Photos by Andy Argyrakis

The amount of material legendary singer/songwriter/guitarist Jim Messina has to choose from on any given evening is massive, yet he always manages to curate an exceptional overview stretching back to the 1960s.

At the newly rebooted North Theatre inside the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts, the man of many bands touched on the “Last Time Around” with the folk rock supergroup Buffalo Springfield (also featuring Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Dewey Martin), co-founding Poco, producing then joining a pre-solo Kenny Loggins in the folksy soft rock duo Loggins & Messina, prior to breaking out individually as well.

The first set started on the pair’s instantly familiar notes of “Watching The River Run,” “House On Pooh Corner” and “Danny’s Song,” while the 78-year-old Messina was as as smooth and solid as ever in the up close and inviting environment.

He was accompanied by a quartet of phenomenal backers, The Road Runners, who brought extra southern spice to the Brooks & Dunn-covered “Mexican Minutes,” plus Buffalo Springfield’s “Carefree Country Days” and “Kind Woman,” much like they do on the headliner’s latest live recording, “Here, There And Everywhere.”

“You Better Think Twice” and “Call It Love” tapped into Poco’s country rock pioneering period and reunion, followed by a bunch more Loggins & Messina staples, culminating in the giant sing-a-long “Your Mama Don’t Dance.”

After an intermission, their “Travelin’ Blues” continued via Messina’s own “New And Different Way” and “Lovin’ You Every Minute,” in between extended, jazzy jams through “Peace Of Mind,” “Be Free” and “Angry Eyes.”

“You Need A Man” served as a striking coda to the over two-hour performance, though that was far from the end of the evening, which after another break, allowed anyone who stuck around to ask questions of the artist, producer and recording engineer extraordinaire.

Not only was Messina extremely generous with his time and responses, but the random assortment of topics helped shed additional insight on a true trailblazer, whose reach remains significant across a multitude of styles.

For additional information on Jim Messina, visit JimMessina.com.

Upcoming shows at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts Theatre include Revelator (Aug. 29); “West Side Story” (Aug. 30); Bill W. and Dr. Bob (Sept. 3-6); Ronnie Baker Brooks (Sept. 16); 10,000 Maniacs (Sept. 18); Monkeys On A String (Sept. 18); CTU Fall Festival (Sept. 19); The Petty Kings (Sept. 19); Knorrwood (Sept. 23); Head East (Sept. 24); Nefesh Mountain (Sept. 24); Don McLean (Sept. 25); The Wellermen (Sept. 25); Gromkie (Sept. 26); 40 Fingers (Sept. 30); Reed Timmer (Oct. 1): “Swan Lake” (Oct. 2); Leonid & Friends (Oct. 3); “Ghostbusters” In Concert (Oct. 7-8); “Escape To Margaritaville” (Oct. 7-Nov. 1); Face 2 Face (Oct. 10); Feast A Da Funny (Oct. 16); Toad The Wet Sprocket (Oct. 17); La Diosa (Oct. 23); Maria Bamford (Oct. 24); Lions On Jeeps (Oct. 25); Bill Blagg (Oct. 25); Vitamin String Quartet (Oct. 26) and The Sinatra Experience (Oct. 30). For additional details, visit NorthShoreCenter.org.

Related Articles

Legendary Jim Messina serves City Winery some Buffalo Springfield, Poco, lots of Loggins & Messina Country rockers Poco knock assertively on the door of 50 at City Winery A flashback filled with “Crazy Love” for Poco’s country rock pioneer Rusty Young A “Footloose” Kenny Loggins takes capacity Ravinia to the “Danger Zone,” even if “This Is It!” Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular, Blackwood Quartet a starry North Shore salute to the “King” North Shore Center embraces “Life In The Fast Lane,” other Eagles, solo classics from Don Felder North Shore Center “Eight Miles High” after The Byrds’ Roger McGuinn gets autobiographical The Guess Who’s Burton Cummings makes “A Few Good Moments” and more with North Shore