POCO PLAYS PRETTY MUSIC AT EAGLES

By Janine Gressel

Seattle Times

Poco plays freindly music. And the quartet made a passel of fast friends at their concert at Eagles Audiorium last night.

They classify their music as "rural rock." It is a delightful blend of country harmony and rock back beat. This new blend is becoming extremely popular. But of Flying Burrito Brothers, Poco has the most interesting instrumentation.

The most striking musician in the group was Rusty Young, who played pedal steel guitar. With the new inclusion of country sounds in rock, many bands have added pedal steel guitar to their music. But Rusty did more with it than the others.

During the most of the vocals, he sounded extremely country, with that sliding, whinning sound that is associated with his intrument.

But during the rock segments, he completely broke loose. He made the guitar sound like an organ - so much so, that members of the audience were craning their necks to find an organ player on stage. And he played lead guitar solos that had none of the limitations of a six-stringed instrument.

Young stood out in the group because of the new and different sounds he was producing. But the other three members deserve as much recognition, they are all outstanding performers.

Richie Furay, formerly of Buffalo Springfield, plays lead guitar, is lead vocalist, and does most of the composing.

Furay has a fine voice w hich, although is good for many styles, seems particulary well suited for "rural rock.' His singing was pleasent and pretty.

Complimenting Furay's fine work were Jim Messina (another ex-Buffalo Springfield) who played guitar, bass and sang harmony and occasionally lead, George Grantham, the drummer also harmonized and did some lead vocals.

Their harmony blends beautifully with just enough twang to give the county spirit but not so much that they sounded like a fake imitation.

Their music was friendly because, while the instrumental solos may be extremely interesting, their songs were not intended to blast your senses or "blow your mind." Their music was pretty and made you want to tap your foot or get up and dance

Their songs had soul, but it was a simple, uncomplicated feeling that was enormously refreshing after being bombarded and blasted by the violent psychedelic sounds that were upon us so recently.

Poco will be playing at Eagles tonight and tomorrow night. For those who enjoy "rural rock" this is the band to see. Go and make friends with Poco.

THE BEST AND THE WORST: EAGLES RUN THE GAMUT

By Patrick MacDonald

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

The fare at Eagles Auditorum this weekend is an unlikely combination of some of the best of the new Western-rock sound and an abrasive example of the so-called "heavy" music.

The first is supplied by Poco, a likeable band that pleasantly interprets the most palatable of Country-Western music in a pop idiom. There's no redneck, hoe-down elements to their music, only the good-time "pickin' and a'singing" variety.

And they play it in a most provessional and competent way. The members of the band - most of them were formerly associated with the fine pop group Buffalo Springfield - are tight both vocally and instrumentally.

Vocalist Rickey Furay and George Grantham are particularly good. Their well-blended tenor voices give their happy music the lightness it needs. This is best heard in their song "Pickin' Up the Pieces."

Furay is an excellent 12-string guitarist as well and Grantham is a competent drummer.

Six-string guitarist Jim Messina was outstanding, especially in the group's instrumental numbers. He also contributed a few fine vocals. The pedal steel was ably handled by Rusty Young.

Poco ranks with the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers at the top of the Western-rock ladder. Hopefully, their Western tinge won't hold them up from pursuing other elements of pop music. They have the talent to go beyond the narrow definitions of country music.