Nez and First National Band Concert in Somerville!!!

Nez and his 8 piece band performed in Somerville.  ALL the old faces were there, not just the local regulars (the Twins and the traveling fans too), but also 2 of his sons, and Circe Link.

And the Nudie hat.  For a costume, he wore white, like Mark Twain, the "Idontgiveadamn" suit.

Set list courtesy of Sheva Golkow (from the NYC show)

More pics from others on the internet with better camera skills than me:

Nez Touched and Surprised

Nez posted this on his FB page.  Because someone bought tickets AND paid $250 for EACH Meet & Greet!!

I personally know SEVERAL people who have done this for a variety of the other members.  It's not all that unusual. Getting a shout-out is more unusual.  It's good to know that he appreciates it.  (And what about all the other people who don't have the time or $$ to do it, but would LOVE to have the opportunity?  What about THEIR dedication?  Is it only revealed in $$?)

My solo tour kicks off tomorrow at the Stagecoach Festival in Coachella Valley, then up the coast and ending in Portland.

Something unique and special has happened for this tour that I want to share.
I have been thinking about the right way to post this in a public forum because I want to share it with you without divulging anything private about who is involved

Someone has bought tickets and a conversation reception pass for every single show.

That means they will be at every show, and after every one, will have a short chat with me one-on-one, and I will sign whatever they would like, and we will take pictures together – the usual meet and greet activity.

Astounding. The time and resource put into this amazes me.

The cost of the tickets.

The cost of the Conversation Reception pass.

The cost of the travel.

The cost of the time.

The unqualified support.

I won’t tell you who it is.

That is very much their own business, and I would never want that made public in any case, but I have to publically acknowledge this level of dedication somehow.

I am so grateful for it, and genuinely touched by it.

These kinds of tours– the small venues and clubs – for this kind of show, are rare because they are very hard to mount at this level. Getting musicians of this caliber in a small venue is almost impossible. It’s why Symphony orchestras need such support from the communities they serve.

On a tour like this all the money that comes in goes to the production. I take no money, and in this particular case even the musicians and crew have taken reduced fees to bring this show on the road.

It is, above all, a labor of love and an encouragement of growth and expansion.

What we love is the performance moment -- the live performance where everyone is at the same place at the same time experiencing their own individualized sense of a collective consciousness.

It is real nourishment for everyone who participates.

That is why the support of someone like our “patron” who gives so completely is very important and worthy of the deepest gratitude. Not just from me and the band and crew but everyone who is benefited by it.

Just to know that we connect at all is enough to sustain us, but to feel such loyalty brings a feast of gratitude from all of us.

There is much that can be said here, but suffice to say “Thank you” to our hidden benefactor for such a display of affection.

It is a thank you straight from our heart and it needs to be said publicly.

You are one of those extraordinary people out there who support so willingly and never assume anything other than the enjoyment of their own commitment.

You are a lesson to us. You are one of our best reasons to do this.

SCHEDULE For Monkees Convention 2014!!

Just got a heads up on the Convention! Full Info on what I got from Here & Now Events:

This is just a preliminary agenda of the weekend of the convention. This does NOT include all the Q and A's or the bands. This is an idea of when the big things are happening. Please note that we are starting the shows earlier due to the amount of entertainment lined up. PLEASE understand performances can change but not altered to a different day.

Friday March 14, 2014
Registration will start at 1pm
Vendor Room will Open at 3pm for VIP 4pm for General Admission.
Ballroom will open at 4pm with entertainment.
6pm Introduction
6:15 Nez Q and A
7:45 Buddy Blanc and Romeo Delight with Special Guest Micky Dolenz will perform.
9:15 Circe Link  and Christian Nesmith along with their band take the stage for a full concert.

Saturday March 15, 2014
Registration 10am
10am Vendor Room will open for VIP 
11am for General Admission.
12 Ballroom will open
12:15 Ceremony for the Induction to the American Pop Music Hall of Fame
Micky Dolenz Q & A , Dolenz Daughters Q & A, performances by Jonathan Nesmith

performing songs from Mother of Winter and The Outer Spaces along with his band and Jessica Nesmith.  Coco Dolenz will perform and in the evening Movies of Mind at 9:30.

Sunday March 16, 2014
You can expect Q & A's from the Nesmith family, Circe and Christian will perform, Here we Come stage show, Tribute to Davy, Rare never seen before videos, and special surprises.

All guests WILL be signing autographs all three days. Professional photo ops will be available as well. There will be performances and Q & A's with the special celebrities throughout the weekend.
We hope this will help in deciding which if not all the days you would like to attend the convention.
VIP is only available on line while limited supplies last.
Movies of the Mind is selling out quickly as this holds only 1000 people total.

There will be sign ups for autographs and photos to avoid lines over the next few weeks.
To ensure you have tickets, please order at the official website monkeesconvention2014.com

 

Next week, even more surprises await all of you.
Be apart of the Monkumental weekend, one that you will NEVER forget.

We hope you can make it!

Cheers,
Then and Now Events

Why Would A Monkee Attend the Conference? Why not?

I hate to send you to a link without a story, so here's a link to Mike's announcement (why does it sound like a slight apology?), what he posted on FB, as posted by the good people at Naked Persimmon:

http://nakedpersimmon.tumblr.com/post/72894541589/the-official-word-from-the-man-himself

And if you are following them, you'll also get their reaction, the best of which is also on their Tumblr, and I quote:

"Nez’s first-ever Monkees Convention, the reality is that there is the potential for things to either go really, really, well…or really, really badly. Which way the pendulum swings will be contingent on a number of factors, of course, but should things end up going south, we do not think it will be because of Nez. "

He seems to be acknowledging the "collector community", which personally, he gets.  He feels slightly awkward about being asked for an autograph and feels bad saying no.  I will point out something here that I think NP was SHYING away from *GASP*.

He hasn't publicly discussed how he will approach the "female fan vibe", which I felt permeated the 2013 Convention. That aspect goes beyond the "autograph seeking" and "personal moment" and even the "fan fervor" that accompanied Monkeemania, circa late 1960's.

Which for me begs the question, how much entertainment can a person get being one of the featured acts at a Fan Convention?

How many people want to wait in line for hours for you, for their 5 minutes, photo and autograph-and how do you somehow make a personal connection with them-and help make "whatever their fantasy is" come true?

Difficult job.

Sometimes the applause and money and adulation from random strangers is just not worth it.

==
****UPDATE 1/12/14****

From "The Real Peter Tork" on Facebook.  The responses to this post are full of fans' support, encouraging him to "take care of himself" and acknowledging his support for his fans in the past.  If anyone has ever been to a Shoe Suede Blues event, he always makes himself available for autographs (more so than any of the others in my experience).

"Regarding the 2014 Monkees Convention and whether or not Peter will attend, Peter currently has a personal scheduling conflict and is not scheduled to participate. If there are any updates to this information, we will post it the moment we hear anything. In the meantime, we ask that you please respect Peter, his friends, family, and your fellow fans. Many thanks for your understanding ~ptfb team"

MIKE at the Monkees Convention!!!

FINALLY, a dream come true for Conventioneers!!!  I'll see you there!!  At 12 Noon, I got the following in an email.

Then and Now Events Presents

Mike Nesmith will join Micky Dolenz for the 2014 Monkees Convention

For Monkees Fans, this is 49 years in the making! Be a part of history as Mike Nesmith joins Micky Dolenz for his FIRST ever Monkee Convention being held at the Hilton Meadowlands in NJ March 14, 15 and 16th of 2014.

Promoters Phyllis Paganucci and Jodi Blau Ritzen of Then and Now Events have announced that not only will Mike Nesmith be joining Micky Dolenz at the convention, he will also be performing his new show Movies of the MindsSaturday March 15 at 9pm. Tickets are available onwwww.monkeesconvention2014.com

.

This magical weekend will include performances from Micky Dolenz, Coco Dolenz, Christian Nesmith and Circe Link, Jonathan Nesmith, Jessica Nesmith.  Actress Ami Dolenz will be signing copies of her new children’s book and answering a Q and A along with her sisters artist and photographer Emily Dolenz and Micky's youngest daughter actress and business partner in Dolenz & Daughters Fine Furniture Georgia Dolenz.  With all of their families in attendance, The Monkees will also be presented with their awards of induction into the American Pop Music Hall of Fame as voted on by the fans late last year. No celebration would be complete without a special tribute to the late and great Davy Jones. Other guests of the convention who will be greeting fans and signing autographs will be Butch Patrick, Donna Loren, Valerie Venet, Henry Diltz, Gary Stroble, Gary DeCarlo, Geri Reischel, May Pang, Larry Storch, Beatles Artist Shannon, David and Jennifer Alexander, The Monkeemobile and more.

Along with incredible performances from Buddy Blanc’s Romeo Delight with special guest Micky Dolenz, Coco Dolenz will perform, Circe Link performing a full show, Jonathan Nesmith with members of The Outerspaces and Mother of Winter,     The Characters, The Frodis Capers, The Monkeephiles, The 1910 Fruit Gum Co, you can look forward to singing late into the night with fan favorites of last year The Blue Meanies.  Sunday we are excited to present Britton Payne's off broad way show Here We Come~A Monkee Parody.  This show has gotten rave reviews from all who have attended its performances.

There are sure to be surprise performances as well with a lineup of legends like this.

There will be meet and greets opportunities with all of our guests.

A Monkees Memorabilia Market Place will be open as well.

For tickets to the convention and for the tickets to the Movies of the Mind Show starring Mike Nesmith (a limited engagement) and hotel information please visit www.monkeesconvention2014.com

 and for updates you can check out the facebook page Monkees Convention.

Note As of now Monkee Peter Tork has a conflicting schedule and is not set to appear.

A very special thanks to our sponsor, John Rose, owner of Cella Bagels, Sky Tan and Jazz Audio located  1198 Middle Country Rd., Selden, New York 11784

(631) 320-1213.

Jodi and Phyllis
Monkees Convention 2014
March 14, 15 and 16th
Sheraton Meadowlands
Be There or Be Square
www.monkeesconvention2014.com

Nez's REAL Thanksgiving Post

I have yet to read the Sandy Hair novel, but there are times when I'm glad that Nez offers us all insights into his mind that we can grow & evolve into.  Or just learn to appreciate that he can communicate them so well as his own unique vision.

Nez's FB post as of 3:30 EST today:

"I had a dreamvision not too long ago. I call it a dreamvision because it happens in that moment just before being fully awake and yet still asleep -- a state in between states. In this particular dreamvision I was talking to a friend and we were discussing our future plans and I enquired about his. He said “I am going with a group of people to Venus and we are going to settle there” “Venus?! Isn't that the planet that has an atmosphere of mostly gas and no water and wild temperatures? How can you survive there?” I asked “Oh, no!” he said. “You don’t understand. All planets are inhabitable and become fully supportive of whatever life is there. Venus will turn into a blue water planet and be as beautiful as the Earth is to humans in only a short while. Humans are the culture, you see? We are the spores that travel from planet to planet and cause them conform to whatever supports life.” I woke up with a big smile. I loved the idea that as humans we are the “culture” Kind of like a yogurt. I could see how true it is that all the mind touches it transforms. Heisenberg’s ideas about uncertainty point here. As does art and humanity itself. We are the tools that transform our environment and create beautiful spaces to live and to be. One doesn’t need to look very far in any direction to see that mortality and materiality are motivated by the opposite idea. This is the soil that is transformed. Be that as it may – the dreamvision friend made me smile and think about what adventure might await me if I looked for the opportunity to “be the culture” – to share and utilize the thoughts and ideas that would uplift and benefit and promote life and love and well being. One of the more powerful ideas I am aware of is appreciation. It means gratitude and it also means increase. What a lovely combination that is – such power to put into an idea – increase and gratitude. I have found dreamvisions to be slightly formed and a bit distant – but if allowed to reside in thought the best sorts of things come from them. In this one –“being the culture” has given me a new look at our Thanksgiving holiday. Taking the time and the focus to acknowledge increase and be grateful for it. To discount loss and sadness as the passing shadows they are and to look to the future with the light of love behind us so that all we see is a reflection of the continuous unfolding of the good and the true. To populate Venus – the love planet – and to make a home for ourselves and our loved ones. Happy Thanksgiving everyone."

*Above turkey photo stolen off Naked Persimmon's FB page. They are awesome.

Nez on FB-Hesitation

Another Post from Nez.  He takes a simple moment, places it into the context of his life on tour. And then he goes into marketing mode, talking about distribution and limited release.  No hesitation about going on this tour (as opposed to previous years when he couldn't face a cheering crowd).  Have I bought a ticket yet?

(Honestly, I hesitated)

"I asked the waitress at Over Easy in Scottsdale how the latte was? She hesitated a nanosecond and I said I’ll just have a cup of regular coffee. That was the better decision – the coffee was good and the breakfast was really good. I recommend it but I can’t recommend the latte since I didn't have it.

That little pause speaks volumes and I have learned to listen to it.

There was an entire movie made about it in the 30’s or 40’s but I can’t think of the name of it. She is standing on the street level at the foot of the stairs outside a brownstone in New York looking up at him and she says something like, “Do you love me, Johnny?” and there is that pause. Devastating.

Because it’s a movie the pause is longer than real life for dramatic effect – and in that pause her face falls and her shoulders slump. She knows he doesn't love her regardless of what he might say next. It would be even worse if he said “Sure, kid.” Or some horrible flip reply – like Nicholson’s response to Shirley McClain in Terms of Endearment –“I love you too, babe.” Again, devastating.

Fortunately is was only a latte this morning and not a life changer – but that little hesitation brought back so many moments like that in my life. In the blink of an eye everything is known; one of life’s little features to steer us down the right paths by just listening.

I’m in Scottsdale today to perform the “Movies of the Mind” opening show at the Musical Instrument Museum tonight. It is such a great facility. I am going over early to go through the museum with Chris Scruggs. Chris is on tour with me and Joe and Boh and Paul – and he is a real treasure of information about instruments and the history of music –Nashville music especially -- and he is a gifted player. (I hope you get to hear him in this band.) I think he will love the Museum so I am really looking forward to it.

Since tonight is the first night of the tour everyone’s heart is racing. Like the start of a great marathon or something. So exciting.

It’s sold out and that is always a thrill.

This will also be the first time that the Live album “Movies of the Mind” will go on sale.

Not the album itself but a card for it –like a Starbuck’s card or a Target card -- because I am recording every show for archival purposes and then I will select the best performance of each song and each narrative and create the Live Movies of the Mind album in three packages.

It will be a limited edition so I am going to make a total of a thousand copies.

The first package of 200 will be signed and numbered CD’s and have the complete best of the Movies of the Mind Tour 2013 – songs and narratives -- plus a vinyl LP signed and numbered and some other collectibles in a Super Deluxe Edition. (The first ten of those are reserved so the first one for sale will be number 11)

The second package will be another 200 of the CD’s signed with complete music and narrative and a t-shirt in a Deluxe Edition.

The third package, the Standard Edition -- will be a compilation of the all the music that will fit on one CD – also with a t-shirt.

After I select and edit everything I’ll master and produce and ship sometime in January.

You can find out more about it here: www.videoranch.com

and there will be sales at the merch tables at the shows.

We left Nashville yesterday in 28 degree weather and now we are sitting in the Arizona desert where it is 80. These fall tours leave it so one never knows exactly how to pack. I have gloves, a ski hat, and a bathing suit and flip flops. Austin tomorrow then Dallas – all sold out.

These tours have been great to do. The last Monkees tour was a blast. And now this one – my solo one –is even more fun.

No hesitation about that."

Michael Nesmith, FB post, 10/28/13, 4pm EST

Nez on FB: Overhearing Neighbors' Fight

What an old man without his dog thinks about.

Sometimes these background ideas turn into songs, sometimes, they turn into mundane musings about other people.

It's always fun to hear what people in gated (or double gated) communities think about the people they are locked up with.

I live in a gated community. Actually it’s double gated—a main gate and the gate at my house. The gates are open most of the time, closed at night usually.

It’s a nice place, with nice people, pretty homes. One of the more interesting families is just down the road. They have a really big house and a lot of acreage. Lots of kids. I don’t know them well. I say Hi at the mailboxes and that’s about it. But they are so active in the Home Owners Association that most of us here know what is going on with them. Like I say – they have a really, really big house.

She is the arborist for the city and he is in construction; big construction like roads and railways. 

It would seem that they have hit a hard patch in their marriage and some of the neighbors were talking about it the other day at the mailboxes. I mostly listened.

I noticed when the Arborists – I don’t know their names –had started building an addition on their home -- a large addition – several rooms in a whole new wing a while back. They have been in construction on it for a few years now.

They started building right after she got the job as the city arborist. It was a great job for her. One of the neighbors here has a truck dealership and she bought a fleet of big trucks from him for the new tree business. It’s a little city but with a lot of trees. 

The truck dealer – Ford or Chevy I think – maybe Dodge – I can’t remember exactly –said he was really happy with the sale to the Arborists – biggest sale he ever made -- but he was in a real quandary now because the weirdest thing had happened and he didn't know what to do about it.

For some reason the Arborists started fighting about the new addition. Apparently she didn't like it – the way it looked or something – and insisted that he stop building it and tear it down. They got very angry with each other. Shouts and screams – we could all hear it on some nights. I did notice the construction slowing. It didn't entirely stop however.

But here is the strange part –according to the truck dealer – Mr. Arborist keeps the books for the family while she does the heavy lifting, the chain saw work – I think she makes a lot more money than he does – and Mr. Arborist said that unless Ms. Arborist agreed to keep going with the addition he was going to stop paying all their bills. He hid the check book – something like that.

We all laughed at the absurdity of it – but not the truck dealer – (maybe Toyota?? – I just can’t remember -- if I ever knew) – but not him; he wasn't laughing at all. He was panicked. He said to us “Why would they stop paying me!? I didn't do anything. I made them the loan for the trucks and now he is not going to pay me because she doesn't like the way the addition to the house is going up? What the hell is that about?!” 

I felt very bad for him.

We all stopped laughing. For one thing I had no idea the dealer had enough money to finance Ms. Arborist’s fleet of trucks – and for another thing – I did see his point. 

Mr.Truck dealer didn't know what to do. He said if they stop paying him it will wipe him out – and Mr. and Ms. Arborist can forget about him ever loaning them money again. He simply could not understand why he was being held hostage because of some domestic fight.

I had to leave about that time – I’m packing for the tour today and heading to Nashville for rehearsals – but it started me thinking. 

I don’t know that I ever heard of that kind of domestic squabble leaking over to a neighbor like that before. One would think since the Arborists are married they would want to work together – find some way through the mess but the whole business of breaking trust with a neighbor because your own home has become a battleground just didn't make sense to me.

But –like I say I have to pack for the tour so I will leave it at that. I hope when I come home the Arborists have put their marriage together. They have great kids – and I think they lead a pretty nice life when they are not fighting. I know all of us in the neighbor ---

Wait! I know! The Kenworth guy – that’s it!! He sells those big Kenworth trucks. 

I know he will be happy when the wisdom of good will and understanding comes to the Arborists and that they honor their commitments - if not to each other at least to their neighbors.

Kenworth’s a good truck, I think."

10:20am Eastern time, October 15, 2013

International Monkee Holiday and Nez's Electro Swing

We modestly propose an International Monkee Holiday to be celebrated every year on December 30th. Chosen because it is the birthday of half the Monkees (Mike: 1942, Davy:1945). Highly recommended is a day spent listening to the entire Monkee playlist while cleaning out for the New Year.  Or just chillin' with the substance of your choice (we'd pick chocolate).  Better yet, gather together with fellow Monkee friends and find (or CREATE) an event.  In Northampton, fans were treated to a tribute concert/70th Birthday Party of Nez's music covered by a collection of AMAZING local musicians.  If you were there, or know about future plans, please share and spread the word!!

Almost 50 years later, this songwriter still has his ears up for excellent sounds and is offering his own beautiful interpretation.  For those of you not (ahem) "a Friend" of Nez (at least on Facebook), you might have missed out on this gem of a post.  He discusses Electro Swing and his first memories of bopping around in the backseat of his mom's car.

And he brings in THIS!  A clip of Ginger & Fred (and sometimes Rita and Fred) dancing to Electro Swing.  Fun and anachronistic.  And what he thinks they must have ACTUALLY heard in their heads.  (I'm a fan of the original music they were dancing to, and my only argument with the clips is the non-structured element to the music.  House Music for Swingers.  The speed was also jerky and inconsistent, which also ruins the fluidity, but I'll blame that on the quality of the download speed, not the editors.)

==

His full FB post as of noon, EST, 1/18/13:

Dancing for me is as close as I get to flying. I love it -- but I am not so good at it. 

Some music is better than others for getting me up and going. I have been known to dance in the yard when the music is right.

I've been listening to Electro Swing for a few years now -- the early stuff -- 2009 -- pales in comparison to this newer stuff but it all sounds great to me.

Parov Stelar is my go to Electro Swing "band" when they work as a band-- mostly it is Marcus Fureder doing the main mixing. There are some great mixers out there.

But where it all comes together for me is when I see 30's movie dance footage synced up 2013 Electro Swing.

What resonates for me here is the sense that the actual music I hear now as they dance is probably close to what F&G, for instance, were only hearing in their heads.

Electro Swing was not possible in the 20's and 30's. Krupa probably heard this in his head. And Goodman. Basie. And the rest -- and when I watch the footage of them I smile with a feeling I know now what they were hearing in their heads.

I am swept away by the power of the latest music making gear and the way it can make traditional music sound.

I remember sitting in my car waiting for my mother to finish painting a mural in a theater and I was listening to the radio and heard Carl Perkins Blue Suede Shoes and Chuck Berry's Johnny B. Goode. They were new records -- just out -- and the sound of them was so new and exciting to me I couldn't sit still.

So I just danced in the car. When Mom came out for a just second she saw me thrashing -- bobbing up and down in and out of the view. I think it freaked her out a little. Of course I couldn't explain it.

Years later when making records on my own I came to understand the sound I heard then was not actually there. It was in my own mind. The internal sound was what the recording only implied.

Recording and performing became a quest for me to find this actual sound.

Electro-Swing uses the sonic range and the loops and clips of the great big band charts driving the dances -- so when I saw this clip on wimp.com this morning:

http://www.wimp.com/fredginger/

I thought of dancing in the car --a 1951 DeSoto -- thought of the sounds in my head then -- implied sounds -- that I can now actually hear. I think this is a particularly good sync/montage -- and I think I really see Fred and Ginger flying -- Ginger doing "everything Fred did but doing it backwards and in heels":)