Pure Prairie League after 40 years

BASSIST SAYS PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE SHOULD BE AROUND FOR A WHILE, MAYBE
LONGER, IF PEOPLE KEEP LISTENING

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2010/022010/02112010/526565

Pure Prairie League continues adding chapters to its story after 40 years

Date published: 2/11/2010
BY RYAN GREEN

Two of country-rock's pioneer acts, Pure Prairie League and opener
Poco, will be sharing the stage in a special acoustic show at the
Birchmere next Wednesday.

At the forefront of the late 1960s and '70s folk/country rock
eruption, these two bands brought their own bearing to the
harmony-laden, string-driven sound popularized by bands like Buffalo
Springfield.

Since forming in Ohio in 1969, Pure Prairie League has recorded 13
albums, including the 2005 release "All in Good Time." Their hit song
"Amie," recorded in 1972, is a keystone in the arc of modern country
music, and appropriately still gets radio play today.

That being said, the past 40 years were no walk in the park for the
oft reconfigured band. Its tumultuous history almost warrants a biopic.

After releasing just two albums with the band, lead singer Craig
Fuller received a draft summons. Choosing the route of the
conscientious objector, Fuller nonetheless had to quit PPL.

In the face of this mortal blow, PPL showed some characteristic
fortitude. Hiring Larry Goshorn to take Fuller's place, the band kept touring.

Longtime bass player Mike Reilly helped pull the band through numerous upsets.

"Every time that somebody decided they're going to go off on their
own, or we wound up without a record deal you know, we'd think, 'Who
wants to join a band that might be on its way out?'" said Reilly in a
recent phone interview.

"But instead, somebody would come in and bring something new, another
facet to the band and that's been Pure Prairie League."

Even in the '80s, that perilous decade where so many country artists
struggled to find their place, PPL found a hit in "Let Me Love You
Tonight," and enjoyed another period of success with
singer-songwriter Vince Gill at the helm.

After bringing in Goshorn and, later, Gill, Reilly said seeing it
through all the changes was difficult, but it came naturally.

"I've always been lucky enough to find people who are fans of the
band and are familiar with the music, but can also bring something to
the table," he said.

Despite having original lead singer Fuller rejoin in 1985, the band
went on hiatus in the late '80s, when they again found themselves
without a singer. Fuller had been offered a unique opportunity to
sing with Little Feat and decided to take it, effectively retiring PPL.

But after more than a decade, Reilly and Fuller started planning a
Pure Prairie League reunion.

"In 1999, Craig and I were talking and said we need to bring this
thing full circle. 'All in Good Time' sort of reflected that,"
explained Reilly.

The 2005 release saw a return not only of Fuller's songs, but to the
pedal-steel-laden sound that PPL was known for in its heyday.

More than a roots journey, PPL's current transformation aspires to
honest music in an often overproduced genre. Fittingly, Wednesday's
show will feature both PPL and Poco playing with abbreviated lineups
in an acoustic format. Reilly said the point of slimming down the
sound is to help focus on the songs.

"It's the songwriter treatment," said Reilly. "It's how the songs
were birthed."

It's a novel idea in an era when most of today's reunion tours
resemble Super Bowl halftime shows. More importantly, it's a unique
opportunity for fans to see a band that, even after 40 years, is
finding fresh ways to perform.

As to whether fans would have any more chances to see PPL as the
years roll by, Reilly was confident they would.

"We figured that year 40 would be our last, and we figured that's
plenty long enough and you need to know when to quit. But on the
other hand, you know, we're not ready, and as long as people want to
hear us play, then we're gonna go out and play."
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What: Poco and Pure Prairie League perform classic country-rock.
Where: Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria When: Wednesday,
Feb. 17, 7:30pm Cost: $35 all ages Info: 703/549-7500 Web: birchmere.com
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Ryan Green is a freelance writer and musician in Fredericksburg. Reach him at
Email: ryugreen@yahoo.com.

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