They each near the centers of two of the 1960s’ most important acts, bands that turned rock and roll on its side by infusing folk and country. They both went on to decisive music careers that furthered the sounds they’d help pioneer. They even played together in the 1970s. Now they are playing together again. So we decided to put Richie Furay and Chris Hillman side by side. Who’s the winner? Read on:

Flying Burrito Brothers' "Gilded Palace of Sin" cover, Chris Hillman at far right.

Chris Hillman

Vitals: Born Christopher Hillman on December 4, 1944, in Los Angeles, California.

Top skills: Singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist, mandolin player.

Past bands: The Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Manassas, Desert Rose Band, Souther-Hillman-Furay Band.

Former bandmates/collaborators: Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, Gram Parsons, Stephen Stills, Emmylou Harris, Herb Pedersen, Tony Rice, Richie Furay.

Country-rock cred points: Changed direction of the Byrds from folk-rock to country; brought Gram Parsons to the Byrds; bailed on McGuinn and Byrds to play with Parsons in Flying Burrito Brothers; discovered Emmmylou Harris and suggested her to Parsons.

Classic tunes: “Time Between”; laid psych-country foundation with Notorious Byrd Brothers’ “Natural Harmony”; impeccable vocal on Byrds’ version of “I Am a Pilgrim” on Sweetheart of the Rodeo; co-writing and harmonizing lead with Gram Parsons on FBB tracks “Christine’s Tune” and “Sin City.”

Chris Hillman now.

Style factor: Rocked the Nudie suit and the white-fro like none before or since.

Crosby, Stills endurance factor: Tolerated being in bands with both David Crosby (the Byrds) and Stephen Stills (Manassas).

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame membership? Check. (The Byrds. Can the Burritos be far off?)

Yacht rock connections? Check. Played with Bernie Leadon in FBB, who left for the Eagles, the band that “smoothed” the Burritos’ country rock sound into—according to Gram Parsons—“a dry, plastic fuck.”

Recent highlights: Still making some mighty fine country/bluegrass with Herb Pedersen (who plays with Hillman this Wednesday) among others.

Richie Furay at Monterey Pop in 1967.

Richie Furay

Richie Furay at Monterey Pop in 1967:

Vitals: Born Paul Richard Furay on 9 May 1944, in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

Top skills: Singer, songwriter, guitarist.

Past bands: The Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Souther-Hillman-Furay Band.

Former bandmates/collaborators: Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Jim Messina, Rusty Young, Chris Hillman.

Country-rock cred points: Along with Stills, spotted Neil Young in his hearse “Mort” and convinced the Canadian ex-pat to join their band; split from Poco before they became a lightweight, soft-rock yawnfest.

Classic tunes: Lead vocals on Young-penned “Out of My Mind” and “Flying on the Ground is Wrong”; the Buffalo Springfield Again highlight “A Child’s Claim to Fame”; wrote Poco’s greatest track, “Pickin’ up the Pieces.”

Richie Furay now.

Style factor: Made specs on rockers hip a la Buddy Holly, John Lennon; eschewed 1970s fashion for permacool flannel shirts.

Crosby, Stills endurance factor: Tolerated being in band with Stephen Stills (Buffalo Springfield) and playing with David Crosby at Monterey Pop Festival.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame membership? Check. (Buffalo Springfield.)

Yacht rock connections? Yes. Played in Poco with Jim Messina and two Eagles: Timothy B. Schmit and Randy Meisner.

Recent highlights: For two decades, he’s served as pastor at Calvary Chapel, outside of Denver, Colorado; still writing, singing, playing and recording as evidenced by 2006’s acclaimed The Heartbeat of Love with guest spots from Neil Young, members of Poco among others.

Maybe too close to call but—instead of saying “draw”—we’ll weigh it out when Chris Hillman and Richie Furay play separate sets and then together this Wednesday, July 25 at Town Ballroom. Support comes from Buffalo’s Steam Donkeys. May the best country-rock pioneer win!