Rusty Young - POCO at Cubby Bear, Wrigleyville 9-25-09

[Dayton Osland]

Marty Du Bois and I met at Cubby Bear in Chicago for this show. While we were sitting BS'ing about steel, Sam Rogers asked if he could sit with us since there was an open chair. Turns out he's a steeler too. (I use that term for the three of us somewhat loosely, considering the heavy hitters on this forum).

Anyway, the show was fabulous. You'd never know this was an "old-timers" show if you were blind. Everything was perfect.

Of course I'm biased but Rusty Young stole the show. To a degree, I was disappointed with his performance only because he played so many instruments besides steel.

Rusty played mandolin on the first song. Then he switched to guitar alternating lead and rhythm for a couple of songs. Then a song on dobro. Finally Steel! He continued alternating instruments all night long.

Rusty played several tunes using dobro using finger picks. Then he came out during the each guy gets a solo section, and played a flat pick dobro while he sang.

There's nothing like lead steel guitar! Rusty showed how it's done over and over. He played fast harmonics like the rest of us wish we could do with picks.

I've got to add that Rusty was singing all the high parts in these great Poco songs.

OK so I'm not a critic. I'M A FAN!

Dayton