Monkees Windup 50th Anniversary Tour In US

By Fred Velez

Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork played the last concert of the US leg of the Monkees 50th anniversary tour at the Bergen PAC in Englewood, NJ on November 20th, 2016. Many longtime fans attended the show including Maggie McManus of the Monkee Business Fanzine and Jodi Ritzen of the recent Monkees conventions. Micky,Peter and their band featuring Micky’s sister Coco on background vocals, David Alexander on keyboards and vocals, Rich Dart on drums, John Billings on bass and music director Wayne Avers on lead guitar gave a super charged show of Monkees hits and fan favorites.

Photo by Fred Velez.

Michael Nesmith and the late Davy Jones were both well represented in the show with Peter and Micky taking the lead vocals on their signature songs ‘A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You’ and ‘Papa Gene’s Blues’ and ‘Circle Sky’.

Photo by Fred Velez.

As in all the shows on the tour, during ‘Goin’ Down’ Micky chose a fan in the front row to sing the songs second verse which the fan beautifully nailed to the delight of Micky and the audience.

Photo by Fred Velez.

The “way-back” machine was incorporated as Davy’s isolated vocals lead the band during ‘Shades Of Gray’ and ‘Daydream Believer’, the latter with the entire audience singing along with Davy in one of the more emotional moments of the concert.

Before the concerts conclusion Micky and Peter thanked the fans for an incredible run of the 50th anniversary tour and with the band ended the fast paced and energetic show with ‘Pleasant Valley Sunday’ and ‘I’m A Believer’. As the band played the ‘Monkees Theme’, Micky and Peter waved and shook hands with the fans up front. The two Monkees gave each other an emotional hug before locking arms and leaving the stage with a final Monkees Walk to the cheers of the fans.

After the show I met up and spoke with the tour producer and Monkees manager Andrew Sandoval who graciously recorded a message for an upcoming episode of the Zilch Monkees Podcast thanking fans for their support of the tour and the great reception of the ‘Good Times’ album.

With Andrew Sandoval. Photo by Linda Velez.

The Monkees will be heading to New Zealand and Australia for the final leg of the 50th anniversary tour to the excited anticipation of the overseas fans. 2016 has certainly lived up to its billing as the Year of the Monkey/Monkees with the releases of the critically acclaimed ‘Good Times’ album, the Monkees Bluray set and the enthusiastic reception of the tour with highlights including Michael Nesmith’s special appearances on several concerts on the tour, especially the historic Pantages show.

What 2017 will bring is up to speculation with the More Of The Monkees box set highly anticipated. Whatever the future brings, special thanks to everyone involved in an exciting year that will go down in Monkees history.

To Micky, Peter, Michael and Davy, thanks for an incredible ride!

Fred Velez, 2016.

Book Link: A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You: The Monkees From A Fans’ Perspective

Fred Velez is the author of the book ‘A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You: The Monkees From A Fans’ Perspective’.