Micky Dolenz at The Des Plaines Theater: The last man standing
Here we come, walkin'
Down the street.
We get the funniest looks from
Ev'ry one we meet.
Hey, hey, we're the Monkees
It’s 1964. Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider have an idea for a television sitcom about the misadventures of a rock/pop band. They auditioned more than four hundred actors/musicians. The winners were Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Mike Nesmith and Micky Dolenz. That’s the very short version of how The Monkees came into existence.
Fifty-eight years later, Jones, Tork and Nesmith have all died. Mickey Dolenz is the last of The Monkees. He’s now on tour, honoring his fallen bandmates and keeping their memory alive.
Last night, he performed at the Des Plaines Theater; his second show in the Chicago area. If you were looking for a night of musical excellence, you were in the wrong place. If you were out for some great storytelling, songs surrounding those stories and plain old fun, then hanging out with Micky for a couple of hours was a great place to be.
Dolenz gave us stories about his former bandmates, but also weaved in tales about meeting The Beatles, in England, having Jimi Hendrix as an opening act, and how Stephen Stills was telling him about his new song, “For What It’s Worth”, while they were in a Topanga Canyon swimming pool. Plus, in the background, was a video screen that gave photos and videos of the exploits of the band and their friends. Great memories…great fun.
As for the music itself, he did play all the Monkees’ hits that you swooned over a kid. The show started with “Steppin’ Stone”, closed with “I’m a Believer” and had “Mary Mary”, “Valeri”, “Last Train to Clarksville” and “Daydream Believer” in between. His backing band, which Mickey said was the best he has ever played with (I wonder if he says that to all his bands?) was fine. I especially liked his lead guitarist, who had a few tasty solos.
When you add it all together, it was an entertaining evening. That’s seems appropriate because The Monkees and Micky Dolenz were all about entertainment.
Hey, hey, we're The Monkees
You never know where we'll be found
So you'd better get ready
We may be comin' to your town