Jay N. Miller
Musician Jim Messina likes to say: “Luck is being ready when alternative occurs.” All through his lengthy and diversified musical profession, Messina mentioned he all the time beloved the preparation and that’s one motive why his exhibits embody an array of kinds. Messina has by no means stopped exploring new sounds. Over his profession, he labored with Buffalo Springfield, was a founding father of the country-rock band Poco and the musical companion of a younger songwriter in Loggins & Messina. He is additionally delved into Latin genres.
Messina comes via Massachusetts this weekend with three exhibits. Friday night time he’s headlining The Narrows Middle in Fall River, on Saturday he and his band carry out on the Cape Cinema in Dennis, after which Sunday night time he’ll be taking part in at Metropolis Vineyard in Boston.
Messina’s time with Buffalo Springfield is the place it began, and it’s additionally a memorable story of alternative knocking. A lifelong music lover, Messina had been honing his abilities as a recording engineer, along with his guitar taking part in means. He obtained alongside so effectively with Buffalo Springfield ‒ which included Neil Younger and Stephen Stills ‒ that the band prompt their hip younger recording engineer be elevated to producer for his or her third album.
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“I grew up in Colton, California, and we had been very poor, so I used to be decided I used to be not going again there,” Messina, 74, mentioned from a Connecticut tour cease final week. “Ahmet Ertegun referred to as me one night time and requested if I’d think about producing Buffalo Springfield. He mentioned they trusted my judgment after working with me within the studio. I used to be shocked however I mentioned ‘positive.’ Then, as soon as we began, Bruce Palmer, their bass participant, preferred to mess around with herbs. He referred to as the police one night time, complaining about his neighbor’s music being too loud. When the cops got here, they talked to Bruce and seen a bag of herbs on his desk, so that they ended up busting him.
“Since he was Canadian, he was additionally deported ‒ despatched again to Canada. Buffalo Springfield had a cattle name for a brand new bassist, and I used to be the final one to play, however I made the gig. I had solely discovered the bass a short while earlier than that, after I was constructing a studio with Joe Osborne, and I had purchased one for $125. However I knew all of the Springfield’s bass elements from working within the studio with them, so being ready on bass led to me turning into a part of that band.”
Because it turned out, Buffalo Springfield broke aside after that aptly titled “Final Time Round” album. However Messina and multi-instrumentalist Richie Furay determined to start out a brand new form of rock band, Poco. From the Byrds’ swerving away from their folk-rock to the “Sweetheart of the Rodeo” album to Gram Parsons pursuing his personal cosmic cowboy sound, nation music was being explored by rockers and Messina and Furay had their very own imaginative and prescient.
All these years later, with Americana one of the vital well-liked genres and bands like The Eagles having bought tens of millions of albums, does Poco get sufficient credit score for its position?
“The reality is Poco obtained plenty of credit score for being at the start of all that,” mentioned Messina. “It’s additionally plain that the Eagles had nice songs that folks had been drawn to. Poco simply didn’t have that large industrial success in these instances. Leaving Buffalo Springfield, I considered possibly pursuing country-rock, as an alternative of folk-rock, form of within the vein of (Buffalo Springfield tune) ‘Sort Girl.’ However radio felt we had been too nation for rock, and too rock for nation. We lucked out with ‘Higher Suppose Twice,’ after which Rusty (Younger) had ‘Loopy Love’ for us, however the report firm was all the time pushing us to be extra rock.”
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By 1970, Messina had retired from the highway after three Poco albums. His intention was to dedicate himself to producing information and settling right into a extra secure way of life. Messina was provided an opportunity to provide an Andy Williams report after which requested about Olivia Newton-John.
“I beloved each of them, however felt like they wanted another person,” mentioned Messina. “Olivia was simpler listening. I used to be extra inquisitive about singer-songwriters, within the Dave Mason ilk. Then Kenny got here to me and caught my eye.”
Kenny Loggins was an unknown songwriter with out a lot performing background and a really delicate people sound. However Messina heard one thing particular. Their first album was billed as “Kenny Loggins, with Jim Messina Sitting In,” however the second was merely Loggins and Messina, they usually had been on their strategy to promoting greater than 20 million information.
“I knew he wanted plenty of work, however Kenny beloved to sing,” mentioned Messina. “I noticed a possibility to develop him in at the very least two completely different genres. He may do people with a rustic really feel after which some songs had been extra blue-eyed soul after which some extra country-gospel. I all the time felt individuals needed to listen to extra various music and that album ended up being on the charts for 400 weeks.”
The duo owned the charts within the Nineteen Seventies earlier than splitting up. In ’79, Messina launched into a solo profession that tended extra towards Latin tinges to his music. There was a Poco reunion of all the unique members in 1989, and the “Legacy” album that got here out of that hit No. 18 on the album charts.
Loggins and Messina did reunion excursions in 2005, 2009, and this 12 months for his or her fiftieth anniversary. All through, Messina has continued making his personal music too, together with the fascinating 2009 CD “Underneath a Mojito Moon,” the place his flamenco guitar taking part in is spotlighted.
Messina has additionally developed his Songwriters Efficiency Workshop, which gathers musicians and songwriters for six-day intensive periods the place he guides them towards reaching their objectives. Messina has studied psychology and Gestalt remedy and that additionally colours his songwriting workshops.
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“I discovered I actually loved the method of serving to individuals,” he mentioned. “The songwriters periods are fairly magical. We assist them construction their ideas and develop an consciousness of behavioral patterns and resolve what they wish to say. While you assist others, you find yourself serving to your self.”
Joe and Alice
Final Friday, South Shore musician Joe Merrick posted an intriguing observe on his Fb web page. An Alice Cooper fan from an early age, Merrick had recorded a model of Cooper’s 1971 “Desperado,” from the “Killer” album, in his Responsible Canine Studio in Marshfield. Merrick sang and performed all of the devices on the monitor after which produced a video of it, the place his disembodied face weaves out and in of a sequence of surreal scenes, many from the American West, as he interpreted the tune to be a few bounty hunter. He additionally felt there was a delicate nod to The Doorways’ Jim Morrison within the tune, and included that too.
Merrick determined to attempt to ship the video to Cooper through the Cameo platform, however he’d by no means met or recognized the rocker. Earlier than lengthy, Merrick acquired a video reply from Cooper, through which the singer famous that the video “took a reasonably dramatic flip,” and mentioned he felt “all the time complimented when individuals cowl my songs.” Cooper went on to elucidate that Morrison was certainly a partial inspiration for the tune, though his important mannequin had been the Robert Vaughn character within the authentic “The Magnificent Seven” film. Cooper closed with finest needs for Merrick’s two women, who’re already becoming a member of their dad in having fun with Cooper’s music. You’ll be able to hear Merrick’s model on YouTube.
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THURSDAY: Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes conclude their two nights at Metropolis Vineyard. … The Conflict and Treaty with stellar harmonies at The Sinclair. … Boston hip-hop with STL GLD at The Paradise. … Norwell’s Sam Luke Chase sings at The Spire Middle. … California punk-pop with AFI at Royale. … Manchester (within the U.Okay.) sends the Courteeners to warmth up Brighton Music Corridor.
FRIDAY: Lez Zeppelin, the all-female band that reprises the Zepp, at Soundcheck Studios. ,,, Stroll the Moon’s tenth anniversary at The Paradise. … Tremendous indie-pop/Americana with Trampled by Turtles at The Home of Blues, and Amigo the Satan opens. … The Revivalists rock MGM Music Corridor. … The Final Waltz, with Warren Haynes main an all-star group to salute The Band’s finale, at The Orpheum Theatre. … Bluesman Larry McCray at The Spire Middle. … Mojomama grooves at The C-Be aware. … The nonpareil Victor Wooten leads a band referred to as Bass Extremes at Metropolis Vineyard.
SATURDAY: Usually referred to as the primary couple of Americana, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams grace The Spire Middle. … Chartbusters Carbon Leaf rock The Sinclair. … Disco Biscuits get down at MGM Music Corridor. … Breakers ‒ a Tom Petty tribute ‒ at The Narrows Middle. … The Better of Foo ‒ a tribute to Dave Grohl and firm ‒ at Soundcheck Studios. … Toronto feminine foursome Seashores mild up Brighton Music Corridor. … Pop-punk with Senses Fail on the Crystal Ballroom. … A two-fer at Metropolis Vineyard: Jeffrey Gaines’ soul upstairs, and The Nitty Gritty Filth Band downstairs. … Emo with Oso Oso at The Paradise. Workman Track’s rock and soul warms up The C-Be aware.
SUNDAY: The annual Songs of Michael Troy present at The Narrows Middle, saluting the late songsmith with an all-star forged of New England gamers at 1 p.m. … Sunday night time, the 20-year outdated pop sensation Chloe Moriondo sings at The Paradise.
See Jim Messina
8 p.m. Nov. 11 at The Narrows Middle with Danielle Miraglia opening; $58 upfront or $63 the day of present; 508-324-1926 or narrowscenter.org
7 p.m. Nov. 12 at Cape Cinema, 35 Hope Lane, Dennis; $35-$75, 508-385-2503 or capecinema.com
8 p.m. Nov. 13 at Metropolis Vineyard, 80 Beverly St., Boston; $45-$75, 617-933-8047 or citywinery.com/boston
