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Even if you didn’t watch the 2023 Grammys or Super Bowl halftime show with Rihanna, you have doubtless gathered that quality-wise, neither was entirely on par with, say, Jimi Hendrix live. Or The Who. Or Led Zeppelin. Or Cream. Or Crosby, Stills & Nash. Or … you get the idea.

Unfortunately, most of the musical heroes from my generation are either dead or sufficiently deteriorated courtesy of excessive chemical indulgence and good ol’ Father Time to contribute anything new of value. Fortunately, at least one artist from that era remains vibrant. Richie Furay delivered the goods on February 11^th in front of a sold-out Poway Center for the Performing Arts outside of San Diego, leaving fans from all four of his career phases — Buffalo Springfield alongside Stephen Stills and Neil Young, pioneering country rockers Poco, the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, and a solo career — deeply satisfied.

Nimbly backed by San Diego-based band Back to the Garden and augmented by trusted side musicians, including Furay’s daughter Jesse Furay Lynch, Furay is as superb a storyteller as a musician. He spoke between each song on different topics, including stories from back in the day and current events. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Cameron Crowe of “Almost Famous” fame is currently finishing a documentary on Furay. While unable to attend the concert due to recent COVID exposure, Crowe introduced Furay via phone patched into the PA to introduce him.

A note on Jesse Furay Lynch. Along with providing impeccable harmony vocals for her father, she took the lead vocal twice, showcasing a powerful but not overpowering voice. In a world littered with cookie-cutter wannabe cutie “country” singers churning out generic recipe pop disguised as country, Lynch is the real deal. Additionally, she is a striking beauty who dresses modestly and makes no suggestive moves on stage. To parents of daughters aspiring to be singers, Lynch is the role model you want.

Unfairly overlooked in rock history due to his place as the “other” member of Buffalo Springfield behind Stills and Young, despite not reaping his bandmates’ massive commercial and critical success, Furay was a crucial element of Buffalo Springfield’s success. He was easily the band’s best singer; whether it was a song penned by another member such as the Young-written “Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing,” his own plaintive balled “Kind Woman,” or “A Child’s, Claim to Fame” foreshadowing his country-rock muse given full rein in Poco, Furay mightily mattered. His work with Poco remains underrated and unappreciated. Without him, it is safe to say the Eagles would never have existed. Furay is a superb songwriter, constructing simple yet never simplistic tunes rich in melody and meaning.

Even at age 78 and performing two weeks after being laid up with a non-COVID virus inducing a 102° temperature, Furay brought the energy artists half his age and younger can only dream of possessing. His warm high tenor remains unhindered by time, hitting all the notes with such ease it comes off as effortless. Furay is unafraid to share his deep faith in Christ and his love of country, his set including two pure modern hymns.

Furay is an unashamed conservative, often discussing such on his Facebook page. As is the case with his faith, Furay has no reluctance in expressing his beliefs in song. He finished the show with a recent composition demonstrating exactly where he stands.

In a world of disingenuous pseudo-shock and spectacle over art, it’s refreshing to know there are still musicians crafting the real deal. God bless Richie Furay.