 Last night in Madison, Wisconsin at Overture Center for the Arts, Micky Dolenz and his band concluded a string of limited engagement shows meant to honor the legacy of The Monkees. "Micky Dolenz Celebrates The Monkees," produced by Monkees historian and author Andrew Sandoval, opened on April 5 at the famed Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee (where The Monkees performed live in 2013 and also filmed an appearance with Johnny Cash in 1969). The Live Almanac covered the Nashville debut, complete with video footage, photographs, set list, and a look at the tour merchandise. Joining Micky onstage for these special shows were members of The Monkees' touring band, featuring Coco Dolenz, Wayne Avers, John Billings, Rich Dart, Pete Finney, Alex Jules, and Emeen Zarookian. At each stop, Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones, and Peter Tork were honored with individual video and song tributes, and the set list included numbers that haven't been aired in some time, with "Valleri" (performed in the style of the first recorded version), "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)," "Saturday's Child," "Can You Dig It," "Sometime in the Morning," "No Time," "Let's Dance On," "D.W. Washburn," and "That Was Then, This Is Now" all making appearances. During the pre-show, fans were treated to rare and unique audio selections playing over the house speakers, carefully curated by producer Sandoval in playlists that varied from city to city. The promotional materials for the "Celebrates The Monkees" shows also advertised rare photos and film from Micky's personal archives. Some of the highlights projected on the screen behind the band included footage of The Monkees rehearsing at the Hollywood Bowl in 1967, Micky, Davy, and Michael atop the RCA Building, filming a Kool-Aid commercial and more all from 1969, home movies, outtakes from the 1986 video shoot for "That Was Then, This Is Now," and The Monkees inside the recording studio. Micky will return to the road later this month, performing concerts and making various personal appearances throughout the summer. Check out Micky's current itinerary to see if he is coming to your town! In the meantime, enjoy some performances below from different cities on Micky's "Celebrates The Monkees" tour (tribute videos screened for Michael, Davy, and Peter can be seen in the Akron, Ohio footage) and don't forget the Live Almanac's previous coverage of opening night in Nashville, Tennessee. April 6: Richmond, Kentucky @ EKU Center for the ArtsApril 8: Nashville, IN @ Brown County Music CenterApril 9: Cincinnati, OH @ The Andrew J Brady ICON Music CenterApril 11: Wheeling, West Virgina @ The Capitol Theatre (more)April 12: Akron, Ohio @ Goodyear TheaterThanks to the Monkees Forever YouTube channel for providing the complete show in Akron, Ohio. Watch the tribute videos for Michael Nesmith (11:50) and Davy Jones (29:00) below, as well as footage of The Monkees rehearsing at the Hollywood Bowl (45:10): The tribute video for Peter Tork begins at 14:10: April 15: Riverside, IA @ Riverside Casino & Golf ResortApril 16: Madison, WI @ Overture Center for the Arts
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Earlier this week, Micky Dolenz debuted his new concert show, "Micky Dolenz Celebrates The Monkees," at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The photos below of Micky and the band at the Ryman are courtesy of Sherri Hansen, a longtime Monkees fan and friend of the Live Almanac who for years has provided this site (and fans worldwide) with numerous photos and videos from Monkees concerts, group and solo. Sherri's photography was also featured in the compact disc and vinyl editions of The Monkees Live: The Mike & Micky Show that was released by Rhino Records in 2020. Thanks very much to Sherri for sharing her photos from Tuesday's performance at the Ryman, showcasing Micky, Coco Dolenz, Wayne Avers, John Billings, Rich Dart, Pete Finney, Alex Jules, and Emeen Zarookian. PopMatters on Circe Link & Christian Nesmith's new album: "First Great Prog Album of the Century"3/25/2022 
Here he comes! This spring, Micky Dolenz will pay tribute to his fellow Monkees bandmates, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork, during a special limited run of shows. "Micky Dolenz Celebrates The Monkees" opens on April 5, 2022 at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.
"We will be fully delving into The Monkees' songbook, as well as Micky's personal archive of films and photos to create a unique evening of memories," said manager Andrew Sandoval when the tour was announced in February. "It will give Micky and the band an opportunity to share the music he made alongside Davy, Peter, and Michael and reminisce on their journey as brothers for five decades. We have also been talking about Micky singing some songs he's never done on stage before, as well as pulling out older Monkees album tracks that have not been performed in many years." Watch Micky talk about the "Celebrates The Monkees" show in the video below, which includes some snippets of rare footage from his archives featuring The Monkees, Jack Nicholson, and more:
Joining Micky onstage will be members of "The Mike & Micky Show" band: Wayne Avers, Coco Dolenz, Emeen Zarookian, Rich Dart, Alex Jules, John Billings, and Pete Finney. Tickets are currently on sale.
To commemorate Micky's opening night at the Ryman in Nashville, several fan festivities are being planned by Wine Down Nashville, which has been owned and operated by Amy and John Billings since 2019. John is a veteran musician with a long list of credits who was the bass player in The Monkees' touring band and continues to perform at Micky's solo shows. This weekend on Facebook, he previewed the unique events that will take place in the lead up to the performance at the Ryman:
​As John said in the video above, be sure to like and follow the "Monkee Mania Weekend" page on Facebook for updates on guests, events, and all the fun that will usher in the Nashville concert.
In what surely will be an entertaining event, John will share the stage at Wine Down Nashville on Saturday, April 2 with drummer Rich Dart, who has performed with The Monkees since 2012 and with Micky Dolenz for even longer. (UPDATE: This event is now sold out.)
(Click image above to RSVP)
On Sunday, April 3, Wine Down Nashville will welcome Pete Finney, ​the pedal steel extraordinaire who was a member of Michael Nesmith's First National Band Redux and also played with Micky and Michael on the various "Mike & Micky Show" tours, along with the multitalented singer-songwriter Chris Scruggs. Pete and Chris will be joined by host Jay McDowell for an evening of music and memories of Michael Nesmith. Purchase your tickets to this event by clicking the image below:
On the day of Micky's show at the Ryman, take a moment at Wine Down Nashville to celebrate Coco Dolenz's birthday with a special "Birthday Brunch" in Coco's honor. Tickets are now available!
And if that's not enough to get you ready for Micky's Nashville opener on his "Celebrates The Monkees" tour, Jodi Ritzen of Monkee Meet and Greets is sponsoring several different get togethers (featuring the likes of Wayne Avers and Sandy Gennaro), including a preshow event at Wine Down Nashville before Micky's concert at the Ryman.
(Click image above to RSVP)
Be sure to watch this post for future updates, and get your tickets now for "Micky Dolenz Celebrates The Monkees"!
Monkees historian, author, and producer Andrew Sandoval is joined by John Billings and Alex Jules, members of The Monkees' touring band, in a special episode of Zilch dedicated to the memory of Michael Nesmith. Listen to the show, hosted by Ken Mills, below:  
When the Monkees Farewell Tour landed in Knoxville, Tennessee on October 7, Christian Nesmith and Circe Link, both longtime members of The Monkees' touring band, were noticeably absent from the stage. The duo were also not present for subsequent shows in Atlanta, Georgia and Orlando, Florida.
Tonight on Facebook, Christian addressed the situation with the message posted below: As you may have noticed, Circe and I are no longer on the tour.
The Live Almanac wishes Christian and Circe all the best. They will most definitely be missed on the road with Micky, Nez, and the rest of the band. In the meantime, Christian is acting as musical director for an upcoming Hollywood stage production of Hair, and Circe and Christian's new album, Cosmologica, is coming soon!
 Every night on the Monkees Farewell Tour, Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith are supported onstage by a host of superb musicians and singers. Let's take a moment to shine the spotlight on each member of the touring band, including Micky's sister Coco, Michael's son Christian, and Wayne Avers, who first played with Davy Jones in the early 1990s. Coco Dolenz (Vocals / Percussion) (Photo by Sherri Hansen) Micky's sister, Coco, has a long history with The Monkees. She provided harmony and background vocals on such Monkees tracks as "Shortly Blackwell," "Little Girl," "Midnight Train," and "Mommy and Daddy." Coco wrote for teen magazines in the 1960s at the height of her brother's fame, and in the late 1970s, she toured with Micky and Davy after the dissolution of Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart. In 1987, Coco released her own album, One Voice. She has been touring with The Monkees since 2012. You can also hear Coco at Micky's solo shows, where she often duets with her brother on "Bye Bye Blackbird" and "Crying in the Rain" while taking over on lead vocals for Michael Nesmith's own "Different Drum." Follow Coco on Facebook, Twitter and visit her Etsy store! Wayne Avers (Guitar / Vocals) (Photo courtesy of Wayne Avers) Wayne Avers is no stranger to Monkees fans. He has been a part of The Monkees' family since the group's 30th Anniversary Tour in 1996, acting as musical director through the years and handling lead guitar duties. Wayne has performed onstage with all four Monkees in London at Wembley in 1997, appeared twice on The Tonight Show with the group (1996 and 2001), and took part in The Monkees' massive 50th Anniversary celebrations in 2016. Residing in Nashville, Wayne is an ardent collector of guitars. "I play the guitar because I saw The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964," he told the Live Almanac in an interview several years ago. Absent during initial dates on the current Monkees Farewell Tour, Wayne joined the band once again in Austin, Texas on September 23. Christian Nesmith (Guitar / Vocals) (Photo by Sherri Hansen) Christian Nesmith is Michael's eldest son and first appeared in The Monkees' touring band upon his father's return to the group in 2012. Christian's songs have been heard in both film and TV (Blades of Glory, The Hills Have Eyes, Lionheart) and he has composed commercials for companies ranging from AOL to ESPN to Starbucks. His theater credits include being the musical director for the first ever production of Hair in Moscow, Russia. Christian was also musical director for Hair in Los Angeles in 2007 (which also featured Circe Link), and that production was awarded Best Musical of the Year by LA Weekly. In 2016, Christian contributed greatly to the arrangement of "Birth of an Accidental Hipster," a highlight from The Monkees' album Good Times! and a set list staple ever since. Christian joined his father in a revival of the First National Band in 2018 and produced a live album for 7a Records of the group's triumphant appearance at the Troubadour in Hollywood. Most recently, Christian stewarded Micky Dolenz's latest solo album, Dolenz sings Nesmith, featuring Micky singing the songs of Michael Nesmith. Christian and his wife, Circe Link, continue to produce and perform music. Visit Christian on the web, download music on Bandcamp, and stop by his YouTube channel. UPDATE: Christian Nesmith announced his departure from the tour on Facebook on October 12, 2021. Rich Dart (Drums) (Photo courtesy of Rich Dart) Rich Dart met Micky Dolenz in 2006 when Micky was starring in a stage production of Pippin and Rich was the house drummer. Four years later, Rich started playing drums for Micky during his solo performances. He joined The Monkees' backing band in 2012 when Micky, Michael, and Peter Tork delivered a series of concerts after the passing of Davy Jones. Rich has had an eclectic career as a free-lance percussionist. He has played with various symphonies, jazz groups, theater troupes, rock and country bands, and percussion ensembles. Rich also played drums for Avenue Q on Broadway and for its first national tour. Follow Rich on Instagram and on Facebook as he posts about his travels on the "Monkees Farewell Tour." John Billings (Bass Guitar) (Photo by Sherri Hansen) John Billings was brought into the Monkees family by Wayne Avers and first performed with the group in 2012. He resides in Nashville, Tennessee where he owns a recording studio. When performing with The Monkees live in concert, John received some good advice from Avers on how to approach the songs. "Wayne gave us a fundamental direction," John said. "Go back to the records." John has also played with Donna Summer and Wynonna Judd. In the summer of 2019 John and his wife, Amy, opened Wine Down Nashville, a boutique wine bar in Nashville. Follow John on Instagram as he documents the "Monkees Farewell Tour" and more. Pete Finney (Pedal Steel / Guitar) (Photo by Tami Bassler) Pedal steel extraordinaire Pete Finney became a member of Michael Nesmith's First National Band Redux in 2018 and later accompanied Nez for a series of shows that celebrated Nesmith's classic 1972 album, And The Hits Just Keep On Comin'. "I first met Nez in the spring of 2014, when I filled in for Chris Scruggs on pedal-steel and guitar for the last few weeks of the Movies of the Mind tour. The '70s albums Nez made with Red Rhodes and the First National Band had been long-time favorites of mine, so of course I really enjoyed the experience musically, and also really enjoyed the hang and the conversations that ensued during our travels." Michael brought Pete into the band for the inaugural "Mike & Micky Show" concerts. He has also performed and toured with the Dixie Chicks, Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, and many others throughout his career. Alex Jules (Keyboards / Vocals) (Photo by Sherri Hansen) Alex Jules is a New York born and raised singer/songwriter who, along with Pete Finney, debuted in the band on the "Mike & Micky Show" tour in 2018. He now serves as vocal director on the current "Monkees Farewell Tour." Residing in Los Angeles, Alex has also performed with Michael Nesmith's First National Band Redux. Sample some of Alex's work on SoundCloud and follow him on Instagram, where he often shares photos from the road. Circe Link (Vocals / Percussion) (Photo by Sherri Hansen) Circe Link joined The Monkees' band in 2014, performing backing vocals with Coco Dolenz. She has also appeared in concert with Michael Nesmith's First National Band Redux. A singer, songwriter, and musician in her own right, Circe has previously described her music as ranging from "Cowboy Jazz to Alternative to Americana." She has recorded several albums, including a live CD from a successful tour of Japan. Circe writes, records, and performs with her husband, Christian Nesmith. You can download Circe's music on Bandcamp, and don't forget to check out her YouTube channel, too! UPDATE: On October 12, 2021, Christian Nesmith announced that he and Circe Link had both departed the tour. Emeen Zarookian (Guitar / Vocals) (Photo by John Billings) Emeen is the newest member of The Monkees' touring band. He is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and sound designer specializing in audio for television, games, and multimedia. Emeen has recorded with several bands, including Spirit Kid and Bebopalula, the latter which also features Alex Jules.
As a teaser for the upcoming concert album The Mike & Micky Show Live, a brand new video dropped today on The Monkees' official YouTube channel. Watch Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, and their band as they perform The Monkees' 1966 chart-topper, "Last Train to Clarksville," recorded live in 2019. The performance has also been issued as a digital single and is available via streaming services like Spotify.
If you are in the area, join Coco Dolenz, her brother Micky, Monkees keyboardist Alex Jules, and guitarist Peter Andrews as they take the stage at The Coffee Gallery in Altadena, California this Saturday, November 16. Check out the link below for more information and how to obtain tickets to the show!
 Congratulations to Amy and John Billings on the opening of Wine Down Nashville, a new music and event-based establishment in Nashville, Tennessee. John has been The Monkees' bass player since 2012 and also performs with Micky Dolenz. He resides in Nashville with Amy, who has long dreamed of opening a wine restaurant. "Wine Down Nashville is a boutique wine bar created by musicians but made for all," John relayed to the Live Almanac this weekend. "It reflects both of our histories, some of our adventures, and especially our love of wine. We are open for all walks of life, but we're putting an emphasis on local events, corporate meetings, parties, and Amy's favorite pet project: meet and greets by some of our favorite musical artists, creatives of all walks, and a glimpse into Nashville's musical studio and touring force. Stay tuned!"  John and Amy at Wine Down Nashville     John also alerted the Live Almanac that a special treat awaits Monkees fans inside Wine Down Nashville. "I'm displaying and selling some of our favorite behind the scenes photography [of The Monkees] that I've taken over the years. I haven't previously displayed or presented any of it, but with Amy's help, it's going to be part of our boutique wine bar." John shared photos of his work that currently adorns the walls of Wine Down Nashville:  (Photos of Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz)  (Photo of Peter Tork onstage in 2014)  (Photo of Micky's drum kit on the 2014 Monkees tour) Stopping in at Wine Down Nashville to give his seal of approval was Wayne Avers, longtime Monkees guitarist and musical director:   Wayne and Amy Wine Down Nashville is located at 2720 Old Lebanon Road #111 in Nashville, Tennessee. Be sure to like the Facebook page and visit the website. And best of luck to Amy, John, and their staff from The Monkees Live Almanac! UPDATE 10/16/2019:
Photos: "The Mike & Micky Show" live at the Palais Theatre, Melbourne, Australia on June 15, 20196/17/2019  (COPYRIGHT: CARBIE WARBIE — Photo used BY PERMISSION — with Carbie Warbie) In a post on Facebook yesterday, Michael Nesmith talked about The Palais Theatre in Melbourne, Australia, site of the recording of his 1977 live album and the current stop on his tour with Micky Dolenz. Nez ruminated about his band then and now, the slide guitar work of son Christian, and one of his best loved solo cuts, "Grand Ennui." Long ago memories include the "Live at the Palais" album I made here on the stage of the Palais. Quite a different venue it was in 1977. It has been remodeled and from the pictures I see is now a stunning reincarnation of the original. When I go to soundcheck I will listen for remnant noise of that concert -- although I doubt I will hear anything, really. Just see a low smoke from a dying fire burning my eyes. Here is the set list from last evening's performance by Micky, Michael, and the band, which included "Grand Ennui" in the second act, at The Palais Theatre in Melbourne, Australia, courtesy of Andrew Sandoval:  Monkees photographer extraordinaire Sherri Hansen has shared with the Live Almanac her photos from Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith's performance at the Royal Oak Music Theatre in Royal Oak, Michigan on March 12, 2019. As many of you know, Sherri's photos are first-class and they have appeared on this website and many, many other outlets over the last several years. You'll also see pictures of the band in this slideshow - enjoy! Last evening Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, and their band brought "The Mike & Micky Show" to a packed house at The Beacon Theatre in New York City. Thanks a lot to Renny Simno for sharing his photos from the show:     Here's a photograph of the merchandise table at the Beacon. Most of the items that were previously sold during the June 2018 shows are still available:  Thanks also goes to Wis Byron for sharing his video and photos from New York City with the Live Almanac:   The set list:
And here's a sampling of videos from last night's performance in New York City:  (Photo courtesy of Rediffusion)  (Photo courtesy of Cal Strummer)  (Photo by Andrew Sandoval)  Probyn Gregory is the newest member of The Monkees' troupe, joining Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and the rest of the stellar backing band as a utility player on "The Mike & Micky Show" tour when it resumed earlier this month. Probyn plays guitar, banjo, and trumpet during the current live show. Probyn is a Los Angeles-based composer and musician who for many years has been a member of the Brian Wilson Band. He has performed and recorded with The Wondermints, The Beach Boys, The Eels, Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, and numerous other artists in the L.A. power pop scene over the last three decades. Probyn played guitar on King For A Day, the 2010 album Micky Dolenz released as a tribute to Carole King, and he also appeared on three albums by Monkees archivist and tour producer Andrew Sandoval: Million Dollar Movie, What's It All About, and From Me To You. A day after Peter Tork passed away, The Washington Post published a piece by Probyn that talked about Peter and The Monkees' legacy. In it, he also revealed how he became a Monkees fan as a kid: "My own fascination with the band dates to 1966, when, at age 9, I was hit amidships by the TV show. Like many kids my age, 'Meet the Monkees' was my first album. To me, the Monkees were the zenith — the vibe, the songs, the zany humor, everything about them made me and everyone I knew the target demographic of the era. I ended up following a musical path and have, for the past 20 years, been a part of Beach Boy Brian Wilson’s band." Welcome, Probyn, to the Monkees family! Be sure to catch up with the other members of The Monkees' touring band in this previously published post.  Dan Mapp, Probyn Gregory, Alex Jules, Michael Nesmith, Pete Finney, Circe Link, Donna Dolenz, Micky Dolenz, John Billings, Rich Dart, Wayne Avers, and Christian Nesmith (Photo courtesy of Circe Link) Gemma "Coco" Dolenz (Vocals)
Peter Tork, Gemma Dolenz, and Micky Dolenz at the Troubadour in Hollywood, September 1970)
John Billings (Bass Guitar)
"​As it always does, news like losing a friend and coworker always hits you from out of nowhere and leaves you stunned. In the end, I remember he and Pam taking me to breakfast in 2013 at the end of a long run on the road, us 3 praying together when the food arrived. I had not seen Peter do that before, so it was a real comfort to me then and it is especially now.
Here's what I like to remember: He loved busting me on my bass parts, but also would take time to listen to my headphones I had nearby, with that iso'd bass track cue'd up. He'd smile and say "Oh yeah, it does go that way." Then he'd walk off and smile at me during the show when that part would pop up live. He was always kind to me. Yeah, all of us on that stage had our moments with each other in this band, but he was a gentleman. Always. Great hugger. Always greeted you with one. In San Francisco, I had had a particular rough morning trying to return a rental car, running uphill to the hotel, pack to leave on the bus...everything conspiring against me to not be on time and feeling not so pleasant. Amy Don Billings was saying good bye to me to return home, it was chaotic and I was throwing suitcases under the bus...not one of my finer moments....Peter grabbed Amy, looked after her and brought her over to me. She still talks about that simple kindness he showed her to this day. He wasn't The Clown, but he loved to clown around. Loved, and I mean LOVED the blues. Great smile. Just real. Always quick to sign things for me whenever I asked. Always. Didn't mind me being a goofy photographer and snapping his picture whenever. Never once said "no". ​ Loved his woman and did not mind PDA. That dude showered Pam Grapes with so much affection. They could be like teenagers. It was sweet. Loved his kids. Treated his step children like his own. That of course spoke volumes to me, made him even more of a good man. Knew more about music theory than I did. I just pretended to know and nod when he'd start lecturing me on the finer points. ​ Goodbye Peter. I hope you see all our friends and family now that you're home." (Courtesy of John Billings on Facebook) Rich Dart (Drums)Christian Nesmith (Guitar)Circe Link (Vocals)Sandy Gennaro (Drums: 1987, 1996-1997, 2001-2002)
Watch Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and their backing band perform The Monkees' classic "Circle Sky" during "The Mike & Micky Show" in 2018:
(Footage courtesy of Ed Heffelfinger)
"The Mike & Micky Show" returns to the road in the United States this March and later in June in Australia & New Zealand!
 (Photo by Sherri Hansen) |
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