The first concert I ever bought my own ticket for was The Monkees’ 50th Anniversary Tour, which featured only Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork. Mike Nesmith was writing his autobiography Infinite Tuesday at the time, and therefore declined to travel with them. But even though he is about to tour with Micky for the second leg of The Mike & Micky Show tour, the 50th anniversary tour was really his last chance to play with all the other living members, rather than just one.
Peter Tork died today at the age of 77. On one hand, I’m heartbroken and hoped this day would never come. On the other, he lived one hell of a life, as a family man, as a musician, and as a Monkee. I feel very lucky that I got to see him in person once – on that last tour. Right now, I’m going to write out a review of that show in the setting of a few days after it happened, because I remember it clearly, and I didn’t write anything back then. Hope you enjoy, and Godspeed, Peter.
CONCERT REVIEW: Two original Monkees celebrate 50 years of Monkeeing around in Clearwater
Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork can still Monkee around after 50 years, and their concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall Friday night confirms that fact. Dolenz, 71, and Tork, 74, just kicked off Good Times: The 50th Anniversary Tour this week over in Fort Myers, and this is only the third date. It’s in celebration of not only their 50th anniversary, but also the release of a new album, properly entitled Good Times!, which releases May 27. The album will feature contributions from the two mentioned, as well as the quiet Monkee, Michael Nesmith, and even an archived vocal from the late, great Davy Jones, who died in 2012.
Nesmith is sitting out this tour, as he says he’s working on his autobiography that should release relatively soon. Hopefully, he’ll appear on select dates of this tour, because you only turn 50 once. But enough of that, how was the show?
Around 8:05, Micky and Peter came out from opposite sides of the stage, humorously attempting to embrace each other before kicking off the show with the Nesmith-penned tune, Listen To The Band, immediately followed by their first smash hit Last Train To Clarksville. Behind them was a jumbo screen that scrolled 50 years worth of video, mainly from their TV show that knocked them into mainstream. But some deep cuts were thrown in, too. One of the few Monkee songs that Tork sang lead on, Your Auntie Grizelda, as well as Saturday’s Child, which was played live for the first time on their 45th anniversary tour with Davy Jones in 2011.
As mentioned before, there is a new album releasing next week, so in honor of that, Micky sang leads on She Makes Me Laugh, the first single off of Good Times!, penned by Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo. On Friday, another new song, Me And Magdalena, dropped on iTunes, but there was no sign of that one at the show, nor their other new one, You Bring The Summer. But hey, for their first new song in 20 years, let alone being written by the biggest dork in rock history, it sounds pretty damn amazing.
During Randy Scouse Git, Micky wore the tablecloth poncho he wore in its music video 50 years ago, and banged on (possibly) the same drum. And For Pete’s Sake was thrown in, too. That was, for those who don’t know, the song that played while the credits to the TV show rolled in the second season. Originally, Peter wrote it, but Micky sang it. But here, Peter sang AND wrote it. Micky just needs a break sometimes, you know? At one point, he left the stage so Peter could deliver a banjo accompanied rendition of Jackie Wilson’s (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher. But he came back out to play a song they’ve “never done onstage before,” Let’s Dance On. “This was the first time we actually sat down together as a group and played, you know, Peter, the night before, had taught me how to hold the sticks!” Micky joked.
After a brief intermission, the duo stormed the stage once again with Mary, Mary, and a medley from their trip-of-a-movie from 1968, Head. Once again, during this part of the show, each of the two got incredible chances to prove that they’ve still got it. Micky broke into an almost-perfectly identical rendition of Goin’ Down, complete with the scat and all. The reason I say almost perfect is because a woman in the front row sang the second verse for him. Look, even Micky knows that when you can sing those words that fast, you need a second or two in the spotlight. Peter also debuted (here, anyway) another song off of Good Times!, entitled Little Girl. It hasn’t been released yet, but it’s a real peaceful, folksy tune that totally fits Peter’s style – I liked it.
And surprisingly, Heart & Soul, off of The Monkees’ critical flop of an album, 1987’s Pool It!, made it to the setlist too. (No offense to fellow die-hards, by the way. Nothing to do with my opinion, just the facts.)
Yes, Daydream Believer was played, and yes, throughout the show, there was much mention of Davy. In the first half of the show, Shades Of Gray, off the revolutionary Headquarters album from 1967, was played live, with Davy’s isolated vocals playing over the speakers. Same went for Daydream Believer, except that one was better known than Shades Of Gray, which is now seen as more of a solemn deep (ish) cut. The former had the nearly sold-out crowd singing along to every word, with the thought in mind that Davy was, one way or another, with every single person in the room.
After an encore of No Time and I’m A Believer, I think it’s safe to say everyone went home feeling nostalgic. It’ll probably be awhile until The Monkees tour again, considering the fact that even before they lost Davy, they seldom hit the road. The night was perfect for fans, old and new, to relive Monday nights in the 60s, or the MTV reruns of the 80s. Though maybe Papa Nez will finish his book soon, and do something else special with M and P to cap off 50 years.
After all, his voice on the new single that released Friday sounds incredible, so there’s no rush for anyone to hang it up yet.
Josh Bradley Live 