Makin’ it through the night
Now that Kris Kristofferson is 80, one of the most notable and frankly spooky things about his priceless cache of songs is how incredibly wise and melancholy they are — almost as though he'd written them two weeks ago rather than as a young man.
Kristofferson performs solo Saturday in New London's Garde Arts Center. It's an interesting strategy because Time does cruel things to a musician's voice and dexterity, and there'll be no other players or backing vocalists to give ensemble texture to the performance.
On the other hand, Kristofferson's one of those Waits/Dylan/Willie/Cash guys whose singing style isn't exactly operatic to begin with — and that's part of their charm.
One thing's for certain: it's worth the price of a ticket just to SEE the man who wrote "Sunday Morning Coming Down" (maybe the finest "hangovers are part of my life, but SUNDAY hangovers are really rough" laments ever); "For the Good Times" (one of the best "it's mutually over so we might as well, ah, do it one more time ..." relationship songs ever); "Me and Bobbie McGee" (one of the best "I screwed up and let her go" songs ever); "Help Me Make It Through the Night" (one of the best "I'm bottoming out and need a friend – preferably YOU" songs ever); and many more.
Kris Kristofferson, 8 p.m. Saturday, Garde Arts Center, 325 State St., New London; $52-$73; (860) 444-7373.