What does it say about Mickey Dolenz, at BB King's Friday night to record a live career retrospective, that the 67 year old pro opened with "I'm A Believer" and followed in quick succession with "That Was Then, This Is Now" and concluding a triumphant triumvirate with "She'. And before you could draw a breath added "Words" and "Sometime In The Morning" for good measure? It means, Dolenz had complete control of his material, band and audience. It meant, it was going to be a great night.
Much better than the solo Dolenz I'd caught in the mid-1990s, where his voice was so soft he sounded damaged. But more surprisingly, better than the Dolenz with Davy and Peter at the Beacon last year.The night is to be, not unlike Barbra Streisand last year, a tribute to songwriters. Micky smiles at the audience, "Any Monkee fans here tonight?" he quips, before promising Monkee songs plus surprises and we get both. He sings the Leiber Stoller "D.W. Washburn", the first post TV show Monkees single which failed to dent to Billboard Top 10 for the first time. Dolenz's voice is still a little off, he can't seem to raise it too high, and this song should be sang falsetto, but it is good enough. "It's tough doing a soft shoe shuffle on a carpet"
He follows that with Boyce and Hart, and, then then the songwriter he covered for his Monkees audition Chuck Berry. Dolenz is the least charismatic of rock superstars, there is something bitchy smartass about him and it has always left him in the sweet natured Jones shadow. Indeed, I once met him at a Starlight Foundation charity gig and didn't like him in the slightest. As late as 2011, he dragged the Monkees anniversary show. It was one of the reason I had set up another concert for later this evening, New Order at Roseland, even with the realization I'd have to leave Dolenz early (I also knew I'd be seeing the Monkees on December 2nd). But if there was only one Mickey show to catch, it was this one.
The next song opens with Dolenz catching a young sideman guitarist in New York, Jimmy James, and then seeing him again the Monterey Pop Fest and hiring him to open for the Monkees. "I wasn't entirely crazy, we were both very theatrical". he proceeds imitate Hendrix (the Jimi in question) being interrupted with should of "WE WANT DAVY! WE WANT THE MONKEES" and then completes an enormously credible cover. Incidentally, the rust is off his pipes by now.
Coco Dolenz, Mickey's sister, joins him for an improvised a capella "Bye Bye Birdie" -the first song they ever sang, taught it by their mother when they were children. Then duet on "Crying In The Rain" before Coco covered Mike Nesmith's "Different Drum". Yes, Nesmith! Mike had offered it to the Monkees management who TURNED IT DOWN. Nesmith gave it to a young Linda Ronstadt and jump started her career. Coco over sings it but it isn't terrible.
Nesmith and Dolenz have been rehearsing for the past month, readying for the Monkees tour, and Micky notes it was Nesmith's refusal to have the band record Don Kirshner favored "Sugar Sugar" which lead directly to the palace revolt!!! Micky then covers the bubblegum hit!!! A good version with lashing of southern blues on the break and a shuffling sexy take. After the palace revolt, Dolenz ran away to London where he sat in on the Beatles recording of "Good Morning Good Morning" and wrote "Randy Scouse Git" and then… and then… and I leave!
I know, what a stupid mistake. An hour into a thoroughly excellent set I decide to leave him for New Order. You wanna figure out how big a mistake that was? Check out my New Order review and you'll see.
Dolenz has a new album out Remember, "Sugar Sugar" and a tremendous "Good Morning Good Morning" are both on it and I can't recommend it highly enough. Dolenz was wonderful, he stepped out of his own shadow and performed the set the late great Davy Jones owed us in February.
Grade: A-