30 October 2026 (gig)
1 h
The '60s phenomenon that was The Monkees TV show premiered on television 60 years ago in September. From out of that show was born a cultural sensation that has endured for decades. Not to mention a songbook of classic pop recordings that rank up with some of best catalogs ever produced.
After years of being on and off as a group, Micky Dolenz is the last man standing (as bandmates Davy Jones, Mike Nesmith and Peter Tork have sadly all passed away) and he is celebrating with a tour labeled, "60 Years of The Monkees", a production that encompasses the best of their musical memories.
Dolenz performed at The Cabot theater in Beverly, Massachusetts (one of the best venues in the state) on Halloween Eve, October 30, 2026.
After a brief performance of the "Theme From The Monkees" (featuring Dolenz's sister, Coco Dolenz on vocals), Dolenz opened with "Last Train To Clarksville", which is kind of The Monkees' unofficial "National Anthem", and into the hypnotic vibes of "Take a Giant Step" (all of these songs were featured on The Monkees debut disc).
Dolenz is touring with a seasoned band of talented musicians featuring: Wayne Avers (lead guitar), John Billings (bass guitar), Rich Dart (drums), Alex Jules, (keyboards), Emeen Zarookian (guitar) and Coco Dolenz (vocals).
Sharing some stories of The Monkees' early days, Dolenz spoke of how the group only found out that their second album, "More of The Monkees", had been released was when fans told them they loved their "new record." The band ventured into a few cuts from that disc including: "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)" where Jules took the lead vocal spot; "Sometime in the Morning", an amazing Carole King/Gerry Goffin ballad; and Dart, who bears an amazing resemblance to Tork, recreated his lead vocal spot on "Your Auntie Grizelda".
The Monkees' 1967 release, "Headquarters", was the first album when all band members played their instruments (and the first record that the group had total creative control over). Dolenz celebrated that record with "For Pete's Sake" (penned by Tork, this song served as the closing theme during the second season of "The Monkees), "You Just May Be the One" and Dolenz and Coco did a touching duet on "Shades of Gray".
After sharing a story about meeting The Beatles in the UK, the band delved into a cover of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)" before Dolenz did a stellar job replacing Jones' lead voice on "Valleri".
A killer take of "Pleasant Valley Sunday" (the only song played from the bands' "Pieces, Aquarius Capricorn and Jones" LP all night) led into Coco doing a spectacular cover of Nesmith's song, "Different Drum", and the trippy "Porpoise Song (Theme From "Head").
It's kind of scary to think that The Monkees' comeback song, "That Was Then, This Is Now" is now celebrating its 40 birthday, but Dolenz still sings it with all the vigor he did in 1986.
The set was wrapped up with the iconic "Daydream Believer" and "I'm Not Your Steppin' Stone". Dolenz returned for a single encore with the iconic "I'm a Believer", leaving the crowd full with the good feelings that The Monkees always provided.
