Kenny Rogers, who is celebrating his 30th year of doing Christmas shows, brought his holiday cheer to the Western New York area this past Wednesday night. The 73 year old Rogers, who doesn’t move as well as he used to, still showed his quick wit as he cracked jokes all evening long. The two (2) hour show consisted of two separate sets of music. The first contained his hits and the second was filled with Christmas songs.
Rogers had an eight (8) piece band backing him up and also had another occasional vocalist, Billy Dean, who took over at times throughout the show. Dean, however, didn’t seem to get as much appreciation from the fans. In fact, during an extended stay on vocals, a fan yelled “Where’s Kenny?” Who can argue when you have a country legend in the house and that’s who the people came to see?
A local childrens’ choir made appearances throughout the second set and really added the warm Christmas spirit to Kenny’s performance. The show was also a learning experience as Kenny told the story of how jazz singer Mel Torme wrote “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” on one of the hottest days ever recorded in California. One of the parts that didn’t go so well was when Kenny tried to sing simultaneously with Wynonna Judd, who was singing on drop down video screens, to the song “Mary, Did You Know” as the timing was off.
Overall, anytime you have the opportunity to see a living legend of Rogers’ caliber not only perform, but perform at a high level, you take it. Let’s just hope that Rogers leaves Dean and the video gadgets at home next time.
Setlists:
Set One:
Love of Something
Ruby, Don’t Take your Love to Town
You Decorated my Life/Through the Years/She Believes in Me (medley)
Coward of the County
Daytime Friends
Buy Me a Rose (Billy Dean on vocals)
Disagree (Billy Dean on vocals)
Billy the Kid (Billy Dean on vocals)
Lucile
Gambler
Lady
Islands in the Stream
Set Two:
Peanuts Theme (instrumental)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman (instrumental)
When the Bells Ring Out (Billy Dean and children’s chorus on vocals)
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (Billy Dean on vocals)
Jingle Bells (Billy Dean on vocals)
Let Them Be Little (Billy Dean on vocals)
Santa Claus is Coming to Town ((Billy Dean and children’s chorus on vocals)
Let it Snow (Kenny Rogers)
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
White Christmas
It’s Just Not Christmas (If I Can’t Spend it with You -Ronnie Milsap cover)
Mary, Did You Know (with Wynonna Judd)
O Come All Ye Faithful
Away in a Manger
O Holy Night (with children’s’ chorus)
Silent Night (with children’s’ chorus)
We Three Kings (with Billy Dean and children’s chorus on vocals)
Jesus Loves Me (with children’s’ chorus)
Joy to the World (all voices)
‘Til the Season Comes Around Again (Rogers solo with band)
We would like to thank Mike Montaro for allowing Backstageaxxess.com to review the show.
