Where's That Sound Coming From Presents: Questions But No Answers with Brian Marchese

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Dateline December 30 2023. The spinoff is now the main event. Welcome to Where's That Sound Coming From Presents: Questions But No Answers! Yes, WTSCF has become what might be the only podcast centered on the musical career of a person whom I consider to be one of the most creative, if underrated and misunderstood, musical minds of the mid-late 20th Century: the late, great Michael Nesmith. I made a list of 75 songs he recorded between 1965-2016 which I feel support my opinion (mostly original, but I had to include a handful of wonderful cover versions) and I intend to devote a 30-60 min episode to each song (though if appropriate I might clump two together in one episode). True to Nez's own philosophy of letting ideas unfold in time and space to allow for growth, I only have a general idea of what I want these episodes to be like. There will indeed be academic presentation of facts, dates and names. There will also be, when applicable, comparative airings of different versions of the featured songs (demos, live versions, alternate versions, even interesting cover versions; and if the featured song IS a cover, I'll go into old school WTSCF mode and play/discuss the original). If I'm strapped for time or if I've already said what I wanted to say in the past, I might repurpose an old WTSCF episode that sufficiently discusses, say, "How Insensitive" or "She Thinks I Still Care". I'd like to have occasional guests to banter about the featured song--distinguished friends to start, but if a notable stranger with relevant, amazing stories or knowledge gets in touch, I might ask them to come on as well. I already have interviews I've done (between 2013-2022) with drummer John Ware, bassist David MacKay and Nez himself to draw on, but you never know who might come out of the woodwork. Why did I decide to call this new series "Questions But No Answers" and not, say, "Marble Canyons of the Sky" (my second choice) or "Listening" (a perfectly succinct title suggested by Andrew Sandoval, to whom perhaps I should have "listened" to ha ha). Well, because, while I want to always be accurate and correct when presenting facts, I also would like to whimsically muse about unknowables. Like, where in the world did "Writing Wrongs" come from? Or did Neil Young or The Eagles ever site "Propinquity" as inspiring certain songs? (you'll have to tune in to Episode 2 to hear which ones). I want to have fun with some mental gymnastics, as well as with amusing but relevant soundbites, and when guests come on I want to have engaging and enlightening but fun conversations and repartee. As the series progresses and grows, we'll also note Nez's growth as an artist--the singer, songwriter and guitar player. And yes, the complex person. However, I don't want to spend more time than necessary delving into his personal life or his non-musical ventures. There will be little to no time spent on Repo Man, Neftoon Zamora, Videoranch, Liquid Paper, wives or girlfriends. There'll be passing references to weed or metaphysics, but only if relevant. I plan to make this chronological because, again, I like charting the growth and evolution and out-of-(seemingly) nowhere ideas that marked his musical career. Please get in touch at wheresthatsoundcomingfrom@gmail.com with comments, questions, ideas, suggestions, stories and substantial monetary donations. I do all this myself, at home--the research, the script, the recording and editing--sometimes with a cat sleeping on my lap or reaching for the headphone and microphone. I do hope you enjoy this series. I realize this shift might lose some listeners that hoped I would continue the old format, or thought I might evolve into a Grateful Dead podcast. But crikey--there are enough of those to wade through and nothing left to say. Ah, but PodWorld is sorely in need of a series on Michael Nesmith. Disclaimer: though I was hired by Nez himself to write for Videoranch in 2017, this series is all me. Enjoy!

Episode List

Episode 18: Ep. 14 Daily Nightly/Love Is Only Sleeping

Apr 7th, 2025 4:00 AM

The Summer of Love has begun and psychedelia is in the air. This episode features two songs that were recorded on June 19, 1967 and which reflect the trippiness that defined the moment. Two of the players on these tracks had spent the previous days and nights at the Monterey Pop Festival and somehow still retained enough brain cells to be at the studio 300 miles south the next afternoon, ready to put in a 10 hour day. I’ll trace Peter Tork and Eddie Hoh’s journey from the chaotic and historic final hours of the Festival to the day-long next-day session with Mike and Chip. I’ll give my interpretation of the lyrics of “Daily Nightly” and talk about the Sunset Strip riots that inspired them, as well as Nesmith’s complex relationship to the hippie culture. Then I’ll compare and contrast Barry Mann’s bubblegum psych demo of “Love Is Only Sleeping” with the moody and dreamy Monkees version, talk a bit about 7/4 time and more! This episode is a first in two ways: 1) it features more than one song and 2) it’s the first to feature a song not written by Michael Nesmith. Ok, now that I have this episode out of the way I can start on my taxes. But this came first. I know my priorities. Enjoy.

Episode 17: Ep. 13 - Don't Call On Me

Mar 2nd, 2025 8:52 PM

A fine addition to the list of pop song "Don't"s...(Don't Bother Me, Don't Let Me Down, Don't Wait For Me, Don't Be Cruel, Don't Worry Baby, Don't Cry No Tears, Don't Ask Me Why, Don't Forget Me, Don't Leave Me, Don't Lie To Me, Don't Make Promises, Don't Stand So Close to Me, Don't Stop Believin', Don't Think Twice...ARRGH! So many restrictions! And that's just off the top of my head..). Anyway..."Don't Call On Me", written by Michael Nesmith and John London in 1964, shares the same first chord, sung note and sung word as "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" (another restriction!), but then becomes its own thing and a glorious thing it is indeed. In this episode I discuss Major 7th chords, bossa nova beats, the quantum leap rock music took in mid-1967, flying Telecasters, Monkee Mania Radio and I even work in a reference to the Apple TV series Severance, because it's the best television show going and you all should be watching it and I can't seem to go an hour without working it into all conversations. This episode features my voice sounding raspy and breathing slightly labored as I just got over my annual February flu. So this episode is unofficially sponsored by Mucinex. Anyway, Enjoy and see you in the Spring!

Episode 16: Ep. 12 David MacKay Interview

Feb 3rd, 2025 2:00 AM

I'm starting off 2025 by interrupting the chronological flow of this series, but it's well worth it. This is an interview I conducted in 2022 with bassist David MacKay, whose playing, in my opinion, is as responsible for the sound of late 70's Nez as Red Rhodes' steel was to early 70's Nez. Fun Fact: He's also been married to Donna Jean, formerly of the Grateful Dead, for 45 years. Why did I wait three years to publish this? A timeline might be in order: --Spring 2019-No longer with Videoranch but still on good terms with the boss, I interview Nez about The Prison and spend the next months researching and writing about said album, without a specific goal in mind. --Fall 2019-Major life change for me, wind goes out of my creative sails. Meanwhile, I start tuning out of all things Nez due to the infighting among his most devoted fans regarding his odd new public persona. --Winter 2019/20-I produce and publish the Prison interview as a podcast and begin an almost two year Nez-fast. In the past, his words and music were a salve in painful times, but things felt too weird now. --2020/21 - I publish a three part podcast miniseries on The Beach Boys/Grateful Dead 1971 appearance at the Fillmore East and explore other connections between the two biggest California bands. I'm given Dead author/scholar/radio host/mensch David Gans' email and he replies in a friendly, helpful manner. --Nov 2021-I witness Nez's final perfomance/public appearance. --Dec 2021-RIP, Nez. Still not feeling much like listening to his music but feeling a renewed duty to somehow honor his musical legacy. The Prison feels too depressing so I decide to expand my subject to what happened after The Prison's disappointing failure. --Spring 2022- I contact David Gans again to see if he could put me in touch with David MacKay, Nez's wonderful bassist on his stellar 1977-79 work, and husband of the Grateful Dead's Donna Godchaux. Gans digs my idea, the connection is made, and after some back and forth, MacKay and I settle on a day in May. --May 2022- Zoom Interview conducted with David MacKay, but I have no idea what to do with it and tuck it away. --Fall 2023-Andrew Sandoval gets in touch and, unbeknownst to him, inadvertently inspires me to start a podcast dedicated to Nez's music. --December 2024- after doing one season of Questions But No Answers and feeling pretty good about it, I finally go back and listen to my interview with MacKay and love it! I remembered so little about it that it was like listening to someone else conducting the interview. I decide to turn it into the first episode of 2025. And here we are. Enjoy!

Episode 15: Ep. 11 Happy Nez Year and Preview of 2025

Dec 30th, 2024 5:00 AM

Happy 2025 to all! Especially to those of you who have been digging QBNA and telling your Nezhead or Nezcurious friends. Who doesn't love an unplanned quickie? Here's a five minute rundown of what I've got planned for 2025. Enjoy. HOWEVER... shortly after recording this I listened to an amazing, eye-opening, heartwarming interview that I conducted in 2022 with a very important, yet seldom mentioned player in the Nez story, particularly in the latter half of the 1970's. Why I've been sitting on this jewel for two and a half years can be explained, but I'll save the story for that episode. Let's just say that after listening to it I decided that I don't wanna wait until I'm covering that era to let y'all hear it. It's too good and I need to get it out there ASAP. So, while the stuff I say in this preview is still what I plan for QBNA in 2025, add to the list a wonderful, special, insightful interview about which I can say no more. See you soon!

Episode 14: Ep. 10 Sunny Girlfriend

Dec 12th, 2024 4:26 AM

Nesmith sneaks a Byrds-y country rocker about better living through chemistry onto an album marketed to 11 year olds. He also borrows the intro to a Stones song. With Nesmith on 12-string rhythm guitar, Tork on 6-string lead guitar and John London on bass (and Dolenz on drums) I kinda wish this was the touring lineup. Woulda been a more versatile, impressive sounding band with a fuller sound. I meant to riff on this thought but forgot, so I'm leaving it here,

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