Michael Nesmith plays Phoenix AZ March 9

Guitarist John Jorgenson has performed at the MIM Music Theater with his acclaimed gypsy-jazz quintet and also with the legendary Desert Rose Band, featuring Chris Hillman. Several of the instruments that Jorgenson has played with renowned artists such as Elton John and Johnny Cash are on loan to the museum for display. This ongoing relationship with MIM facilitates this evening’s special show with “Friends and Legends” like Michael Nesmith.

As the comparatively level-headed member of the 1960s teen sensation the Monkees, Michael Nesmith was the most proficient instrumentalist in the group and wrote their best in-house songs. In fact, he had written many songs even before joining the made-for-television band. One of his compositions, “Different Drum,” was a hit for Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Poneys in 1968. A year after he left the Monkees, Nesmith became the only one of his bandmates to sustain a solo career; his dozen LPs were among the most groundbreaking country-rock recordings of the era. He continued to record throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s.

Over their twenty-year musical relationship, Nesmith and Jorgenson have collaborated on a number of projects. On March 9, the two friends will have a rare opportunity to perform together in an intimate acoustic setting with minimal instrumentation. The program will be mostly songs from Nesmith’s substantial song catalogue, which now spans nearly six decades. The combination of Nesmith’s poetic lyrics and engaging vocals, combined with Jorgenson’s instrumental prowess, will make for a magical evening of music.

via John Jorgenson and Michael Nesmith of the Monkees | MIM Music Theater.