Search - Michael Nesmith :: Live at the Palais

LIVE AT PALAIS--GREAT TO SEE IT ON CD

david | KENTUCKY | 06/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I BOUGHT THIS ALBUM IN 79 OR 80 NEW IN THE STORE. THE CONCERT WAS RECORDED IN AUSTRALIA NOV 10,1977. CONCERT HAS AN MORE OF AN ELECTRIC ROCK SOUND THAN THE LIVE AT THE BRITT 92 CONCERT. AL STEWART IS HELPING ON LEAD GUITAR AS HE DID ON THE NEXT STUDIO ALBUM INFINITE RIDER IN 1979. GREAT TO HAVE PALAIS ON CD AFTER ALL THESE YEARS. (IM ONLY 37 MIND YOU). THE CD HAS BONUS TRACKS FROM LATER CONCERTS: GRAND ENNUI AND CAPSULE FROM THE 1981 LIVE AT THE ARMADILLO. ALSO CRIPPLED LION AND LISTEN TO THE BAND FROM THE 1995 GRETSCH CONCERT. DONT LET THIS CD GET AWAY. BUY IT!"

An Overlooked Country-Rock Classic

Bill Whitaker | Concord, Ohio United States | 06/29/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For new listeners as well as those of us who have had the original LP since its 1977 release, the CD version of this overlooked country-rock classic is a welcome supplement, moreso due to its four additional live tracks from 1981 and 1995. Each of Nez's bands has its merits. The 1977 concert (from which Nesmith refreshingly admits overdubbing a couple of his own flubs) features seven Nesmith standards and a Chuck Berry cover. The standards lean toward the long side, with the shortest clocking in at about five minutes. However, it's good to hear the band stretch out on songs that originally ran around three minutes, and the slower, statelier numbers ("Joanne", "Silver Moon") manage to avoid lugubriousness thanks to the atmospheric pedal steel of former Flying Burrito Brother Al Perkins. The band is a worthy rock ensemble, including drummer John Ware from Nesmith's original First National Band. Nesmith plays electric rhythm guitar throughout, while Perkins shines on lead, particularly on several B-bender solos as well as the encore, an energetic cover of Chuck Berry's "Nadine Is It You." For Nesmith fans, this is Nez's first of several live albums; for Al Perkins fans, the Palais concert makes a worthy bookend to another live country-rock classic, 1972's "Last of the Red Hot Burritos," another showcase for Perkins' exceptional soloing as well as pedal steel skills. The bonus cuts highlight two subsequent Nesmith concerts from the 80s and 90s. Both feature longtime Nesmith associate/keyboardist John Hobbs, while the latter band includes two more former Chris Hillman bandmates (as was Perkins), Desert Rose Band alumni Steve Duncan (drums) and guitarist John Jorgensen, the latter of whom graced many of Nesmith's finer recordings of the 90s. This latter show closes with a loose rendition of the Monkees' "Listen to the Band," which like "Nadine" two decades earlier, reminds the audience that Nesmith isn't taking himself too seriously after all."

Rock'n'Roll Nesmith...

thehammer | MO USA | 09/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A Nesmith album with a more rock flavor than his previous efforts, the songs still have a slightly Western flavor, not unlike some of the then recent efforts by his contemporaries like Eagles. While his web site indicates this was never one of Nes's favorites (he apparently was displeased with the performances), his fans largely disagree. A fan "fave", this album has been reissued in expanded form on CD, as noted on the official web site, because of fan interest. The performances are not flawless, but are professional, full of life, and real energy, emotion & character. The arrangements on many songs are unique and distinct from the album versions, making the set that much more compelling, and I personally like many of these versions the best. In particular, "Roll With the Flow" shines. It was released as a single originally. The bonus performances on the CD version only serve to make it that much more compelling. As a LONGtime fan, I can't give this album higher praise than to say that it is one of my special favorites. If you like Michael Nesmith, or late '70's SW album rock, or both, you can't go wrong with "Live At the Palais"."