“The Monkees Last”
Article #129: Nov 2021
For Twin Cities Buzz & Roseville Patch
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0
There they go….
On Sun 7 Nov 2021, The Monkees, now reduced to Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz, performed what should be their last concert here in Minnesota. DJ Nikola and I attended. While I have been a fan since 1966, according to my mom and my father, and have attended probably over 50 Monkees related events. DJ Nikola being form E. Germany, um, not so much, turns out she knew 2 songs “I’m A Believer” and “Daydream Believer” and liked a 3rd “Steppinstone” but being a truly a good sport she tagged along, out of support and curiosity. Nikola asked me “If 2 members are no longer living, what is it they do?” I explained to her, well there were 4 members from 1965 to 1969 when Bassist Peter Tork left, in 1968, then in 1969 Guitarist Michael Nesmith left. Then David Jones and Micky Dolenz continued until 1971. When Jones went solo. Since 1975 there have been various incarnations of 2, 3 even 4 members of “The Monkees” back in 1989 I had an idea to write a book covering every known tour date I could find, seems last year Andrew Sandoval beat me to the punch by updating his book “The Monkees: Day By Day” (of which I have a few uncreated entries). Later in this article I have listed most of the Minnesota dates, so you the fan reading this could remember and mark down which shows you attended.
On with the show; this time round, as Nesmith was ill sometime last year, the pair Nesmith and Dolenz took to the “Dolenz & Jones” formula of just standing up front singing and not playing instruments, save Dolenz on timpani drum for his own composition “Randy Scouse Git”. The duo sang 15 Nesmith written tunes. While the guys are in their late 70s, you have to give them credit for even going out on tour at their age. Were they great, probably not, but to me a long time fan it was great to see them one last time and playing 2 of my all time favorite songs: “Love Is Only Sleeping” and “While I Cry” and Nesmith’s touching story behind the latter. And I was able to see so many of my friends I have known over the past 33 years, from meeting them at concerts, conventions and the various Recordstores I have worked at since 1986. The backing band had Micky’s sister Coco, (who has been involved on and off since 1967), Nesmith’s son Christian and longtime Monkees backing band guitarist since 1992, Wayne Avers on board. My friend Renee pointed out the many “New” interpretations of the old songs, I chalked that up to playing some of them for 55 years, I was ok with it. All in all I enjoyed it, and so did Nikola, who doesn’t even really care for that music.
And now the near misses of MrZerr0 and Michael Nesmith. You see, in 1990 I was able to get David Jones to sign my 1966 Vox “Lynx” guitar, in 1992 I got Micky Dolenz to sign it, and then in 1996 Peter Tork, and remarkably in 1990 I even got Tommy Boyce And Bobby Hart to sign it. In all these years I have missed Nesmith several times. In 1992 Nez played Chicago, I was talking to an acquaintance, Karen, when she went to the back, I went to the front, she met Nez and I didn’t. In 1994 I was working with Nez’s assistant Jim C. at RIO Records on a Michael Nesmith Boxset of his “Pacific Arts” releases 1974 to 1989, I sent in a poster for the proposed booklet, when in 1995 the PBS lawsuit with Nesmith shut down his record label label until it reopened in 1998, therefore the Boxset was canceled. For my payment of the, then ultra rare poster I still own, I asked for my name in the credits and for Nez to sign my guitar …didn’t happen. In MPLS 2012, after The Monkees concert I was talking to fellow DJ Liberty, when the ushers shooed me out, Liberty had to use the restroom, I had to leave, when she came out, there was Nez, she got a photo and an autograph, I got none. In April 2013 Nesmith was performing a solo show in St. Paul, I had the front and center seat, I even talked to his Bass Player Joe Chemay and Drummer Paul Leim, and explained how I wanted to get my guitar signed “Sorry, man, we can’t help you out”. Then in Apple Valley in 2014, I met and was talking to his daughter Jessica, her first words to me “Sorry, no, I can not get you an autograph” I responded “That’s ok, I understand but can you give your Dad this shirt of my Recordstore here in St. Paul?” she answered “Now, that I can do” Which brings us to present day; I messaged Nesmith’s son asking for assistance to get my guitar signed, then Sunday night my long time friend Perry took my guitar down several hours early in hopes to get it signed, I was at my son Oblieon’s 2nd birthday party, so Nikola and I went down later. While we were waiting before the show she asked me. “How is this done? What do we do? I have never done this before?” While we waited the band walked by us, the tour manager Andrew S. walked by and I even gave him a pick. About 6:30pm Dolenz drove by us. Nothing.
Later during the concert Nikola said “Let me have the guitar I am going to try to get this signed” She walked around the venue and talked to no less than 4 different people to try and get it signed, which they told her they would do what they could to help. Unfortunately, ultimately it did not happen. The explanation. COVID19. But she made the most effort I have ever seen. After the show she asked John, their Bass Player if he could help. While this was happening Nesmith got off his bus and was only a few feet away from me. But could not sign for fear of C19. So Nikola was present to witness I nearly got it signed. And stuck out the whole night for a band she didn’t even know…. now that’s a Quality Woman. Ending with my total defeat. And Now I give you the setlist.
-Setlist-
Sunday 7 November 2021 State Theatre, MPLS:
Good Clean Fun: 1969 (#82) “Nesmith”
Last Train To Clarksville: 1966 (#1) “Boyce & Hart”
Kind Of Girl I Could Love: 1967 “Nesmith”
Different Drum: Nesmith: 1966 & 1972, Dolenz: 2021
Sunny Girlfriend: 1967 “Nesmith”
Mary Mary: 1967 “Nesmith”
You Just May Be The One: 1967 “Nesmith”
For Pete’s Sake: 1967 “Tork”
Randy Scouse Git: 1967 “Dolenz”
Love Is Only Sleeping: 1967
Birth Of An Accidental Hipster: 2016
St. Matthew: 1968 “Nesmith”
As We Go Along: 1968
Pleasant Valley Sunday: 1967 (#3)
-2nd Set:
Porpoise Song: 1968 (#62)
While I Cry: 1969 “Nesmith”
Papa Gene’s Blues: 1966 “Nesmith”
Girl I Knew Somewhere: 1967 (#39) “Nesmith”
Little Bit Me, Little Bit You: 1967 (#3)
Tapioca Tundra: 1968 (#34) “Nesmith”
Aunties Municipal Court: 1968 “Nesmith”
Goin Down: 1967 “Monkees’
Sweet Young Thing: 1966 “Nesmith”
Steppin Stone: 1966 (#20) “Boyce & Hart”
Daydream Believer: 1967 (#1)
Listen The Band: 1969 (#63) “Nesmith”
I’m A Believer: 1966 (#1)
(# = Billboard Hit Chart Position)
The known Concert Dates of The Monkees in Minnesota:
4 August 1967 St. Paul Auditorium, St. Paul, MN. “Jones, Dolenz, Nesmith, Tork”
4 August 1967 KDWB Minneapolis Radio “Jones, Dolenz, Nesmith, Tork”
6 September 1969 Duluth Auditorium, Duluth, MN. “Jones, Dolenz, Nesmith”
26 June 1975 Gibbon Ballroom, Gibbon, MN. “Dolenz, Jones, Boyce, Hart”
27 June 1975 Paradise Ballroom Waconia “Dolenz, Jones, Boyce, Hart”
25 December 1975 Bel Rae Ballroom Mounds View, MN. “Dolenz, Jones, Boyce, Hart”
26 December 1975 Northstar Ballroom Carlton, MN. “Dolenz, Jones, Boyce, Hart”
28 December 1975 Paradise Ballroom Waconia, MN. “Dolenz, Jones, Boyce, Hart”
20 August 1986 Carlton Celebrity Theatre Bloomington, MN. “Jones, Dolenz, Tork”
21 August 1986 Carlton Celebrity Theatre Bloomington, MN. “Jones, Dolenz, Tork”
8 November 1986 Duluth Auditorium, Duluth, MN. “Jones, Dolenz, Tork”
30 August 1987 State Fair Como Station, St. Paul, MN. “Jones, Dolenz, Tork”
19 August 1994 Treasure Island, Welch, MN. “Jones, Dolenz”
20 August 1994 Treasure Island, Welch, MN. (*) “Jones, Dolenz”
11 August 1995 Treasure Island, Welch, MN. “Jones, Dolenz”
12 August 1995 Treasure Island, Welch, MN. (*) “Jones, Dolenz”
27 June 1996 Orpheum Theatre, MPLS “Jones, Dolenz, Tork”
14 August 1996 Civic Center, Mankato, MN. “Jones, Dolenz, Tork”
9 August 1997 State Theatre, MPLS “Jones, Dolenz, Tork”
25 January 2002 Grand Casino, Mille Lacs Onamia, MN. (*) “Jones, Dolenz”
1 July 2011 Weesner Amphitheater, Apple Valley, MN. (*) “Jones, Dolenz, Tork”
2 July 2011 Weesner Amphitheater, Apple Valley, MN. (*) “Jones, Dolenz, Tork”
15 November 2012 State Theatre, MPLS (*) “Nesmith, Dolenz, Tork”
2 June 2014 Weesner Amphitheater, Apple Valley, MN. (*) “Nesmith, Dolenz, Tork”
5-7 May 2017 Wizard World, MPLS (*) “Dolenz, Tork”
14 March 2019 Mystic Lake Prior Lake, MN. (*) “Nesmith, Dolenz”
(*) = I attended these Shows. How many were you at?
There you have it, fans, catch my “PsychoGello Show” on WDGY Radio Show 7am Sunday on “The Early Years of Michael Nesmith – Blessing” Episode #209. You can hear the last 90 episodes at www.MrZeroS.Com -Podcast. You can hear over 30 “Mr. Zer0’s Evolation Shows” and 17 “Hits And History Shows” with Rick Burnett at www.MixCloud.Com “MrZeros” By the way I took the name “Mr. Zero” form Monkees TV Episode #52 “Devil And Peter Tork” and “PsychoGello Show” from Monkees TV Episode #52 ‘Frodis Caper” both from 1968.
Signing off … MrZerr0
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