Still believin’ in ’60s faves ; Review: The Monkees Plymouth Pavilions

Express & Echo (England) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) IT didn’t start well. In front of a big screen showing ’60s footage, Messrs Jones, Dolenz and Tork gave us one hit before wading into a morass of forgotten Bsides.

Gone was the bouncy poppiness, to be replaced by dadrock and an unforgiving sound system. Were these really the cute popsters of 40 years ago all grown up? But then after the interval something amazing happened: the songs from their psychedelic commercial suicide note, Head, came across rather well as rock opera.

Better yet, someone found the keys to the hits cupboard: Last Train To Clarksville, Steppin’ Stone, Pleasant Valley Sunday and – hallelujah! – Daydream Believer tumbled out, magically untar nished.

By the end I was a believer again, despite the sound quality, the leaden backing band and the haphazard running order. Hey, hey, they’re The Monkees – they’re allowed to monkey around.

via Still believin’ in ’60s faves ; Review: The Monkees Plymouth Pavilions [Express & Echo (England)].