POGO AND BIFF ROSE AT THE TROUBADOUR
by Pete Johnson
Los Angeles Times
The Troubadour is showcasing two new acts - Pogo and Biff Rose - through Dec. 1 and now is the time to catch them since each seems destined for larger arenas. The show is, in fact, one of the best I've seen this year.
Pogo resembles the Buffalo Springfield, no accident, since it contains two former members of the rock group: Richie Furay and Jim Messina.
The quintet, however, leans even more towards country music than the Springfield did, an inclination which has led to the inclusion of Rusty Young, who plays steel guitar and dobro.
Richie Furay shares lead vocals with Randy Meisner, bassist for the group (Furay plays rhythm guitar, as does Messina). Rounding out Pogo is George Grantham on drums.
All are capable musicians and the singing combination of Furay and Meisner is terrific. Both have high, flexible voices which melt together in delightful harmonies and separate for strong solos.
Pogo is also one of the tightest groups I have seen, a coordination which obviously stems from endless practices and good feelings within the combo.
The band seems like the natural heirs to the originality, diversity and togetherness which marked the beginnings of the Byrds and the Buffalo Springfield, Southern California's two best folk-rooted rock groups so far.
SWINGING AND PENSIVE STYLES OF BOBBY, ROSE
By Michael Etchison
Los Angeles Herald-Examiner
At the Troubadour, Biff Rose shares the bill with Pogo, formerly R.F.D., formerly Buttermilk, Richie Furay's group, that is.
Pogo, who will be at the club with Rose through Dec. 1, have broadened their material since their one-night stand a few weeks back. They are still a seemless combination of rock and country, but there is a bit more variety now.
Several songs are Everly Brothers-dreamy, especially "Today my First Love Has Arrived." "Crazy Eyes" started out that way, then got very high-powered.