“MONKEES' MAGIC LIVES ON: MICKY DOLENZ BRINGS NOSTALGIA AND ROCK LEGENDS TO LIFE AT THE CANYON CLUB IN AGOURA, CALIFORNIA ON OCTOBER 12, 2024

The main event launched with Micky and “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone,” written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, whom Dolenz credited often throughout the evening. Oddly enough, the song had been recorded by the Liverpool Five and Paul Revere and the Raiders before the Monkees came along and made it a Top 20 hit.  They would pay back the Raiders by recording one of their songs “Kicks” in 1986

The evening was a wonderful blend of songs and stories, with Dolenz giving a prelude to each song with lively anecdotes from the classic era of music. It’s easy to forget that Micky is first and foremost an entertainer and actor. He was hired to play a drummer on a TV show, so what did he do? He learned to play the drums in six weeks. Sticking arguably their best singer behind the drum kit was a decision the producers soon regretted.

The tune “That Was Then, This Is Now” kicked off next. The 1986 track hit the Top 20 in the US, two decades after the Monkees had left TV. The Neil Diamond-penned “A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You” followed, and Dolenz made sure to tell the tale of each song and how they had the best songwriters at the time working with them. Dolenz’s sister Coco, who has performed with the band over the years and recorded as well, joined Micky on stage, and their vocals paired brilliantly.

Dolenz shared the story of going to England and meeting the Royal Family—no, not that Royal Family, but the Beatles. At the time, the two bands could have been seen as rivals, but they hit it off, and Micky recounted how they would jam and were welcomed with open arms. This led to a trio of Beatles tunes with Incubus bassist Ben Kenney joining in, sporting his Paul McCartney Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass, which was just perfect.

Next, Micky told the story of his audition for the Monkees TV series. He was a trained actor, having starred in “Circus Boy,” as well as a musician. For his audition, he chose the Chuck Berry tune “Johnny B. Goode” to impress the casting folks, and five decades later, it impressed the sold-out crowd too. “Last Train to Clarksville,” the Monkees’ first single, came next, and soon there were fewer folks sitting as the bopping and dancing kicked in. He shared that the famous “do-do-do, doo-doo” lyrics came about because it was past midnight, and he couldn’t remember the real lyrics. He had to be on set at the crack of dawn, so he just made something up!

Micky then recounted the Monkees going on tour and needing a good opening band. He had seen a guy at the Monterey Pop Festival that he thought would fit the bill—”the guy who played the guitar with his teeth,” that guy being Jimi Hendrix, who would indeed join the band on the road. With that, the band launched into “Purple Haze.”

He also shared the story of Stephen Stills trying out for the Monkees and failing to make the cut. He went home to his roommate to vent, that roommate being Peter Tork, who took it upon himself to try out as well. “He’s not hurting, so I don’t feel bad,” Dolenz quipped about Stills before launching into the Stills-penned song “For What It’s Worth.”

Dolenz and his band recently kicked off their tour at the famed Troubadour in Los Angeles, which oddly, he had never played before. He was there the fateful night when a young piano player performed his first show in the US—that performer being Elton John, who was wearing the same Andy Warhol T-shirt as Micky. The two bonded over that awkwardness, which led into “Your Song.”

The evening was a wonderful balance of nostalgia and storytelling, centered around music loved by millions. The artists who created the music were credited and discussed, as were the other members of the Monkees. Video displays played clips from the show, so when Dolenz sang “Valleri,” Davy Jones was right there with him, the sweet memory given just the right tone.

The show reached a crescendo with the last few classic Monkees tunes. When the final notes of “I’m a Believer” rang out, the entire audience was on their feet, applauding.

For folks of any age, this is a can’t-miss showcase of music and stories that were simply captivating and endearing. Micky Dolenz is a true legendary performer, and he and his bandmates deserve the recognition they’re owed in the annals of music history.