On a night that felt like a time capsule transporting the audience to the golden era of rock ‘n’ roll, Micky Dolenz graced the stage of the Greenwich Odeum with a performance that transcended generations.
Fans both young and old gathered to witness the 79-year-old living legend. The last surviving member of the Monkees, Dolenz delivered a concert experience full of anecdotes, memories, and songs from his illustrious career.
Following a quick four-song set by his sister, Coco Dolenz, Micky took the stage and immediately launched the audience on a nostalgic journey through The Monkees’ greatest hits as well as selected covers of songs that represent that era of rock. “That Was Then, This Is Now”, “Last Train to Clarksville,” “A Little Bit Of Me, A Little Bit of You,” got the crowd singing along, with some dancing in the aisles.
After a brief intermission, the second set started with Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth (Stop, Hey What’s That Sound)”, and led to an interesting story of a Stephen Stills connection to The Monkees’ lifelong friendship with him.
Stills auditioned for The Monkees television series and while he did not get the part, he told his friend Peter Tork about the auditions and the rest is history. Later when the Monkees were in full swing, Tork bought a house in Laurel Canyon where Stills was a frequent guest at the many wild parties there.
During the evening, Dolenz performed covers such as Elton John’s “Your Song” along with Monkees’ hits “Valleri,” “Steppin Stone,” and “Pleasant Valley Sunday”.
The tunes “Day Dream Believer,” “For Pete’s Sake,” and “Different Drum” contributed to a tribute paid to the late members Davey Jones, Peter Tork, and Michael Nesmith.
Dolenz proved to be not just a performer, but a storyteller, regaling the audience with anecdotes and memories while his wit and humor shone through, creating an intimate connection with everyone in the house.
The audience couldn’t help but feel grateful to have been a part of such a magical evening. Many still could be heard singing as they made their way out through the Greenwich Odeum lobby.
