Jim Messina and his band gave the audience at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, also known as “The Kate,” a stellar night of music and a bit of nostalgia. He’s spent the last 50 years writing and singing folk, rock and country music that’s left an indelible mark on the music world.
Messina was joined by Gary Oleyar on fiddle and guitar, Craig Thomas on saxophone and woodwinds, Michael Brady on bass, Dave Beyer on drums.
The world renowned singer and songwriter has been giving his all to audiences since high school. He was already building a career in record engineering before he was approached to join Buffalo Springfield. Messina became a bass player for the band replacing Bruce Palmer who was leaving. He played and toured with the Buffalo Springfield up until the completion and release of their album Last Time Around.
Messina and Richie Furay joined together in 1968 as founding members of Poco, which was a turning point band in music of the era joining country and rock together is what was forever after called country-rock. Messina left Poco and went his own way after tiring of the touring schedule and his desire to go back into producing.
In 1970 Loggins and Messina formed and they released their first album in 1971. Together the duo made a total of 12 albums including live and compilation albums. 1973’s Full Sail and 1974’s Mother Lode reaching the Top 10 on the Billboard top 200 list.
Messina went solo and recorded four albums: 1979’s album Oasis; 1981’s; 1983’s One More Mile; and 1996’s re-imagined retrospective of concert favorites Watching The River Run Revisited. He released “In The Groove” in 2016 including a guest appearance by his friend and former bandmate Rusty Young.
A medley of “Traveling Blues,” “House on Pooh Corner” and “Thinking of You.” Messina’s voice with the rest of the band harmonizing has not lost anything through the years. He did fantastic renditions of each of the songs in the set.
The band “Country Song/Holiday Hotel” before adjourning for a short intermission. They returned to the stage and continued to with “Lovin’ Me,” “Make Your Woman Feel Wanted” and “Peace of Mind.” Messina encouraged the audience to sing along and was pleased with the resulting participation on “Peace of Mind.”
They performed “Be Free” with Messina on mandolin, Oleyar on fiddle, and Thomas on flute. The length of this song allowed Oleyar and Thomas to shine with solos.
The encore was two always audience favorites “You Need a Man” and “Your Mama Don’t Dance.”
Messina is like a fine wine, he just gets better as he ages. This performance at The Kate was wonderfully done and all the players were great at their instruments and vocals. If you get the chance to seen him play anywhere do so.
http://www.jimmessina.com
Review by Donna Erichsen
Photos by George Bekris
Setlist:
Mojito Moon
Traveling Blues
Watching the River Run
House on Pooh Corner
Danny’s Song
Thinking of You
Whispering Waters
Follow Your Dreams
Kind Woman
Country Song – Holiday Hotel
Intermission:
Lovin’ Me
Make Your Woman Feel Wanted
Peace of Mind
Be Free
Angry Eyes
