Gladys Knight gives voice to her troubles, triumphs

Gladys Knight 8 p.m. today and Sunday Star Plaza, I-65 & U.S. 30, Merrillville

$35(312) 559-1212LAS VEGAS "Life is hard," Gladys Knight announces from the stage toa murmuring chorus of assent - mmm-hmmm - from the folks in thefolding chairs.It's a hot desert night with only a timid breeze. Knight's justslashed through a scorching version of "Ain't No Mountain HighEnough" that really should prompt Diana Ross to take earlyretirement, and now the audience at this outdoor concert is noddingat one of her between-song homilies, part patter, part sermon."It was designed to be that way, happy as we would like it tobe," Knight goes on, a bit sorrowfully, discussing life."It is …