State Theatre MPLS
Nesmith, Dolenz & Tork:
Thurs 15 Nov 2012 @ State Theatre
in MPLS. MN.
“BUZZ” Newspaper Article” Dec- Jan 2013 (#21-U)
(By: Mr.ZERo)
First of all this combination has never toured together before. The 2012 Trio performed just 12 dates from, 8 Nov in Escondido, CA. to 2 Dec in NYC. The Original 4 toured together from 1966 to 1968 and then again in 1997, they did perform 1 concert in 1989 for the Hollywood “Walk of Fame”. The trio of Nesmith, Dolenz & Jones toured in 1969. And in 1986 Jones, Dolenz & Tork toured as The Monkees from 1986 to 1989, then again 1996 & 1997 and again in 2000 & 2001 and finally in 2010. These statistics, and much, much more can be found in my book (not yet published) “The Monkees: Complete Touring History” or you can go to this website and get Tons of info; http://www.monkeesconcerts.com this guy did a great job.
When I arrived I knew about 1 out of every 3 people in the venue, I guess that will happen when you’ve followed a band since 1966 and seen them live somewhere around 45 times in 9 different states since 1986. Unfortunately the vocals were buried in the mix, just like last year when the other Trio played the MN. ZOO, on the 1st night. So it was hard to tell what the guys actually sounded like, except Micky I could hear him fine. I am told the vocals were fine depending on where you sat in the venue.
It was cool to see Nez, (only the 2nd time I have seen him live) when he walked out, it brought the house down, it was Very Apparent, 2/3 of the people were there to see Papa Nez, in his shiny loafers. (it seems most people do not realize Nez came into $48 million twice in his life in 1980 when his Mother Bette died and left her “Liquid Paper” fortune to Nez and then in 1999 Nez won a lawsuit against PBS, so he’s not really doing it for the money, although he did get divorced last year) Peter was Peter and did a fine job, playing Guitar & Banjo & 5 String Bass & Keyboards & Lead Vocals on 5 songs. My friend Jennifer said “Someone put a quarter in Tork for “Your Auntie Grizelda” as he came to life during this number. One thing, I personally saw Tork looking for cameras in the audience, maybe a little too much (focus on the show Peter). The backing band had long time “Monkees” Associates: David Alexander, Aviva Maloney & Wayne Avers & this time, Nesmith’s son Christian on Guitar, and Micky’s sister CoCo on backing vocals.
Micky did a great job as a front man (working harder to fill in for a missing Jones) also playing percussion, Guitar & Drums and wearing a ‘Tablecloth’ for “Randy Scouse Git”,very cool, Dolenz sang lead on 11 songs. Nez, was reading off a “I pad” I felt he only played about 3/4 of the songs, playing a Blonde 12 String Gretsch,( I doubt it was his same one from the 60 s as I heard that one was stolen from a guitar repair shop in Nashville in the 60s) & a Black Strat for “Pleasant Valley Sunday” & Keyboards during “For Pete’s Sake” Nez sang lead on 10 songs. And Nez performed the “Moog” on “Daily Nightly” a sight, you had to see to believe, hysterical !!! After the song Tork asked “How do you warm up for that?” Nez “Very slowly” Tork “He stole that joke”
It was really cool to finally see the 3 live, but when it was only the 3 on stage during 3 songs from “Headquarters” it really set in the fact the David is gone … and they waited all this time to do this … so the 2 video tributes to David were a nice touch. However, The Trio really did seem to lack a comradery between them, not much interaction between them, missing was the “one ups man ship” between Jones & Dolenz. However, it was a dream come true to watch Mike sing lead & play 12 string, with Micky on drums & Peter on bass for “You Told Me” “Sunny Girlfriend” “You Just May Be The One“ & “Mary Mary” what a time warp, to actually see this live, even though the guys are in their late 60s.
There was a video screen behind the guys, (they actually pioneered this in 1967) showing some really rare video clips some I had never seen before, and I have seen a lot over the last 25 years, including a trailer for the new “Boyce & Hart” documentary, “Candy Store Profits” due out next year. They also played some rare music before and after the concert, the most unusual track I heard was a Spanish Version of “Hard To Believe” a Jones track from “Pisces”. The Merch booth was CRAZY they $old Out Of Almost Everything!! After the show we saw Coco Dolenz outside by the bus, and Tork walking into the Hotel they were staying in. It was cool to see Christian Nesmith live, I saw my long time friend Karen & her friend Keyboardist David Alexander took our picture (& his too), I met Andrew Sandoval in person after all these years, also very cool, Sandoval is recording all 12 shows for a DVD next month.
The stand out songs for me were “You Told Me” “Early Morning Blues & Greens” “Do I Have To Do This All Over Again” “Sweet Young Thing” & “Tapioca Tundra” and My little friend Rose, got to sing “Daydream Believer” with the Trio, awesome. I personally would have loved to see them perform “Salesman” “Love Is Only Sleeping” “Tear The Top Off” “Nine Times Blue” or “You’re So Good” but alas my friend Doc tells me “Rik, You’re the only one who wants to hear that stuff?” So I give you the Set List for the night’s Concert. Apparently a lot of the concert can be found on “YouTube”
The Setlist:
*Intro Instrumental
Last Train To Clarksville (Nez & Tork on Guitar)
Papa Gene’s Blues
Your Auntie Grizelda (Tork’s song & dance)
She (in a lower key than the recorded version)
Sweet Young Thing (Tork on Banjo)
I’m A Believer (Dolenz on Tamborine)
(INY) Steppinstone
*Video: I Wanna Be Free
You Told Me (Dolenz on drums for the next 8 songs)
Sunny Girlfriend (Tork on Bass for the next 3 songs)
You Just May Be The One
Mary Mary
Girl I Knew Somewhere: Nez Vocal & Tork on Keyboards
For Pete’s Sake: Tork Vocal
Early Morning Blues & Greens: Tork Vocal
Randy Scouse Git (Dolenz on Kettle Drums)
Daily Nightly: (Nez on Vocal Moog)
Tapioca Tundra
Goin Down
*Head Film Trailer
Porpoise Song
*Video Daddy’s Song
Can You Dig It: Tork Vocal & Dolenz Percussion
As We Go Along
Circle Sky (Dolenz on Drums)
Long Title: DIHTDTAOA
*Video Tribute to David Jones
*Daydream Believer: Rose on stage singing
What Am I Doing Hanging Round (Tork on Banjo)
Listen To The Band (With Band Introduction)
Pleasant Valley Sunday (Dolenz Guitar)
BUT !!!
It was Great to see them and I had a Great Time and I loved it overall !!! I personally feel the coolest thing is all the Wonderful People I have met over the last 26 years because of a TV Show in the 60s that put out some Records and became a Band.
Thanks to Curt & Lori for filming me 20 years ago at Adventureland. I’d like to thank Andy for the Ticket, and Rob & Tom & Billy for hanging out, we tried in vain to get some autographs, especially from Nez, as we have the 1st LP a “J” (Papa Jean’s Blues) cover signed to the Shop (Mr. Zero’s we took the name from the Monkees episode #52 from 5 Feb 1968), by Jones, Tork & Dolenz, however Nez’s son Christian informed us, “My Dad won’t sign things, because he hates Ebay”, and so do the other 2 we found out, waiting around for 2 hours or more, to no avail (thank you Ebay Dealers for ruining it for everyone, everywhere in the universe) . In closing, I would say a wonderful time was had by all.
MrZERo
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
St. Paul, MN. 55113
www.MrZeros.Com
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