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Review: Micky Dolenz celebrates The Monkees’ musical legacy at The Paramount

On April 11, acclaimed musician Micky Dolenz was able to celebrate The Monkees’ musical legacy at The Paramount in Huntington on Long Island.

Micky Dolenz of The Monkees
Micky Dolenz of The Monkees. Photo courtesy of the dis Company
Micky Dolenz of The Monkees. Photo courtesy of the dis Company

On April 11, acclaimed musician Micky Dolenz was able to celebrate The Monkees’ musical legacy at The Paramount in Huntington on Long Island, New York.

On performing at The Paramount, Dolenz remarked, “It is one of the No. 1 venues out there. As an artist, I don’t see what is up front, but the backstage and dressing room experiences are one of the best I’ve my band and I have ever encountered. The decor, Founder’s Room, and the catering are also top-notch, and they treat the artists respectfully, which isn’t always the case with most theaters. They make me feel welcome every time I’ve played here, and they are by far the best.”

Act I

The show began promptly at 8 p.m. and it was divided into two acts. Dolenz’ talented band included his sister, Coco, as well as many other gifted musicians. He kicked it off on a high note with their chart-topping single “Last Train to Clarksville” and continued with “Take a Giant Step” and “Papa Gene’s Blues.”

Dolenz went on to cover songs by each of his late band members (Davy Jones, Peter Tork, and Michael Nesmith), and he did so in a respectful manner (without upstaging any of the original melodies or lyrics). It felt like being put into a pleasant musical time warp.

What made the songs in this initial act work is that most of them were not very long in duration but they were catchy and memorable, and that’s why they have struck a chord with the heart of their listeners and fans for well over five decades.

Act II

Dolenz kicked off the second act with “Porpoise Song,” and it was followed by “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” which was penned by two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Carole King, and with the optimistic “I’ll Be Back Up on My Feet.” Equally noteworthy were “Valleri,” as well as the upbeat and sassy “That Was Then, This Is Now.”

After “Goin’ Down,” Dolenz was able to light up The Paramount venue with “Daydream Believer,” where everybody was reciting the chorus verbatim, and Paul Revere and the Raiders’ “I’m Not Your Stepping Stone.”

Dolenz and the band returned for an encore, which included another landmark smash single “I’m a Believe,” which was written by Neil Diamond.

Micky Dolenz of The Monkees
Micky Dolenzof The Monkees. Photo Credit: Paul Undersinger

The Verdict

Overall, Micky Dolenz was sensational at The Paramount in Huntington. He paid a fitting homage to his late Monkees band-mates by covering their biggest hits. It was entertaining and there was an element of nostalgia in the venue.

It is evident that The Monkees deserve to someday get inducted into the coveted Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (all politics aside) after being snubbed for decades. The same holds true for the songwriting team of Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, who were responsible for many of their classic hits. They deserve to get their due in the Songwriters Hall of Fame respectively.

One thing is for certain… The iconic songs of The Monkees will stand the test of time, and they will never go out of style. Micky Dolenz’ live set at The Paramount garnered two giant thumbs up.

Markos Papadatos
Written By

Markos Papadatos is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for Music News. Papadatos is a Greek-American journalist and educator that has authored over 22,000 original articles over the past 18 years. He has interviewed some of the biggest names in music, entertainment, lifestyle, magic, and sports. He is a 16-time "Best of Long Island" winner, where for three consecutive years (2020, 2021, and 2022), he was honored as the "Best Long Island Personality" in Arts & Entertainment, an honor that has gone to Billy Joel six times.

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