Local Vibrations: Evening with Micky Dolenz Brightens Historic Florida Theatre

 

Photo Credit kimreedphotos.com

By Mike Bonts, The Sonic Planet

Micky Dolenz’s performance at the historic Florida Theatre in Downtown Jacksonville, Fla. was energetic, entertaining, and a nostalgic tribute to The Monkees.

He can be praised for his vocals, stage presence, and for sharing stories that connect the music to personal anecdotes. The Florida Theatre audience enjoyed his blend of rock classics and dialogue.

“I thought Micky was amazing! He sounded fantastic tonight and told great stories. Just phenomenal,” said Sara Jenkins, a fan since the late sixties.

The concert was a sentimental celebration of The Monkees' music and the memories associated with it.

A performer since childhood, Dolenz is a natural entertainer who is engaging and humble, sharing personal reflections and jokes that resonated with the audience.

He performed with a talented band that provided strong musical backing for both ballads and upbeat numbers. His voice was clear and precise for his age; he understandably avoided certain high notes to stay within his capabilities.

The multimedia element of the concert really sealed it as being more than just a Dolenz concert. Featured prominently behind Micky and the band were home videos, clips, and outtakes from The Monkees television show.

“Great show! Energetic from start to end. Micky did a great job in celebrating the Monkees! Wonderful to see the footage of all of them,” noted one concert goer.

From his setlist Dolenz performed classic Monkees hits, often interspersing them with stories and some covers from other artists, like Chuck Berry, Buffalo Springfield and the Beatles.

The night’s setlists featured a mix of classic Monkees hits like "I'm a Believer," "Daydream Believer," and "Last Train to Clarksville," alongside covers of Beatles ("Good Morning Good Morning"), Chuck Berry ("Johnny B. Goode"), and Jimi Hendrix ("Purple Haze"), plus Monkees deep cuts and other '60s favorites, including "Pleasant Valley Sunday”.

“It was a memorable and emotional experience in a great venue, especially for those who grew up listening to The Monkees,’ noted Paul and Kathy Cumbie, who travelled from Palatka, Fla. to see the show.

(Mike Bonts is program director for www.thesonicplanet.com. The Sonic Planet is a web-based radio station that offers free live-streaming of folk, rock, bluegrass and blues while, promoting live music venues, emerging artists and roots music.)