It was a surprise and a nice one when Michael Nesmith decided to revive his First National Band album with the gigs that resulted in Michael Nesmith and the First National Band Redux Live at the Troubadour. The album, already out in the UK, will be released in the U.S. on Aug. 3 on 7A Records.
The original release of the First National Band albums was a strong period for Nesmith. The country-rock sound was a natural for him and it also made him a pioneer of this music, thanks to his stellar band from those days that included pedal steel player extraordinaire Red Rhodes. It took 50 years for Nesmith to return to this music, but the Redux is still as warm and beautiful as it ever was. The new group includes two of his sons, Christian and Jonathan, on guitars and vocals. Christian also mixed and mastered the album. The rest of the band includes Pete Finney, who's marvelous on pedal steel, Jason Chesney on bass, Jim Cox on keyboards, Circe Link and Amy Spear on vocals and percussion, and Christopher Allis on drums.
The live set concentrates mainly on the First National Band albums, with a couple of songs from the Monkees and also “Different Drum,” which was a hit for Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Poneys. Nesmith enjoys the love from the audience and clearly gets more comfortable as the set continues.
And this band really cooks. There are many good songs on the set, but two of our favorites are “Mama Nantucket” and “Bye Bye Bye” when Finney's pedal steel really takes off. It's worth it to hear Nesmith bring it all back. The vinyl version of the album, by the way, includes an extra track, “Rio.”
The mystery over his recent health issues now revealed after he announced he'd had quadruple bypass surgery, this album has even more interest. And Nesmith, now 75, will be back out on the road in September with FNBR, then has plans to go back with Micky Dolenz to finish “The Mike and Micky Show” tour that was cut off by his health issues. His unique talents were a vital part of The Monkees. It's good to see him back out there again. And anyone who has loved his music over the years will love this album.
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