love, but after all these years, a Kristofferson performance is about much more than just the songs he sings--it is about the man that first breathed life into those songs. Each lyric is another weathered photograph in an aging photo album, and each can bring a smile, or a tear--both of which were in great abundance last night.
'The first half of the evening was like a great songwriter’s history lesson as Kris led the audience through one classic after another--stopping between them, every so often, to say a few words. When he announced that he would play one more, and then there would be a short intermission, it was a bit surreal because it seemed like he had just climbed onto the stage a few moments before. Amazingly, it was almost 9:00, but like a great magician, Kristofferson seemingly made that hour vanish right before our eyes--but in truth, he magically transformed those fifty-plus minutes into a treasured collection of memories that will last a lifetime.
'The second half brought a wonderful combination of the old and the new. Showcasing a number of selections from "This Old Road", Kristofferson transformed from merely one of the greatest songwriters in history, into a solid, ageless force--the kind that is so desperately rare in the music of today. His honest lyrics provided clues to his inner passion; and his ability to share that passion with an audience is simplyunmatched. And personally, with almost four decades of concerts under my belt, I have never seen an audience respect a performer more than Kris Kristofferson. After all, in our sound-byte, short-attention-span world, it is just about impossible to enjoy any performer without constant distractions--the hustle and bustle of audience members going in and out of the hall; the annoying discussions; obnoxious people repeatedly calling out; and others that are simply not paying attention. Last night, you could hear a pin drop. Even Kris commented on how quiet it was--but believe me, it today’s world, silence is rare, and it is certainly a sign of absolute respect.
'As the evening was coming to a close, it was obvious that the vast majority of the patrons simply did not want it to end. But the troubadour had completed his job masterfully, and now it was time for each and every one of us to carry his passion as we go along our own personal path. After all, as I said before, there are moments in all of our lives that help to define who--and what--we are. At age 47, I experienced one of those moments last evening as Kris Kristofferson reminded me about how important he has been to my life--and how his passion and honesty has helped to shape me as a person. In today’s self-involved iPod world, it is rare that an individual can tell us so much about ourselves by simply telling us about himself. And although we have all come a long way, there is still quite a bit of road to travel--but we have a great teacher walking with us. There is only one Kris Kristofferson, and we are all very lucky to have him in our lives.
'And if any of you will be at the show in Annapolis on April 4th, I look forward to seeing you there.'
