Micky Dolenz returned to San Diego for a tour opening, sold out show at the Belly Up on February 12. Dolenz and The Monkees have had a long history with San Diego, going back to the very first episode of The Monkees TV program shot in part at the Hotel Del Coronado, the Del Mar as Clarksville promo train trip, Kool Aid commercials shot in Belmont Park circa 1970 and many concerts over the years. This road trip is billed as 60 Years of The Monkees, with Dolenz and his six-piece band, which included his sister Coco Dolenz, playing two sets, plus a four-song encore, giving fans a 32-song career spanning overview. The songs were played in approximately chronological order, up to and including the wonderful song, “Me and Magdalena,” from The Monkees 2016 album, Good Times. The crowd loved every second of the show.
Dolenz was in fine voice, taking lead on most songs and telling lots of humorous stories between the tunes. He gave his band mates, which included Dolenz and his sister alongside guitarist and music director Wayne Avers, Alex Jules (keyboards), Rich Dart (drums), John Billings (bass), and Emeen Zarookian (guitar), plenty of opportunity to shine, including a vocal lead each by Zarookian, Dart and Jules, and two for Coco Dolenz.
The concert opened appropriately enough with the “(Theme From) The Monkees,” with Dolenz himself taking the stage to its closing strains and the opening riff to “Last Train To Clarksville.” The first sets eighteen songs included lots of highlights, with “Mary, Mary” being just one of the gems that the crowd seemed to know every word of. There was also a teasing fragment of “I’m A Believer,” with Dolenz good naturedly advising everyone they’ll have to wait till later in the show to hear that one. Meanwhile, a very well received version of “Your Auntie Grizelda” featured an animated Dart up front on lead vocals, with Zarookian taking over on drums and Dolenz on tom tom. This was followed by a story about Jimi Hendrix opening for the Monkees on tour, leading to a brief version of “Purple Haze,” wrapping up the first half with “Pleasant Valley Sunday.”
The ten song second set opened strong with one of the night’s highlights, Coco Dolenz’s version of Mike Nesmith’s “Different Drum,” preceding an excellent take on “Valleri,” with great guitar work from Avers. For me this led to my favorite part of the show, featuring a trio of songs from the movie, Head, and two songs from their later reunion period, including 1986 single, “That Was Then This Is Now,” and the aforementioned “Me and Magdalena,” the latter penned by Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie. The second set wrapped up with a rockin’ version of “(I’m Not Your) Stepping Stone.”
Following a short break the band returned for a four-song encore, with opener “Listen To The Band,” a perfect spot to do a set of full band introductions. The night ended with the one-two punch of a fun sing-a-long on “Daydream Believer,” followed by a spirited run through of “I’m A Believer.”
The show was top notch, with excellent sound and great performances from the entire band. Everyone onstage looked like they were having fun, with genuine smiles and laughs throughout. The only downside was the screen’s location, which made it difficult to catch some of the visuals that were timed to the music. But that’s a minor quibble, it’s all about what’s onstage and this was a fantastic show from start to finish. It’s a testament to the strength of The Monkees catalog that even with a 32-song set, there were still plenty of tunes that I, and the audience, would have loved to hear.
Don’t miss this tour when it comes near you! https://mickydolenz.com
Set 1
(Theme From) The Monkees
Last Train to Clarksville
Papa Gene’s Blues
Take a Giant Step
I Wanna Be Free (Coco Dolenz on lead vocals)
*I’m A Believer (snippet / tease)
A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You
Mary, Mary
Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow) (Alex Jules on lead vocals)
She
Your Auntie Grizelda (Rich Dart on lead vocals)
The Girl I Knew Somewhere
For Pete’s Sake
You Just May Be the One (Emeen Zarookian on lead vocals)
Shades of Gray
Randy Scouse Git
Purple Haze (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
Words
Pleasant Valley Sunday
Set 2
Different Drum (Coco Dolenz on lead vocals)
Valleri
Tapioca Tundra
Goin’ Down
Porpoise Song
As We Go Along
Circle Sky
That Was Then, This Is Now
Me & Magdalena
(I’m Not Your) Stepping Stone
Encore
Listen to the Band
No Time
Daydream Believer
I’m a Believer
