Poster
Ticket stub
Review
POCO SURVIVES MUSICAL FEST SOUND WOES
By G. Brown, Denver Post
Headlining the American Music Festival in Winter Park on Saturday was supposed to be a magical moment for Poco, a band with strong Colorado ties. Guitarist Rusty Young and drummer George Grantham grew up playing in Denver bands, and founder Richie Furay, now a Boulder pastor, was rejoining the other four original members onstage.
The players even huddled minutes before the show to rehearse. They wanted to open with Furay’s “When it All Began,” the Poco history lesson that led off last year’s reunion album, “Legacy.” But when the band launched into the song onstage, Furay’s microphone cut out, and the potentially triumphant entrance turned into one of embarrassment and frustration.
The mishap was a harbinger of sound problems that plagued the entire set, but Poco was always a good-time band, and the band’s unpretentious approach salvaged the proceedings. Young acted as the gracious host, and the excitement was regenerated when Furay and guitarist Jim Messina harmonized on “You Better Think Twice” and bassist Randy Meisner showcased the voice that also landed him a spot in the Eagles.
Furay has stated that he can no longer participate in the Poco reunion, but the other players will pursue the project with another album next year. “A minister can’t be in a rock ‘n roll band – it’s too tense,” Young allowed backstage.
More than 2,000 fans endured intermittent rainfall to applaud the efforts of the other four acts on the day’s billing.