The Monkees proved last night at the Uptown that they’re more than just a nostalgia act

The Monkees
The Uptown, Kansas City
Wednesday, June 4

“Hey, hey, we’re the Monkees!”

Let’s be honest: There’s no other way the show could’ve started, and there’s no easier way to instantly win the heart of my 8 year-old self who watched Monkees’ reruns on Nickelodeon. The Monkees, while once referred to as the Prefab Four, have undergone a critical reconsideration in recent years – and for good reason. The music they made for general public consumption – the hits, essentially – are all genuine pop gems, and the psychedelic experimentation on the soundtrack to their head trip of a film, Head, is just absolutely brilliant.

In addition to Head, the band focused heavily on their third album, Headquarters, which was an actual creative effort from the Monkees themselves. The evening was a chance for these musicians to prove that they were more than just a novelty act, or a bunch of actors – they had genuine musical chops that they wanted to share with the world.

It seemed like the audience was getting two shows kind of shoehorned together, however. There was a strong dichotomy between the songs Michael Nesmith fronted and those done by Mickey Dolenz. Nesmith’s songs were more akin to something like a latter-era Laurel Canyon singer-songwriter, whereas Dolenz’s were along the lines of a Vegas revue, complete with strutting, scatting and soft-shoe.

Granted, Dolenz has reason to strut. His voice is crystal-clear, and every song on which he took the lead, be it “I’m a Believer,” “The Porpoise Song,” or otherwise, it had changed little from the band’s original days. It is interesting hearing Dolenz’s jazz phrasing paired with Nesmith’s voice and delivery, which has aged well. He’s a little rougher around the edges, but he has aged into his voice, which really resembles the work X’s John Doe has done as of late. It’s a robust, country twang, and hearing the way it contrasts with Dolenz’s porkpie-hatted hep cat style, especially on “Daydream Believer,” was quite the joy.

The same cannot be said for Peter Tork. It seemed as if the band got bumped up in the mix whenever he took lead. After the aforementioned “Porpoise Song,” as part of a set of songs from Head, Tork sang, “Can You Dig It?” and I did not. His voice is just weak, and you wonder if he’s just part of the tour because otherwise, it’s not the Monkees, but just the Mickey and Michael Show. His presence operates as a sort of comic relief, rather than genuine musical talent.

The crowd, skewing older, didn’t seem to mind as much as I did. It was a bunch of folks my parents’ age, along with their teenage kids. A few 20- and 30-somethings, like my wife and me, were the exception. It meant that 90 percent of the crowd shot camera-phone pictures from 30 rows back with flash nearly constantly for the first five songs. Still, I’ve not seen such enthusiasm at a concert since something like the Beach Boys. It’s sheer enthusiasm, unburdened by anything like embarrassment, coolness or rhythm. Seriously, these folks could not dance, but that did not stop them.

Nor should it have. This was school-night party-time fun. Mixing visuals from the television program and films, with a tremendous backing band, the Monkees’ performance was a really big show, and it felt like it was an experience, rather than the blatant cash-in it could’ve easily been. Were that every other “oldies” act could bring this much genuine fun to a concert.

Monkees set list:
Last Train to Clarksville
Papa Gene’s Blues
Your Auntie Grizelda
The Kind of Girl I Could Love
She
Sweet Young Thing
I’m a Believer
(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone
You Told Me
Sunny Girlfriend
You Just May Be the One
Mary, Mary
The Girl I Knew Somewhere
Shades of Gray
Randy Scouse Git
For Pete’s Sake
No Time
The Door Into Summer
Words
Tapioca Tundra
Goin’ Down
Porpoise Song (Theme From “Head”)
Can You Dig It?
Circle Sky
As We Go Along
Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again?
What Am I Doing Hangin’ ‘Round?
Daydream Believer
– –
Listen to the Band
Pleasant Valley Sunday