The Byrds performed a brief set at Albany, N.Y.’s Palace Theatre on Feb. 19, 1971. It included Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man And “You Ain’t Going Nowhere as well as “Take a Whiff,” and “Truckstop Girl.” Afterward, I spoke with Roger McGuinn, the group’s founder, leader, and only original member. He had just come from a backstage ladies room where the band had been drinking beer, stomping feet, and playing music.

Why was the concert so brief?

We wanted to play longer, but they cut us off. The contract was for two-and-three-quarter hours, so the second show will be a lot longer.

Any plans for a new album?

Yeah, we’ve got one finished. No title yet. It could be a few months before Columbia gets around to releasing it.

Do you still see Dylan?

Yeah, sometimes we sit and rap for like six or seven hours, just me and him and his old lady.

Which albums of his do you like best?

I haven’t really liked anything since the motorcycle accident. I liked Bringing It All Back Home and Freewheelin’. Self-Portrait was sort of thrown together.

You know what album of yours I like best?

Let me guess—Notorious Byrd Brothers.

Right.

Yeah, I like that, too. We used a Moog on that. And on all the albums since. I wrote “Space Odyssey” before [Stanley] Kubrick’s movie [2001: A Space Odyssey] came out. I didn’t know anything about the movie, but we got it all, except the starchild at the end.

How have you managed to make so many personnel changes and yet keep your original sound?

I pray at night.

Any notable differences between the original group and this one?

This one may miss some harmonies and notes that I could get with the old one, but it’s still about 10 times more powerful live.

Any interesting long-range plans you can share?

I will keep this band together and play for a while, but I don’t want to do this for my whole life.