Legendary Monkee Mike Nesmith Mesmerizes a Packed Crowd at Seattle’s Neptune, by Holly Homan

Saturday night March 30 Seattle’s Neptune Theater hosted the legendary Mike Nesmith. Once one fourth of the sixties bubblegum band The Monkees, now an artist in his own right, Mike Nesmith came on stage spot on time at eight o’clock. There was no opening act, just Nesmith and a backup band.

He opened with the only Monkees song of the night, “Papa Gene’s Blues.” Nesmith introduced many of his songs with picturesque stories often reflecting on relationships and romance. Each story was humorous yet poignant proving Nesmith’s varied talents as not only a song writer, a musician, and singer, but also as a great story writer and story teller.

His congenial manner was met with an adoring and very enthusiastic response from the packed crowd. Said crowd was mostly made up of people in their forties and fifties. Yet I didn’t get the feeling anyone was there to simply hear Monkees songs, but to witness a great and legendary artist.

Exuberant fans shouted “we love you, Mike” numerous times during the one and a half-hour performance.

Nesmith’s backing band featured outstanding musicians who complemented his voice perfectly. (Bo Cooper on keybords, Chris Scruggs on guitars and lap steel, Paul Lang on electronic drums and Joe Shemay on bass).

Now at age 70, Nesmith exudes charm and the dignity of an “older gentleman.” It was difficult to find the same Mike Nesmith famous for his wool cap in the days of The Monkees. He’s “grown up” now and no longer that same kid, yet there was still that youthful element to him.

Other highlights of the evening included a soulful rendition of “Different Drum” (a Nesmith composition made famous by Linda Rondstadt’s band Stone Poneys ca 1967), “Joanne” (accompanied by twangy guitar) and “Cruizin’ about Lucy and Ramona,” in which the tempo picked up considerably and had everyone clapping along.

The one and a half hour show included one short encore before Mike Nesmith and his band exited the stage for good. I doubt anyone was disappointed this wasn’t a rehash of old Monkees’ tunes, but a chronology of Mike Nesmith’s illustrious career that now spans more than four decades. The first and only time I saw The Monkees was on their 20th anniversary tour in 1987, but Nesmith wasn’t with them. I am so glad I finally had the chance to see him. He was well worth the wait. I just hope I don’t have to wait as long before seeing him again.

– Holly Homan