The Monkees Live Almanac
  • HOME
  • '60s
    • 1966 PROMOTIONAL TOUR
    • 1966 - 1967 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
    • 1967 US / BRITISH TOUR
    • "HEAD" (ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE) CONCERT
    • AUSTRALIA & JAPAN 1968
    • 1969 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
  • '70s
    • THE MONKEES LIVE IN 1970
    • THE GREAT GOLDEN HITS OF THE MONKEES (Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart)
  • '80s
    • 1986 'SOUND OF THE MONKEES' AUSTRALIAN TOUR
    • 1986 '20th ANNIVERSARY' NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
    • THE GREEK THEATRE 1986 (all four Monkees reunited)
    • 1987 'SOUND OF THE MONKEES' AUSTRALIAN TOUR
    • 1987 NORTH AMERICAN 'HERE WE COME AGAIN' TOUR
    • 1988 AUSTRALIAN TOUR
    • 1989 EUROPEAN TOUR
    • 1989 NORTH AMERICAN / JAPANESE TOUR
    • UNIVERSAL AMPHITHEATRE 1989 (all four Monkees reunited)
  • '90s
    • 'MICKY AND DAVY: TOGETHER AGAIN'
    • 1996 '30th ANNIVERSARY' NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
    • BILLBOARD LIVE 1996
    • 1997 UNITED KINGDOM 'JUSTUS' TOUR
    • 1997 US TOUR
  • '00s
    • 2001 US TOUR
    • 2002 NORTH AMERICAN / UNITED KINGDOM 'MONKEEMANIA' TOUR
  • '10s
    • 2011 '45th ANNIVERSARY' WORLD TOUR
    • AN EVENING WITH THE MONKEES (THE 2012 TOUR)
    • A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHT WITH THE MONKEES (THE 2013 TOUR)
    • 2014 MONKEES TOUR
    • AN EVENING WITH THE MONKEES (FEATURING MICKY DOLENZ & PETER TORK)
    • GOOD TIMES: THE 50th ANNIVERSARY TOUR
    • THE PANTAGES THEATRE 2016 (Michael Nesmith's final Monkees concert)
    • THE MONKEES PRESENT: THE MIKE NESMITH & MICKY DOLENZ SHOW
  • '20s
    • THE MONKEES FAREWELL TOUR WITH MICHAEL NESMITH & MICKY DOLENZ
  • GEAR
  • BLOG
  • MISC
    • HEADQUARTERS RADIO PROGRAM
    • PRINT & WEB ARCHIVE
    • LINKS
    • ABOUT

Michael Nesmith to debut revamped First National Band in early 2018 (UPDATED x4)

11/7/2017

9 Comments

 
Michael Nesmith First National Band 2018
Hot on the heels of yesterday's announcement of the More Of The Monkees super deluxe edition by Rhino Records, Michael Nesmith has unveiled his first concert engagements for 2018 with a brand new lineup of The First National Band. 

The First National Band was Nesmith's initial post-Monkees outfit that consisted of Red Rhodes, John London, and John Ware. The group released three acclaimed albums between 1970 and 1971, but their live performance history was fairly limited. Sadly, both Rhodes and London have passed away. The 2018 edition of the First National Band will consist of Christian Nesmith (guitar), Jonathan Nesmith (piano/guitar/vocals), Circe Link (vocals), Christopher Allis (drums), Jason Chesney (bass), Amy Spear (vocals), and Pete Finney (pedal steel). 

In January, for two dates in California, Nesmith will bring the music of The First National Band back to the live arena with a series of shows focused on his early 1970s RCA recordings, including a concert on January 25th at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, where he debuted the First National Band in March 1970. A press release on Monkees.com reported the following: "Songs like 'Different Drum' (a Top 20 hit for Linda Ronstadt & The Stone Poneys), 'Listen to the Band' (re-recorded by the FNB in 1970), 'Some of Shelly’s Blues' (covered by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), and 'Silver Moon' will join lesser-known but equally transcendent album sides in a rebirth of what was labeled by critics as 'the greatest music that you never heard.'" It is expected that dates will be added nationwide. 

Monkees archivist Andrew Sandoval confirmed on Twitter that he will be involved in these concerts, and that he hopes live recordings will become a reality. "For me personally, this is the music of Michael's that I always come back to - revelatory, heartfelt and transcendent," Sandoval wrote on Facebook. "The albums - Magnetic South, Loose Salute, Nevada Fighter, Hits Keeps Coming, Ranch Stash & Tantamount - are brimming with brilliance. Those of you who have followed his story know that 'Papa Nes' became Nez, and went in new directions after this phase of his solo career. For these shows he will at long last call back to these records with full-blown country-rock backing and I am so excited to hear the results.​" Sandoval also noted on Facebook that John Ware is contemplating a cameo appearance.
​
Tickets for the California shows will go on sale on Friday:
​January 23, 2018: The Coach House / San Juan Capistrano, California
January 25, 2018: The Troubadour / West Hollywood, California
Here is the full press release about the new activities surrounding the First National Band, courtesy of Monkees.com:
Almost fifty years ago, in May 1968, Michael Nesmith ventured to Nashville to record a series of groundbreaking sessions with local musicians. What they produced is now recognized as the foundation of the country-rock and alt-country movements.

"I could just feel this happening, that there was this 'thing,'" recalled Nez. "So, I headed off to Nashville to see if I couldn't get some of the Nashville country thing into the rock'n'roll or vice versa."

Nez's intuition was correct; he was on the leading edge of a new genre. His exploratory work caught the attention of legendary RCA A&R man Felton Jarvis who had produced the Nashville sessions with Nez. In February 1970, Jarvis signed Nez and his new band, the First National Band (pedal steel virtuoso Red Rhodes, bassist John London, and drummer John Ware), to a deal with the venerable imprint and produced their first record, Magnetic South.

Despite the eight innovative country-rock LP's Nesmith created between 1970 and 1978, he is one of the less heralded architects of the genre. The First National Band's three classic albums -- Magnetic South, Loose Salute, and Nevada Fighter -- spawned four charting singles, including "Joanne" which reached #21 on the Billboard Top 100. However, live success for the fledgling band was harder to come by and the musicians Nez collected to bring his country-rock dream to market soon scattered. Nez played out his remaining RCA albums with Red Rhodes and toured with him throughout the '70s. Yet the full-blown sounds of the First National Band were never to be heard on the concert stage again.

In January 2018, Michael Nesmith will bring this music back to the live arena with a series of shows focused on his RCA recordings, including a show on January 25th at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, where he debuted the First National Band in March 1970. Songs like "Different Drum" (a Top 20 hit for Linda Ronstadt & The Stone Poneys), "Listen to the Band", "Some of Shelly's Blues" (covered by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), and "Silver Moon" will join lesser-known but equally transcendent album sides in a rebirth of what was labeled by critics as "the greatest music that you never heard."

UPDATE 11/8/2017: Michael's Videoranch3D website has taken a moment to look back at the First National Band:
Picture
The Original Band

"[John] Ware wisely pointed out that if he and John [London] were my band, we could not only record but could tour in support of the records we made, something the Nashville first-call session guys seldom did for a new band. We would be a real band rather than a pure studio effort. ... [John] wondered who I might like to approach, and my first choice was Red Rhodes. I had no hope of him accepting, but he was my first choice. A pedal steel guitar player -- especially a magical-reality player like Red -- was critical-path for the music in my head."

-Michael Nesmith, Infinite Tuesday: An Autobiographical Riff

Red Rhodes
Pedal Steel Guitar

Nez first came across Red at The Palomino Club, a popular country western spot in North Hollywood, where Red was in the house band. Red played with Nez throughout the 1970s. It is impossible to imagine Nez's music without Red's playing. Red's final performances before his death were with Nez on his ...tropical campfires... album and tour in 1992.

John London
Bass

John began working with Nez as a duo before they left San Antonio for Hollywood in the mid-60s. After joining The Survivors with Nez, he was Nez's stand-in on The Monkees. He met John Ware while working as a bass player for Linda Ronstadt.
​
John Ware
Drums

Prior to joining the First National Band, John attended Pomona College in Claremont, CA, and met John London while playing in Linda Ronstadt's touring band. Years after the First National Band dissolved, he joined Nez for Live at the Palais, recorded at the Palais Theatre, Melbourne, Australia, in 1977.

UPDATE 11/21/2017: The concert at the Troubadour in Hollywood sold out in less than an hour, and as of November 21, there are no longer tickets available for the performance at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano.

UPDATE 11/28/2017:
Three more shows added for First National Band in California

UPDATE 12/16/2017:
Meet & Greets with Nez announced for string of First National Band shows
9 Comments
Tom Czarnota link
11/7/2017 18:03:50

So many lovely tunes to choose from, but I hope he does Wax Minute from Tantamount.

Reply
Brian
11/7/2017 19:43:34

I love Mike's music with the FNB. I don't fly out to see *anyone* in concert, but if I were, then Michael Nesmith & the First National Band would be the group that I would do it for. I hope it's recorded. If he comes to my area, then I'll be first in line.

Reply
B. Sherman
11/7/2017 19:57:54

I wonder who is wearing the nudie suit in the photo, hehe.

Reply
Ian
11/9/2017 05:53:09

Looking forward to this. This is an important period from Mike's career and it nice to see live concerts supporting it.

Reply
Dan
11/9/2017 09:31:55

Where can I get that poster? I've always loved the designs used in the FNB albums and promo-materials; this is another fine addition to that legacy.

Reply
Monkees Live Almanac
11/9/2017 19:35:30

Hi Dan,

This isn't available for sale as it was an image created to promote these particular shows. If it becomes a poster for sale, however, you'll hear about it here on the Live Almanac blog!

Reply
B potter link
11/29/2017 22:18:25

I'd like to have a poster as well if they are available in the future. Feel free to email me. Thank you.

Reply
Laura link
11/30/2017 07:52:48

Mike and Peter, please come back to Maryland in 2018!

Reply
Marina T. link
7/2/2021 16:35:47

It's amazing that will be possible again heard this fantastic band.
I didn't know, that drummer from First National Band, John attended Pomona College in Claremont, it's cool. I really hope that after all this pandemic situation, will be more amazing concerts.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Micky Dolenz Live!

    Picture

    Pre-order

    Picture

    Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart returns​

    Picture

    50th Anniversary Editions

    Picture

    Blog Spotlight

    Picture

    Featured Page

    Picture

    Tweets by MonkeesAlmanac

    Categories

    All
    16 Magazine
    1966 Promotional Tour
    1967 Hollywood Bowl
    1967 Monkees Tour
    1967 Wembley
    1968 Australian Tour
    1968 Japanese Tour
    1968 US Concerts
    1969 Monkees Tour
    1970 Monkees Concerts
    1986 Conventions
    1986 Monkees Tour
    1987 Hollywood Convention
    1987 Monkees Tour
    1988 Chicago Convention
    1988 Monkees West Convention
    1989 European Tour
    1989 Us Tour
    1995 Platinum Awards Ceremony
    1996 Monkees Tour
    1997 ABC Special
    1997 United Kingdom Tour
    1997 US Tour
    2001 Monkees Tour
    2011 Monkees Tour
    2012 Monkees Tour
    2013 Monkees Convention
    2013 Monkees Tour
    2014 Monkees Convention
    2014 Monkees Tour
    2015 Concerts
    2016 Pantages Theatre
    2017 Appearances
    2018 Appearances
    2018 Nesmith Dolenz Tour
    2019 Appearances
    2019 Nesmith Dolenz Tour
    2020 Appearances
    2020 Mike & Micky Show
    2021 Appearances
    2021 Farewell Tour
    2022 Appearances
    33 13 Revolutions Per Monkee
    50 Summers Of Love
    50th Anniversary
    50th Anniversary Tour
    54 Below
    '67 Concerts Photo Album
    7a Records
    Action Figures
    Adam Schlesinger
    Album Covers
    Andrew Sandoval
    Antenna Tv
    Apps
    Articles Interviews
    Artwork Illustrations
    Backing Band
    Beatle Meets Monkee
    Billboard Live 1996
    Bill Chadwick
    Bill Martin
    Blu Ray
    Bob Rafelson And Bert Schneider
    Books
    Bootlegs
    Boyce Hart
    Brady Bunch
    Cassettes
    CD-ROM
    Cereal Box Singles
    Changes
    Childhood
    Chip Douglas
    Christian Nesmith
    Christmas Party
    Christmas Photos Songs
    Circus Boy
    Coco Dolenz
    Colgems
    Comic Books
    Commercials
    Compact Discs
    Creem Magazine
    Current Tour Dates
    Davy Jones
    Davy Jones Japanese Photo Book
    Davy Jones Memorial
    Davy Jones The Street
    Davy Jones Zilch
    Day By Day Book
    Documentaries
    Dolenz & Daughters Fine Furniture
    Dolenz Jones Boyce Hart
    Dolenz Sings Nesmith
    Don Kirshner
    Donna Quinter Dolenz
    DVD
    Early '80s Japan
    Early Monkees Concerts
    Eddie Hoh
    Elephant Parts
    Emmy Awards
    Fan Club Kit
    Fantasy Alternate Albums
    Film Treatment
    First National Band
    First National Band Redux
    Flip Magazine
    Forum
    Frank Zappa
    Friday Music
    Friends
    Gary Strobl
    Gene Ashman
    Glen Campbell
    Goldmine Magazine
    Good Times!
    Good Times! Artwork
    Good Times! Plus!
    Grammy Awards
    Greatest Hits Collections
    Gretsch
    Guest Authors
    Harold Bronson Book
    Harry Nilsson
    Head
    Head Deluxe Edition
    Headquarters
    Headquarters Radio Program
    Heart And Soul
    Henry Diltz
    Hollywood Squares
    Hollywood Vampires
    Hollywood Walk Of Fame
    Iain Lee
    IFC
    Incredible!
    Infinite Tuesday: An Autobiographical Riff
    Instant Replay Deluxe Edition
    In This Generation Tour
    Jack Nicholson
    James Lee Stanley
    Japanese Photo Books
    Jim Frawley
    Jimi Hendrix
    Joey Bishop Show
    John Brockman
    Johnny Cash
    Justus
    Kelloggs
    Kool Aid
    Lester Sill
    Listen To The Band
    Live Album
    Live Almanac Birthdays
    Live Almanac Youtube Channel
    Lulu
    Lynne Randell
    Me & Magdalena
    Memorabilia
    MeTV
    Michael Nesmith
    Michael Nesmith Memorial
    Michael Nesmith Solo Albums
    Micky And Davy 1977
    Micky Dolenz
    Micky Dolenz Celebrates The Monkees
    Micky Dolenz MGM Singles
    Micky Dolenz Remember
    Micky Dolenz Solo
    Mickys Secret Snaps
    Mike & Micky Show Live Album
    Missing Links
    Missteps
    Modern Folk Quartet
    Monkee Business Fanzine
    Monkee Mania Radio
    Monkeemobile
    Monkees In 1970
    Monkees In 1988
    Monkees Live
    Monkees Monthly
    Monkees Pad Show
    Monkees Present Deluxe Edition
    Monkees Tv Show
    Monkees West Publication
    Monterey Pop Festival
    More Of The Monkees
    Movies Of The Mind
    Mtv
    Neko Chohlis
    Nesmith Nashville Sessions
    Nesmith Tork Goffin & King Podcast
    New Monkees
    New Monks
    News & Headlines
    Nightclub
    Oliver!
    Pacific Arts
    Peter Tork
    Peter Tork Memorial
    Peter Tork Project
    Photos 1960s
    Photos 1970s
    Photos 1980s
    Photos 1990s
    Photos 2000s
    Photos 2010s
    Photos 2020s
    Photos Instruments
    Phyllis Nesmith
    Pisces Aquarius
    Podcast
    Poll Results
    Pool It
    Posters
    Radio Interview
    Rainbow Room
    Recording Studio
    Record Store Day
    Rhino Records Handmade
    Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
    Rodney Bingenheimer
    Rolling Stone Magazine
    Run Out Groove LPs
    Sam And The Goodtimers
    Samantha Juste
    Saturday Afternoon Repeats
    She Makes Me Laugh
    Shoe Suede Blues
    Singles And Picture Sleeves
    Snuff Garrett
    Social Media
    Song Of The Day
    Stand Ins
    Stephen Stills
    Stranger Things Have Happened
    Stu Phillips
    Submissions
    Tape Vault
    Television Parts
    Texas Prairie Chicken Podcast
    The Birds The Bees The Monkees Deluxe
    The Monkees Super Deluxe Edition
    The Point
    The Tonight Show
    They Made A Monkee Out Of Me
    Tiger Beat Monkee Spectacular
    Toast
    Tour Posters
    Tour Programs
    Trade Ads
    Trading Cards
    Tv Guide
    Updates
    Valerie Kairys
    VHS
    Videoranch
    Vinyl
    Ward Sylvester
    Wichita Train Whistle Sings
    Wine Down Nashville
    Wrecking Crew
    You Bring The Summer
    Youtube
    Zilch Podcast


    Archives

    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011


    RSS Feed

This website is not officially affiliated with The Monkees or Rhino Records
  • HOME
  • '60s
    • 1966 PROMOTIONAL TOUR
    • 1966 - 1967 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
    • 1967 US / BRITISH TOUR
    • "HEAD" (ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE) CONCERT
    • AUSTRALIA & JAPAN 1968
    • 1969 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
  • '70s
    • THE MONKEES LIVE IN 1970
    • THE GREAT GOLDEN HITS OF THE MONKEES (Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart)
  • '80s
    • 1986 'SOUND OF THE MONKEES' AUSTRALIAN TOUR
    • 1986 '20th ANNIVERSARY' NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
    • THE GREEK THEATRE 1986 (all four Monkees reunited)
    • 1987 'SOUND OF THE MONKEES' AUSTRALIAN TOUR
    • 1987 NORTH AMERICAN 'HERE WE COME AGAIN' TOUR
    • 1988 AUSTRALIAN TOUR
    • 1989 EUROPEAN TOUR
    • 1989 NORTH AMERICAN / JAPANESE TOUR
    • UNIVERSAL AMPHITHEATRE 1989 (all four Monkees reunited)
  • '90s
    • 'MICKY AND DAVY: TOGETHER AGAIN'
    • 1996 '30th ANNIVERSARY' NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
    • BILLBOARD LIVE 1996
    • 1997 UNITED KINGDOM 'JUSTUS' TOUR
    • 1997 US TOUR
  • '00s
    • 2001 US TOUR
    • 2002 NORTH AMERICAN / UNITED KINGDOM 'MONKEEMANIA' TOUR
  • '10s
    • 2011 '45th ANNIVERSARY' WORLD TOUR
    • AN EVENING WITH THE MONKEES (THE 2012 TOUR)
    • A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHT WITH THE MONKEES (THE 2013 TOUR)
    • 2014 MONKEES TOUR
    • AN EVENING WITH THE MONKEES (FEATURING MICKY DOLENZ & PETER TORK)
    • GOOD TIMES: THE 50th ANNIVERSARY TOUR
    • THE PANTAGES THEATRE 2016 (Michael Nesmith's final Monkees concert)
    • THE MONKEES PRESENT: THE MIKE NESMITH & MICKY DOLENZ SHOW
  • '20s
    • THE MONKEES FAREWELL TOUR WITH MICHAEL NESMITH & MICKY DOLENZ
  • GEAR
  • BLOG
  • MISC
    • HEADQUARTERS RADIO PROGRAM
    • PRINT & WEB ARCHIVE
    • LINKS
    • ABOUT