Micky Dolenz Celebrates The Monkees: Concert Review
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With the death of Michael Nesmith on December 10th, Micky Dolenz is the last surviving member of the 60s made-for-TV band, The Monkees, and therefore has a huge responsibility in keeping the music of the band alive. This is the theme of the tour "Micky Dolenz Celebrates The Monkees." Dolenz not only sings the hits he sang lead on for the group, but also honors his fallen bandmates by singing their songs as well. Recently, the tour stopped at The Barns at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia, and this performance is a trip down memory lane that is sure to take you back in time to the era of flower power.
The song selection is a mix of assorted Monkees hits that bookend the main event for this iteration of the tour: a complete performance of the Headquarters album. This album is significant because it is the first album in which The Monkees themselves had creative control over the music and were actually allowed to play as a band, as opposed to the previous two albums, which were dominated by session musicians and had Don Kirshner directing the music. The choice to perform the album in its entirety is no surprise, considering a deluxe edition of the album was released recently. Overall, there’s something for everyone, Monkees fan or non-Monkees fan alike, though it is definitely geared a bit more toward Monkees aficionados.
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The performance of Micky and the rest of his band was overall pretty good. Though Micky seemed winded at times and had some trouble with some songs, he quickly got into his stride. Perhaps the song that featured the 78-year-old singer at his best was the patter song “Goin’ Down,” which features Dolenz telling the story of sailing down the river at a blazing speed. The band that accompanied Dolenz was phenomenal; even the backing band members had time to shine vocally as well as instrumentally. Overall, Micky Dolenz and his band put on a good show.
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The multimedia element of the concert really sealed it as being more than just a concert. Featured prominently behind Micky and the band are home videos, clips, and outtakes from The Monkees television show. The videos that are perhaps key to this concert are the tributes to his fallen bandmates, each starting with the screen test of each fallen Monkee. These multimedia elements elevate this concert from being merely an “oldies” act to a celebration of the over 50-year legacy of The Monkees.
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Overall, though the energy of the concert was rather low-key, it was a good experience. Micky Dolenz can still put on quite a show, and he is aided by a wonderful backing band and stunning visuals. Be sure to check mickydolenz.com to see if he may be coming to your town, because it’s definitely a night that you won’t forget. It’s truly a celebration of the cultural phenomenon that was The Monkees.
Rating: 9.5/10
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