Rusty Young with Poco Oh No!

Tony Palmer · Post by **Tony Palmer** » 28 Apr 2010 2:44 am

Got an opportunity to hear one of my early
inspirational steel players recently....Rusty Young.
One of the first killer speed pickers, then went on to rock steel
way ahead of the pack....was eagerly looking forward to some
of that playing once again.
They played a 90 minute set, with the steel
set up behind him but Rusty didn't even touch it once...
until the encore. Then he played one song
on pedal steel!
He mostly played lead guitar and lap steel
(Goldtone) mounted on a stand and a little
bit of dobro but only once on pedal steel!
Has anyone else seen him play steel lately?
Or is this how all his performances are?

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 28 Apr 2010 4:44 am

Very disapointing going to a show and not seeing him play steel.

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 28 Apr 2010 4:54 am

It is a different Poco and a different Rusty but it's been that way for a long time. He plays it more when he has Richie sit in and he goes back to being the old Rusty.

A little steel from a last year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f89REmqYtEY

John Ummel · Post by **John Ummel** » 28 Apr 2010 6:14 am

I guess I was lucky, saw Poco a couple summers ago (with Pure Prarie League). Rusty played a few songs on steel(a Carter) including "Indian Summer" with the sitar bar, very cool. Paul Cotton's singing and guitar playing are worth the price of admission.

Brian Herder · Post by **Brian Herder** » 28 Apr 2010 6:53 am

I saw them a few years ago and he played some steel, but not as much as I would have hoped.. The one thing that I found very disappointing was on A Good Feelin' to Know he played a redundant guitar part instead of the steel. Paul Cotton played Bad Weather solo (maybe Rusty played mandolin.. I can't remember). Still, if you can get past your expectations, the band is still really great. Definitely worth seeing even w/o steel. When Rusty does play steel though, there's no mistaking him.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 28 Apr 2010 9:45 am

one band i was with was on the bill with poco at least a dozen years ago...it was the new poco...rusty from the bald era...he's very good at everything he does, but i would only pay to see them if i knew he was going to play a steel solo on bad weather, or at least some stuff in that vein. the original sound on that song set one of the bars for steel tone. you would think that rusty realizes many people love him for his exceptional steel playing, so i wonder what he's thinking and why he plays it so little.?!

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 28 Apr 2010 9:53 am

I've seen Poco 3 times-'87,'90,and '04.Rusty didn't play any steel the first time,all steel the second,and some steel the third.The best show by far was the second..."Rose of Cimmaron" was the prettiest piece of live music I've ever heard.

Steve Becker · Post by **Steve Becker** » 28 Apr 2010 10:15 am

Going to see them May 14th in Green Lake! Sure hope to hear some steel that night!! Rusty is and always has been one of my favorite players. His thin, compressed tone and phrasing are SO distinctive. I've probably spent more time trying to cop his licks than anybody!
Heard POCO might be hanging it up after this year...so be sure to catch em if they're in you're area!

Brian Herder · Post by **Brian Herder** » 28 Apr 2010 10:34 am

Here's a cool one-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfUedX4sWg4

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 28 Apr 2010 1:28 pm

Thats artistry.

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 28 Apr 2010 4:11 pm

Last Summer when I saw them and the time before Rusty played alot of steel, my fave is Magnolia.

Don E. Curtis · Post by **Don E. Curtis** » 28 Apr 2010 7:07 pm

the good news is that I just rebuilt both of Rusty's steels and he is going to be playing a lot more steel and feature the C6 neck more. No Leslie and no tipping the steel on end, just tasty playing.
The harmonics in "Heart of the Night" are totaly inspiring to me...
Don E.
Check out: www.poconut.com

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 29 Apr 2010 4:27 am

Don E. Curtis wrote: the good news is that I just rebuilt both of Rusty's steels and he is going to be playing a lot more steel and feature the C6 neck more.

That's good news. What made him change his mind? Is Poco taking a new (i.e., old) direction? Did he talk about that?

Steve Becker · Post by **Steve Becker** » 29 Apr 2010 11:41 am

Yeah Magnolia is cool. How did he keep that hammer on (and on and on) going on the 4th string in the intro??!! I'm only good for about 2 measures! And those harmonics....WOW! Rusty is one of the tastiest and most inovative players ever!! I can't sing his praises enough. Just wondering, was he the first guy to play his steel through a Leslie?

Steve Becker · Post by **Steve Becker** » 29 Apr 2010 11:45 am

Also, just heard that Paul Cotton has left the band to "pursue other things". Don't know what they'll do in concert without him?!! It's like when Dickey Betts left the Allman Bros.! He's really gonna be missed.....oh well.

Ron Funk · Post by **Ron Funk** » 29 Apr 2010 7:34 pm

Poco's combination CD / DVD package entitled "Keeping the Legend Alive" should be in every player's collection. Rusty has influenced a lot of players - starting with the Deliverin' album -way back when albums were albums.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 29 Apr 2010 8:40 pm

Steve Becker wrote:Also, just heard that Paul Cotton has left the band to "pursue other things". Don't know what they'll do in concert without him?!! It's like when Dickey Betts left the Allman Bros.! He's really gonna be missed.....oh well.

Bring back Jimmy Messina!!! Yeah!

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 29 Apr 2010 8:49 pm

Nope, here's the answer, from the Poconut.org website (apparently written by Rusty):

March 2010
March 12, 2010

It was a sad day when I read on Paul's website that he wasn't coming to Wildwood and I guess that means he's leaving the band. Paul's been an inspiration, a best friend and a shoulder to lean on for much of my life.
I'll miss him.
We'll all miss him. But it sounds like he's working with some great new musicians and is excited about the future. Paul's turning a new page in his life and so will Poco. It's not like we haven't been through this before. Change can be exciting and good things can come from challenges.
Jack, George and I love playing the songs that have brought us all together and sharing the memories that come with them. We're looking forward to playing with old friends this year and hey, ya' never know, maybe Paul will want to 'sit in' sometime.
If there's one thing that has seperated Poco from other bands over the past forty-some years it's our Poconuts. I've seen the tight bonds you guys have formed with one another and the joy we all get from a Poco concert. (Although, when I look down at the same faces in the front row from one night to the next, I have had moments where I wonder if I'm losing my mind.) You guys have stood by us through thick and thin and I hope that will never change.
Hang on, this could be quite a ride...

Michael Webb
April 17, 2010

Good news, rehearsals have gone really well and it's time to go back out on the road. I want to thank everyone for their patience, their support and their words of encouragement. Poco has seen its share of changes over the past forty-some years and while change is challenging, it's also part of life. I think we’d all agree that no one could ever replace Randy Meisner, Jim Messina, Richie Furay, Timothy B. Schmit, George Grantham or Paul Cotton, but Poco's music has always lived on.

Joining our new line up is Michael Webb. Michael is a gifted musician and we hope everyone will welcome him to the band. Check out his my space page to find out more about his musical history. Enjoy! www.myspace.com/mfwebb

Now wait a minute! Do you mean to tell me that Rusty and the rest of Poco found out that Paul Cotton was quitting the band by reading it on Cotton's website??! WTF??

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 29 Apr 2010 9:31 pm

Ok, here's the real poop on what went down, as told by Da Drummer (George Lawrence): http://www.poconut.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1589

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 30 Apr 2010 2:50 am

well, for me, and I'm just one small person in the universe of Wii, the real Poco ended when Richie left, it started to end when Jim left. Although Paul is certainly a talent, I never connected with his guitar playing, he did pen/sing some good songs, but nonetheless,I never really connected with a quasi Les Paul rocker replacing Jimmy's Telecaster.

Regarding Paul's departure, interesting that here we are 2010, they are all what 60, 65 ? and a player is off joining a new band and a personal manager is needed to continue working with your band mates for the past 30 years ? At 60 or 65 what new band are you forming ?

Quite frankly, ego taking over now, they should hire me, I'll bring my Telecasters and vintage Fender amps to the parade and I know the songs already. But , If they do call, I will have to hire a personal manager I suppose...

Jim Hollingsworth · Post by **Jim Hollingsworth** » 30 Apr 2010 6:04 am

Let me first say that Rusty & his wife Mary are two of the nicest people I have ever met. I mean really kind and giving people.

Secondly, it is interesting looking at Rusty's history in the band. Started out as a sideman and was forced by circumstances into singer/songwriter/instrumentalist position by band attrition. Eventually he provided most of onstage leadership & energy. So having Paul leave is definitely forcing him to move into new directions - whether he wanted to or not.

Lastly - he was my first inspiration to take up steel & has been an innovator & great player for many years. I hope he keeps playing it on occasion when he can.

Keep 'er going Rusty! We're routing for you.

Jim

Richard Park · Post by **Richard Park** » 30 Apr 2010 7:04 am

I saw Poco at the Birchmere a few weeks ago. They did 17 songs and he only played steel (a blue Carter S-10) on one song, Heart of the Night. Mostly, he played 6 string. Some mandolin and dobro. I guess that's what he does these days. Just Rusty Young, Paul Cotton and Jack Sundrud. No drummer.

tom anderson · Post by **tom anderson** » 1 May 2010 2:39 pm

Rusty has told me he is just not interested in the steel anymore-it bores him. However, when he does play it on those one or two songs-he smokes. I saw him two years ago playing with Jim Messina's band (now that was a good band) and he sat in on "Kind Woman". Jimmy turns to him and says "this is where it all started". Jimmy did it exactly like the Buffalo Springfield version-which was always the best version of that song. Rusty played the phrasing exactly the same except that his amp setting was bugging him and he kept jumping up to adjust it-so he got in about 1/2 the song. Always something...

Tony Palmer · Post by **Tony Palmer** » 2 May 2010 2:18 pm

Just to clarify a bit on my original post.
Rusty DID play a lot of lapsteel in the two
sets I saw last week.
It was pedal steel which he didn't play at
all until the encore, and then, once.
Does anyone know what tuning he uses on
his Goldtone?
Btw, his pedal steel had no visible name
on it....I looked underneath it briefly and could
swear it had 4 raises and lowers!

Steve Becker · Post by **Steve Becker** » 18 May 2010 7:57 am

Just saw POCO last Sat. in Green Lake WI. Great show!! I was very apprehensive about seeing them without Paul Cotton, but the new guy ,Michael Abbot, was awesome. He plays keys and a B3 and of course sings harmony. Rusty only played steel on Kind Woman. So that was a little dissapointig, but I asked him why after the show, and he said he can't sing and play steel at the same time.He is currently singing roughly 80% of the songs.But, he played alot of Dobro and lap steel and just blew me away with his extended solos and vesatility. I did miss hearing a lead guitar on some of the songs, however their arrangements were really unusual and refreshing.( i.e. mando and accordion on Heart of the Night.)He said they only rehearsed for 1 week, but, they were supertight! They put out a big sound for a 4 pc. band! Go see them if you get the chance.

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