Chapter33.com: 2006-03-05

Special thanks to Heather and Catherine for sending in the first feedback of a Kris show! And, if you were at the Troubadour or are going to a later show, send reviews, photos, set-lists, thoughts or anything else to glesnick@gmail.com

"The venue was just right for Kris, and for the audience. I sat on the stage while waiting for kris to come on, Stephen Bruton came on stage to tune up and was close and friendly enough to talk to. During the concert, Kris' kids would go up and down the stairs next to the stage, waiting til the end of the song, out of respect for their father. We could hear Kris' boots tapping to his music as he sang. He heard and responded to our comments during the concert. My daughter, Catherine, wore a T-shirt with Kris in his younger days, and he pointed it out and smiled at her during This Old Road. Kris sang a well mixed compilation from several of his CD's including most of his new CD, just leaving out Wild American and The Show Goes On. We weren't able to get his set list, another fan did, but we did get a picture of it. And although I would have listened all night, he played for about 2 and a half hours, even though he had problems with cramping in his hands. But he didn't seem to want to disappoint his audience, even coming back for a four-song encore. After the concert, quite a few stayed for autographs, however, his hands were bothering him so bad, he was unable to, although very willing. He did attempt to accommodate his fans despite his obvious pain. His wife, Lisa, was there to save him, requesting that we please not ask him to sign. There were a few that chose not to honor her three requests, and got their precious autographs, but I feel that if you respect him enough as a person, it will override your desire to walk away with such ill-gotten gains. As Kris sings, "Am I high enough on the chain of evolution to respect myself and my brother ...?" We were very happy to talk with Tracy, and the other children, even having them sign the CD. Lisa signed for her and Kris, and Jesse offered to take our picture with his father. We even brought home the Gatorade he was drinking on stage. And even though we would have killed for an autograph, all in all, it was a concert we will never forget. This was my daughter's first Kris concert, and it brought tears to her eyes. We look forward to the rest of his tour, leaving for the east coast next Thursday, but nothing can match the Troubadour." - Heather (and Catherine) ¶ 3/10/2006 09:32:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

A look at some of the latest "This Old Road" reviews

Springfield (Mass.) Republican Three and a half stars - "With This Old Road,' Kristofferson reaffirms his status as one of America's great lyric writers, still relevant, still searching, still making a whole lot of sense out of the madness in the world."

The Associated Press - "Whatever the reason, the groundbreaking songwriter has created a late-in-life collection as uncompromising and as personal as the classic '70s albums that launched his career."

Uncut Magazine: "Country sage's first in 11years is worth the wait. With Don Was's stripped production enough to make Rick Rubin's Johmmy Cash LP's sound fussy, Kristofferson's comeback is a quietly glorious affair. His voice mostly a low rumble over picked quitar, the man who united the long-haired rock crowd with Nashville's early 70's outlaw is in reflective mood. 'Holy Creation' and ' Thankyou for a life' are wiry paeans to domestic bliss, but a rebel heart still beats. Citing Steve Earle and Merle Heggard 'Willd Americans' celebrates heroes who define freedom in a suppossed democracy, while the unerving 'In the News' rails against a maniacal US foreign policy." ¶ 3/10/2006 06:48:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Tom Roland of the Hollywood Reporter reviewed Kris' show at the Troubadour Wednesday night. Roland wrote favorably of Kris' performance, noting "Kristofferson showcased his material in a fitting manner. His voice is weathered and craggy, particularly in his lower register, and he's erratic and simplistic as a guitarist. But that only highlighted the introspection and vulnerability in his songs, which aspire to heroism while recognizing epic failure. Loneliness, spirituality and mature, bonded love provided subthemes in such titles as "Help Me Make It Through the Night," "The Heart" and "Thank You for a Life," as Kristofferson subtly tackled the pain and beauty of self-exploration and self-acceptance."
Click here to read the whole thing. ¶ 3/09/2006 10:29:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Kris plays the Troubadour tonight to open his tour. The show is sold out, but click here to visit the venue's Web site for information on parking and starting times. Also, if you're attending the show, please submit any reviews, set-lists (even if incomplete), photos or just random thoughts about the show and they'll be posted. The same goes for later shows - please submit anything and everything to glesnick@gmail.com.
Click here for Kris' tour itinerary. ¶ 3/08/2006 04:31:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Kris performed "This Old Road" Tuesday night on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, alongside Stephen Bruton and Don Was. If you missed it, a version of the video is available on You Tube. ¶ 3/08/2006 04:30:00 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

The latest reviews:

Chart Attack: "It won't set the world on fire like the Cash/Rubin (or even Lynn/White) collaboration, but it's pleasant enough."

SeattlePi.com: "B+ ... These are powerful songs, delivered with humble grace."

SFGate.com: "The substance comes from the conviction in his ashy growl and the quality of his lyrics, whether about love, friends, growing old, or the mess the government has made of America." ¶ 3/08/2006 01:07:00 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

Reuters has a great story about Kris and "This Old Road," in which Don Was says that the CD was recorded in one session with just Kris on guitar in a small attic recording studio.
"If you want to know what it's like having Kris Kristofferson in your room playing his songs to you, that's what it would sound like," Was tells reporter Chris Morris. "You can hear air conditioners going and refrigerators going and trucks driving by. All the sounds of this room are in there."
Kris is also interviewed in the story. Click here to read the whole thing. ¶ 3/08/2006 01:04:00 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

"This Old Road," which was officially released today, is shooting up the Amazon charts. As of 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, it had been as high as #32 - which puts it between X&Y by Coldplay and the soundtrack to Crash, for some comparison. In other Amazon news, it has a perfect rating so far with two additional reviews.
Reviewer Dean Stogsdill writes, "While, "This Old Road", as a whole, may seem to be a farewell from an old friend, to me it feels like a gift of wisdom from somebody that is just further down the trail than myself.
"Kris Kristofferson is a human that I can hold as a piece of rugged hope that keeps me burning with conviction, humanity and humility."
Meanwhile, DanD, a top 500 Amazon reviewer, calls it a "masterpiece" that will "break your heart, then put it back together again."
Click here to read the whole reviews and check the charts. ¶ 3/07/2006 03:23:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Don't forget that Kris will appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on NBC tonight. The show begins at 11:35 p.m., but musical guests are always the last part, so Kris probably won't come on until after midnight. Click here to go to the Tonight Show Web site. ¶ 3/07/2006 03:17:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Three new reviews for This Old Road:
• Nashville City Paper calls it a "a mix of sometimes solemn, sometimes passionate fare, featuring heartfelt vocals, sparing arrangements and Kristofferson’s memorable, direct lyrics, scenarios and themes." Click here to read it
• Rolling Stone's Peter Relic writes "Thirty-five years after winning a Grammy for 'Help Me Make It Through the Night,' Kristofferson has made an album to help us through our own dark times." Click here to read the full review.
• AllMusic raves that "This Old Road" is a "welcome comeback for Kristofferson; as an artist, he proves he still has plenty to offer to anyone willing enough to listen." Click here to read this review. ¶ 3/06/2006 04:32:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post