Kris Kristofferson thrills capacity crowd at The Coach House

Kris Kristofferson performing at The Coach House on Jan. 14,
2018. Photo: Bob Steshetz

At 81, singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson remains at the top of his game.

The simple truth is that while Kristofferson's deep and raspy baritone may not ring out as clearly as it used to and his guitar playing is not perfect, his delivery of stirring and often heart-rending songs is as powerful as ever; he is an artist adept at capturing the mysterious and far-flung realms of love, human injustice, mortality and faith with a lyrical style that is both magically poetic and remarkably simple.

At The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Sunday night (Jan. 14, 2018), the Texas native performed a fast-moving 90-minute set of more than two dozen brilliant songs – all thankfully free of the cliches that have sadly become far too common in contemporary country music. Accompanied by his own acoustic guitar as well as his nephew (also playing acoustic guitar and adding some sublime backing vocals), Kristofferson's setlist included many of his best and most-beloved songs. 

The crowd cheered in appreciation when Kristofferson came on stage at 7:30 p.m. and the energy and power of the performance never waned. Opening with "Shipwrecked in the Eighties," Kristofferson added a few harmonica blasts from the instrument fastened to a neck rack to the song's sparse arrangement.

That striking performance was only the beginning. "Me and Bobby McGee" was offered up early, its force heightened by Kristofferson's very presence.

Kristofferson could elicit laughs with some of his more comedic material - as evidenced by "Best of All Possible Worlds" and "Rocket to Stardom." But to be sure, the tales of romantic longing ("Help Me Make It Through the Night"), compelling stories of the downtrodden ("Casey's Last Ride," "Here Comes That Rainbow Again"), introspective looks at life ("Nobody Wins," Just the Other Side of Nowhere," "From Here to Forever," the latter written for his children) and spiritual forces ("To Beat the Devil," "Jesus Was a Capricorn," "Why Me") are those gems that struck most intensely. 

One of the most impactful songs was "They Killed Him," whose lyrics touch on great men murdered trying to do the right thing. The middle section penned about Martin Luther King Jr. was especially poignant on the eve of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The song's musical and lyrical might was undimmed despite the fact it was written decades ago. Such is the gift of Kristofferson's timeless songs.

The night ended with the aptly-placed "Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends." "This Might Be Our Last Good Night Together," he sang in the song's opening line. 

I for one, hope Kristofferson has many, many more nights as perfect as the one that played out in San Juan Capistrano last night. 

Kris Kristofferson setlist at The Coach House on Jan. 14, 2018

Shipwrecked in the Eighties / Darby's Castle / Me And Bobby McGee / Here Comes that Rainbow Again / Best Of All Possible Worlds / Help Me Make It Through the Night / Casey's Last Ride / Rocket to Stardom / Nobody Wins / Feeling Mortal / From here to Forever / Broken Freedom Song / Loving Her Was Easier / Just the Other Side of Nowhere / Duvalier's Dream / I'd Rather Be Sorry / They Killed Him / Jody and the Kid / The Pilgrim / Jesus Was A Capricorn / To Beat The Devil / Sunday Morning Coming Down / Silver Tongued Devil / For the Good Times / A Moment of Forever / Why Me? / Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends

Review by Robert Kinsler

Photos courtesy of Bob Steshetz