Rita H goes to see 2 old guys playing and 1 is still very cool

Rita goes to Carnegie! George Jones and Kristofferson at Carnegie Hall. i first heard Kristofferson when I was like 10 and i oddly ended up with Kris Kristofferson’s Greatest Hits. First, I fell in teenage love with the cover and then the music got me in ways that belied my young years. I now look back on that album as my introduction to country music (in mount vernon, new york!) and beer. Well yes cuz the lyric “ the beer i had for breakfast wasn’t bad so i had one more for dessert” convinced me that I couldn’t wait to be a grown up so I could try that someday too. For the record, it’s not really that good.

It was Kris, solo, acoustic...told a few stories, gave many respectful shout outs--Johnny and June, Janis, Lennon..., and that catalog of songs. Sure, he’s not the best singer and not the best guitar player but it SO doesn’t matter with his honest, confident delivery. He did Sunday Morning, Help Me Make it Through the Night, For the Good Times and a newer one that we played on FUV and i was so happy that a lot of people in the crowd seemed to recognize it--This Old Road...great. He also seemed to be very into playing something that was more current for him. Ah, the curse of a mighty catalog!

George Jones on the other hand was just not really cool. well it was cool for a few songs but i got bored. The presentation, the band, it’s was all so slick. Plus, his voice, bless his heart, was not in good shape. I was thinking about Tony Bennett by comparsion or even Frank Sinatra who I wished i was seeing last nite. There was also a slide show...a pandering, mellow dramatic, let’s flash the images of dead people slide show....funny how the audience would clap for certain people--Johnny Cash and Patsy but then not so much for well, let’s say Lefty Frizell.

So, i split a bit early, got in my car and listened to George Jones on my IPOD. That was much better

I had a great dinner before the show at Molyvos! Fantastic Greek food...check it out next time you’re at Carnegie.

Next time for me will be Alejandro Escovedo w strings in December!