VALLEY MUSIC HALL

VALLEY MUSIC HALL

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

(May 17, 1968)

For updated information on this article, see the web site: monkeesconcerts.com

“The greatest live performance ever made by a rock band…”
–Blitz Magazine editor Mike McDowell in 1978, commenting to Michael Nesmith about the Monkees’ live version of “Circle Sky”

• Circle Sky
• You Just May Be The One
• Sunny Girlfriend
• Bach’s Two-Part Invention in F Major  (Peter on organ)
• Last Train To Clarksville
• I Wanna Be Free
• Cuddly Toy
• Forget That Girl
• The Girl I Knew Somewhere
• You Told Me
• Mary, Mary

 

The Monkees finished their first and only motion picture, HEAD, with the filming of the “Circle Sky” concert scene in front of four thousand fans at the Valley Music Hall in Salt Lake City, Utah.  They performed “Circle Sky” several times for the cameras and also did a handful of other special requests.  Micky played the drums, Mike the lead guitar, Peter switched between bass, organ and banjo, while Davy handled percussion and also played the organ during “Circle Sky.”  Private home reel video footage of this concert exists.  The tapes of the show were so poorly engineered that most of the vocals were inaudible.  (For “Circle Sky,” Nesmith later overdubbed his lead vocal in the studio over the live Monkees instrumental performance.)

The response to this performance was so overwhelming that a second show was added that night at the Lagoon’s Patio Gardens venue.  The Monkees delivered a 30-minute set in front of five thousand fans as a ‘thank you’ for the warm reception they received in Salt Lake City.  This particular show was not filmed or taped.  A set list for it has yet to surface.  These two concerts would be the last United States performances by the original quartet until 1986.