Michael Nesmith’s ‘Movies Of The Mind’

Summer marked one of those rare times when Nesmith joined his fellow Monkees for a tour.  He preceded the reunion outing with his own “Nez Solo” dates and now he’s completing the year with yet more shows, this time calling the adventure the “Movies Of The Mind” tour.

So what does Nesmith have in mind for you on this journey?  Of course, he’ll be digging into his First National Band years, the group considered to be an early pioneer of country rock.  He’s also expected to play some of the his songs that were made famous by other artists, such as “Different Drum” recorded by Linda Ronstadt & The Stone Poneys, “Some Of Shelley’s Blues” which Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recorded, and “Mary Mary” recorded by Butterfield Blues Band as well as by Run DMC.

Nesmith is expected to serve up at least one memory from the band’s TV days.  Word from his camp is that the set will include “Listen To The Band.”

Perhaps Rolling Stone summed it up perfectly when the magazine tagged Nesmith’s post-Monkees songs as “the greatest music never heard.”

The tour’s “Movies Of The Mind” moniker is very appropriate for Nesmith, what with his success on the silver screen as the executive producer for “Repo Man,” “Timerider” and “Tapeheads.”  He’s also won Grammy’s first and only video of the year award, receiving the honor for his long-form 1981 video “Elephant Parts.”

“I hope these tours will increase the interest and serve as a way for people to discover this music,” Nesmith said.  “It is a lot of music created over a lifetime and I believe people will enjoy finding it once they do.  I am having a lot of fun and loving the performances, so I want them to grow in attendance and frequency and do more. The players are all wonderful and inspired by the show so it’s a great evening.”

Here’s the itinerary:

Oct. 27 – Phoenix, Ariz., MIM Music Theater
Oct. 29 – Austin, Texas, One World Theatre
Nov. 1 – Birmingham, Ala., WorkPlay Soundstage
Nov. 2 – Atlanta, Ga., Variety Playhouse
Nov. 4 – Vienna, Va., Barns At Wolf Trap
Nov. 5 – Annapolis, Md., Rams Head On Stage
Nov. 7 – Bayshore, N.Y., YMCA Boulton Center For The Performing Arts
Nov. 8 – Phoenixville, Pa., Colonial Theatre
Nov. 10 – Shirley, Ma., Bull Run Restaurant
Nov. 11 – Fall River, Mass., Narrows Center For The Arts
Nov. 12 – Englewood, N.J., Bergen Performing Arts Ctr.
Nov. 14 – Elyria, Ohio, Stocker Arts Center
Nov. 15 – Chicago, Ill., City Winery Chicago
Nov. 17 – Franklin, Tenn., Franklin Theatre
Nov. 18 – Franklin, Tenn., Franklin Theatre
Nov. 19 – St. Louis, Mo., Old Rock House
Nov. 21 – Ferndale, Mich., The Magic Bag
Nov. 22 – Bloomington, Ind., Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Nov. 23 – Chicago, Ill., City Winery Chicago
Nov. 24 – Milwaukee, Wis., Turner Hall Ballroom

Many shows are already on sale.  Head on over to VideoRanch.com for more information.