NB: This is a 24 bit recording, it sounds just fine as it is. I won't be seeding a 16 bit version.
Michael Nesmith
Union Chapel
London, England
10/31/2012
Source: Audience recording > Audiofidelity binaural mics (mounted on spectacles) > Zoom H2 > wav 24/48
Lineage: wav 24/48 > Adobe Audition 1.5 > iZotope Ozone 5 Advanced > CD Wave > TLH > Flac 24
Recording position: Rear pew, FOB just right of centre, 40 feet from stage
01 Intro
02 Papa Gene's Blues
03 banter > Michael introduces the band and explains the concept of the show
04 Propinquity
05 Tomorrow And Me
06 Grand Ennui
07 Different Drum
08 Joanne > Silver Moon
09 Some of Shelly's Blues
10 Tapioca Tundra
11 Rio > Casablanca Moonlight
12 Cruisin' (originally titled as Lucy And Ramona And Sunset Sam)
13 Life, The Unsuspecting Captive > Marie's Theme > Lampost
14 Laugh Kills Lonesome
encore
15 Thanks For The Ride *
Michael Nesmith - 12 string guitar, vocals
Joe Chemay - bass, synthesisers
Charlie Judge - keyboards
* Red Rhodes - pedal steel guitar
The return of Michael to these shores was quite an event for me, having missed him all those years ago. Wouldn't you just know it though. You don't expect to get any screamers in the house at a Nez show but I managed to find one and sit next too her. She looked innocent enough and luckily she mostly burst forth during the applause. She was sitting on my right, you can't miss her. Maybe she just wanted to leave her mark, she did regular as clockwork. I suppose if you are a screamer you have to try and get in first so that you don't get lost in the throng of like minded others. Her mistake was that there were no others. My dilemma, should I preserve her "15 minutes of fame"for posterity or should I tone her down some. I chose the latter because she's probably had her 15 minutes somewhere at another show. That aside I got a pretty good recording apart from the occasional cough and sniff, that was me!
I knew the songs and have loved his voice from way back. I wasn't sure what to expect, would he play them as I knew them or arrange them differently. How was his voice, had it aged well. What we got was what I suppose you would call a concept show and I'm not sure that it totally worked. However his voice is still in great shape and it was a very good performance.
After the show there was a merch stall with what was described as an "End of tour sale"and I took the opportunity to buy the Pacific Arts Boxset of 4 cds and 1 dvd, for �20. It seemed like a good bargain. Today I discovered that you can get it elsewhere for around �15. Some you win, some you don't but I don't begrudge it because it's still great value for money even at the higher price.
Any way, on to the music. Try not to be too distracted by HER because now I've planted the seed I can guarantee that you'll be listening for her LOL.
You may think that the tracking is a little odd but I think you'll understand why I've done it like this when you listen to the show.
And finally, a little plea from the heart. There aren't many recordings of Michael in circulation. So search through your collections and please seed them as soon as you can. Maybe there are some uncirculated gems hidden away!
recorded, edited and mastered
Lord Pickwick Of Bickershaw
November 2012