Search - Michael Nesmith :: Live at the Britt Festival

Nesmith Has Never Sounded Better

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 11/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's great to see Nesmith offering his entire catalog to wider distribution. [Previously his original albums were available only through his website.] ANd this is one of his strongest albums featuring material dating back to his days with the Monkees through his last studio album, TROPICAL CAMPFIRES.



This is a full band recording by the outfit that was responsible for Nesmith's last album of new material--1992's Tropical Campfires. And what a band it is! Red Rhodes, pedal steel guitar; John Jorgenson, guitar; John Hobbs, keyboards (all three multiple CMA award winners on their respective intruments); Joe Chemay, bass; and Luis Conte, percussion.



Of historical note, this was Red's last concert with Nesmith before his untimely death in 1994. (Red performed with Nesmith on all three First National Band albums and all other key albums that followed, including AND THE HITS JUST KEEP ON COMIN', which featured only Nesmith and Red.)



Despite what the CD title may lead people to think, the Britt Festival is in Oregon. On this 2-CD set, Nesmith leads the band through a dozen early Nesmith chestunts that all fans should recognize (including one of his Monkee's songs: "Papa Gene's Blues"); the rest are tracks from his then new release ...TROPICAL CAMPFIRES. (There is no concert date information in the liner notes. I'm guessing it's from 1992 or 1993.) Since amazon.com has not included a track listing, here goes:



CD-1 1. Two Different Roads 2. Papa Gene's Blues 3. Propinquity 4. Some of Shelly's Blues 5. Joanne 6. Tomorrow and Me 7. The Upside of Goodbye 8. Harmony Constant 9. Silver Moon 10. 5 Second Concerts (Here Nesmith emcees while John Hobbs does such kitch as "Jaws the Knife" and "There's No Business Like Star Wars" where the keyboard player melds two different songs into one--you gotta hear it to believe it!) CD-2 1. Yellow Butterfly 2. Moon Over the Rio Grande 3. Juliana 4. Laugh Kills Lonesome 5. I Am Not That 6. Rising in Love 7. Rio 8. Different Drum 9. I Am Not That (Reprise)



This is a warm, heartfelt recording. Nesmith and the band really shine in this live setting, and Nesmith's between-song banter with the audience is witty and charming. One of the highlights is a nearly six-minute version of "Rio," which Nesmith says is perhaps the best recording of this classic from FROM A RADIO ENGINE TO A PHOTON WING.



In his liner notes, Nesmith says "I've pretty much quit playing now, but you never know. This particular muse shows up at the oddest times and places." We can only hope his muse visits again, but until that time, you have this wonderful document of what that muse is capable of inspiring! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

"