"Shelley, you have to go see Jim Messina! He gives a great concert. You can write a review."
"Ok, Stephanie, but I have to find a concert nearer me. You live in Virginia."
For two years, whenever I meet up with my friend from the south, she touts Jim Messina's talents. Now FINALLY he is close to me and on a day when I don't have another concert I am attending. And just why is this? It is on a Wednesday during a school week! My inner voice is arguing.
IT IS A SCHOOL NIGHT!
YES, BUT THE KATE THEATRE ISN'T THAT FAR AWAY!
YOU HAVE TO GET UP AT 5:00 AM!
BUT I LOVE THE KATE!
So here I am at The Katherine Hepburn Performing Arts Center on March 11, 2026, following Stephanie's advice and grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
Jim Messina was a guitarist for Buffalo Springfield, which had a two-year run from 1966-1968. He then went on to found Poco with Richie Furay, who had also been a guitarist with Springfield. He left in 1970 and continued to follow his song writing and production dreams. He worked with Kenny Loggins, helping him with vocals in the recording studio. It became too good a combination to leave and so Loggins and Messina was born and continued until 1976. They re-toured in 2005 and 2009 and in between, Jim has toured with his band the Road Runners.
The show is another Kate sell-out. The audience around me in the balcony is much more familiar with all the songs than I am. Although I find myself singing along with a few myself.
Watching the River Run
House at Pooh Corner (Stephanie told me this would be good)
Danny's song - An absolute favorite of mine!
Your Mama Don't Dance
Peace of Mind
Take off Your Shoes (which slipped into take off your clothes, amid audience laughs)
There were many other songs and as in jazz and country rock, moments of instrumental solos and improvs by all members. When the band left the stage, their guitar tech and road manager, Tim Creek, came onstage and held up one finger saying "There's one more. One more." What was the encore? Draggin the Line!
They seemed to enjoy being onstage and goofing around with each other. Jim says he is hanging onto age 59 and doesn't want to move to 60. He is actually 78, and again the audience AND the band laughed.
The band is well seasoned and not afraid to be bold without trying to upstage Messina.
Steve Nieves - sax and woodwinds
Jim Frazier - keyboards
Ben King - bass
Jack Bruno - drums
Looking at the website, I see that they mention all possible substitutes for the band, which says to me that Jim, himself, was in the background at times and he appreciates every person he works with.
Jim has been ill and almost did not make this show, so he has decided to opt out of meeting fans at the souvenir table and is instead, holding a Q&A after the show. UGH! Here is where my common sense kicked in and said, "You have to get up at 5:00 AM. It is raining and supposed to become heavy thunderstorms! You need to drive home NOW!"
Well Stephanie, as a retired teacher, you understand this self-argument and how much it hurt to leave before the Q&A.
But Ma'am, you were right! He puts on a great show!
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
NE Correspondent
Forgotten Hits
I've seen Jim Messina a few times now ... and he does put on a great show. Between his hits with Poco and his time spent as half of Loggins and Messina, Jim covers a lot of ground ... and has always made it an entertaining evening of music. Glad you finally got the chance to see him. Thanks, Shelley. (kk)
