Concert Reviews

Carolyn Dawn Johnson

February 18, 2000 Masonic Auditorium
San Francisco, CA

Concert Review by Jeff Krasky

Kelly Willis made another welcomed appearance in San Francisco on February 18, opening for the living legend George Jones. The Masonic Auditorium has an incredible atmosphere, it's a very small auditorium and there really isn't a bad seat in the entire house. Willis used this to her advantage and provided fans with a very intimate performance.

Kelly only played a 45 minute set but she always took time to pause and share stores with the crowd which made it feel like she was there to perform her usual headliner show. Simply put, she had the crowd captivated from the second she walked onto that stage. The best joke of the evening was when Kelly said she and her husband (Bruce Robision) fell in love listening to a George Jones song. She got the meaning of the song wrong and she said her stupid mistake must have made Bruce like her and that she didn't know whether to thank George or thank her parents for raising her so dumb. Everyone got a good laugh out of that one.

The playlist covered mainly songs from her new release What I Deserve but as usual Kelly did a nice job of playing some of her older tunes as well. Highlights were “Wrapped”, “Take It All Out On You”, “Heaven's Just A Sin Away”, “I Don't Want To Love You (But I Do)”, “What I Deserve” and “Cradle of Love”.

Every song was performed with flawless vocals and powerful instrumentals from Amy Farris (man can that woman play the fiddle) and the other members of Kelly's band. The whole time you never felt that Kelly was rushing through to get to as many songs as possible or just wanted to get the show over with. It genuinely seemed that there was no where else that she would rather be at that particular moment.

Another top notch concert experience from Kelly Willis. If you have seen her before, go see her again. Each show has been a totally different experience (not something I can say for some bands I've seen multiple times like Brooks & Dunn) and if you haven't had the chance to see her yet. Go as soon as the opportunity presents itself. Kelly Willis is simply the most talented vocalist/performer in country music today. Period.