An Evening with Roger McGuinn (Founder of the Byrds)

at the Historic Ironwood Theatre, Ironwood, MI 9/28/2012

My Son, Eric, joined me for an evening of superb guitar and voice, from the founder, lead singer/guitarist

and chief songwriter for the Byrds, Roger McQuinn. I first saw the Byrds, along with Joe Walsh and the James Gang, at MSU in 1971. I was captivated by McGuinn's stage presence, and stellar musicianship.  Roger's distinctive voice and guitar (he was the major hero and influence for Tom Petty, who  also plays the legendary 12 string Rickenbacker), has not suffered from the years-at age 70, he was crystal clear, and played with comfort and creativity. We were treated to classics from the Byrds, like Bob Dylan's Mr. Tambourine Man, Eight Miles High, Turn Turn, Turn, Ballad of Easy Rider, etc., in addition to recent work on both acoustic guitar and the Rickenbacker. Roger was a lovely storyteller, including early history of the Byrds, their admiration of and competition with the Beatles, the addition of David Crosby to the origninal lineup, and other arcane folkrock tidbits that had the audience either spellbound, or in fits of laughter. Roger, along with former original bandmates, Gene Clark, David Crosby, Chris Hillman & Michael Clarke) were rightfully inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on  01-16-1991.
It was a stellar father-son evening. We are up at the crack of dawn for a road trip to the Keweenaw Peninsuala to leaf peep, photograph, hike old mining sites, and grab a pastie.

"Just A Season
"If all my days were hills to climb and circles without reason
If all I was was passing time my life was just a season
Roger McGuinn