FRIDAY FLASHBACK: Country-Samba w/Davy Jones (Monkees)
Pedal Steel and resonating memories...
FRIDAY FLASHBACK
—Recently we were in Arizona, finding inspiration and making visitations. In Phoenix we caught up with “Easy” Mark Tomeo, master of pedal steel/resonator guitar and currently working in the band Last Train to Juarez. At a coffee shop (including free pie from a couple at the next table), Mark and I reminisced about a busy phase circa 1999-2001. Back then I was multi-tasking as a solo act + doing numerous studio projects + live gigs with gospel singers, Davy Jones, and a country band called Neon Cactus—in which Mark was a key player. Along the way Mark and I intersected on a Davy Jones recording of the song “Hold Me Tight” (w/the late, great Jerry Renino on bass), which appeared on Davy’s acclaimed JUST ME album series. The unique country-samba vibe of “Hold Me Tight” (w/cello by Linda Kanski) raised eyebrows and drew comparisons to Mike Nesmith’s country side, but it was totally Davy’s arrangement (the lyrics were deeply personal). The track was mixed by Tim Breon and Skip Kline:
#davyjones #monkees #country #samba #mikenesmith #arizona #phoenix #marktomeo #pedalsteel #accordion #jerryrenino #flashback #Friday #easymark #johnnyjblair #music #Americana #Pennsylvania #kanski #cello #timbreon #skipkline