Review: Kenny Rogers

The Gambler at VooDoo Lounge Friday night. Photo by Mike Ransdell | The Star

Kenny Rogers is an artistic alchemist. He's managed to transform a limited set of skills into a startlingly successful career.

Rogers lacks the eccentric brilliance of Willie Nelson, the musicality of Barry Manilow and the magnetism of Elvis Presley. As if by magic, however, Rogers has improbably synthesized the most ingratiating elements of these more gifted men into a persona that has made him one of the most commercially successful recording artists of the last half century.

At this stage in his illustrious career, Rogers, 72, needed to do little more than amble onto the stage of the VooDoo Lounge at Harrah's Casino to satisfy Friday's capacity audience of approximately 700. The opportunity to bask in his radiant presence would have been sufficient for many of his longtime fans. As an old-fashioned showman, however, Rogers offered almost 90 minutes of songs, jokes and stories. His stage patter may be carefully scripted, but it's far from stale. He acknowledged the composition of the audience early in his entertaining show.

"I bet I could point out with a great deal of accuracy the men who didn't want to be hear tonight," Rogers kidded.  

He also gently teased overly enthusiastic women in the audience.

"I think binoculars in the first 10 rows are an invasion of privacy," he suggested upon spotting one aberrant fan. 

Rogers' speaking voice was hardly distinguishable from his singing. It didn't matter. His haggard growl has long been one of Rogers' lovable trademarks. A fine eight-piece band helped mask the star's vocal deficiencies. They sounded as if they were transported directly from an early '80s Nashville recording studio. The band only veered from its processed sound on "Something's Burning" and "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)," psychedelic hits from Rogers' stint with The First Edition.

"I have had an incredible career singing about dysfunctional families," Rogers said after delivering an excellent version of the cheating song "Daytime Friends."

Although it was immensely satisfying to hear Rogers perform disturbing story songs like "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town," he was at his best on sentimental ballads. Material like "Lady" and "You Decorated My Life" would be embarrassingly smarmy if performed by almost anyone else. Rogers, however, converts sappy songs into works of art. After all, he's made a career of turning garbage into gold.

Set list: Love or Something Like It; It's a Beautiful Life; If You Want to Find Love; Through the Years; You Decorated My Life; She Believes In Me; Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town; The Greatest;  She's a Mystery; Love the World Away; Instrumental violin feature; Share Your Love With Me; Crazy; I Don't Need You; Coward of the County; Daytime Friends; Buy Me a Rose; Something's Burning; Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In); We've Got Tonight; Have a Little Faith In Me; The Gambler; Lucille; Lady; Islands In the Stream.

| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star

Comments

[mike_smithya@yahoo.com]

Everyone check out the new MO Stompin' music video. Shit is hot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1OKz5E_gog

[Mad Keith Beyond Geezerdome]

Funny that the review gets moved but comments don't. As I asked early this morning, who is Bill Brownlee and why should I care about his opinion? Does he prefer "music" frompeople who never could sing like rappers and Rebecca Black and Bob Dylan? I don't know where he's coming from.

[Bubba]

I'm not trying to be a smart-ass, but SERIOUSLY, I didn't even know KENNY ROGERS was still alive. I'm glad he can still give his fans a good show.

[Kurt]

Kenny Rogers had a show at the Independence Events Center about a year ago or so.

[Bubba]

Kurt, I usually sort of ignore what's happening at the Independence Events Center - except the ROB ZOMBIE / ALICE COOPER / MURDER DOLLS Halloween bash last Oct. 6.

Like former Mayor Funkhouser mentioned just prior to the opening of the Sprint Center, GIVE it a few years and Kansas City will have plenty of event halls sitting empty. SEEMS like every other month, I see a concert booked for some venue I've never even heard of. The Independence Events Center is a nice place to see a show - I must say. Bubba said it.

[BB fan]

Anyone who compares Rebecca Black to Bob Dylan is unworthy to have/post an opinion. period.

Thank you, again, Bill Brownlee for working another show, and posting other review. Keep em coming man, you are doing great work.

BB,
It is nice to have a good man like you around to do reviews. KC is lucky to have you.

I hope you weight the good things said about you equal or more, than negative things said about you.

[mike t.]

brownlee's pedigree in music is unbeknownst to me. for example, i don't know if he's is/was a trained musician (methinks not) or studied music theory at the graduate school level. but if you read his Plastic Sax and There Stands the Glass blogs (posted as Happy in Bag), plus his numerous reviews here, you easily gather his musical knowledge runs very deep and very wide.

the more you listen, the more you see, the more you know.

mike t. aka fiddler

[eddieroot]

I actually prefer Mr. Brownlee's reviews to those of Mr. Finn.

[pellboy]

Am I missing something? Brownlee's review seemed pretty accurate (Rogers DOES have limited vocal skills) and respectful (he said he's a a very good showman)to me.