Hey Hey It’s Micky Dolenz! Performer, Producer and Former Drummer of The Monkees Valentine’s Day Show At The Strat Was One For The Books…

Micky Dolenz graced The Strat Theater stage on Valentine’s Day in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the start of his Songs and Stories tour. Unfortunately, my husband couldn’t be in attendance, so it was just me, myself, and Micky. It could be worse. It could have been a dirty rat. (I’m testing my Monkees fans here—let’s see who catches that one!)

The theater is a decent size but still intimate enough to interact with the performer, which was a nice touch. In true gentlemanly fashion, Micky came out to introduce his sister, Coco Dolenz. She opened the night with a song written by Carole King, kicking things off alongside Micky’s incredible five-piece band. The audience was energetic throughout the night, eagerly participating with Micky and the band, making for an electric atmosphere.

Age is just a number, as Coco and Micky have more energy than most performers these days. They danced, sang, and played the tambourine and maracas like it was still the good old days. Meanwhile, memories came to life through a backdrop of pictures, video clips, and animations, pulling you right back to the era when you first listened to or watched The Monkees—or discovered Dolenz’s work. The visual elements added an extra emotional layer that I’ve always been fond of, perfectly complementing the storytelling aspect of the show.

Micky recently released an album titled “Micky Dolenz Live at the Troubadour”, which “Songs and Stories” beautifully replicates. This sold-out show took place in Los Angeles, California, on April 5, 2024, with all proceeds benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a cause close to Micky’s heart. The album is 1 hour and 18 minutes of pure nostalgia, featuring classic Monkees hits like “For Pete’s Sake”, “Daydream Believer”, and “Valleri”, as well as covers of Stephen Stills’ “For What It’s Worth” and Elton John’s “Your Song”—which, I won’t lie, moved me to tears in the best way when Micky performed it live. Coco also delivered a stunning rendition of Michael Nesmith’s (aka Papa Nez’s) “Different Drum”. Between songs, Dolenz shared stories from his past, transporting the audience to different moments and eras that shaped his life and career.

I’d like to add (credit where credit’s due) straight from the funkee Monkee man himself, it was known that Peter Tork was the first Monkee to popularize kale and brown rice at his California home. You learn something new everyday.

Micky still has several exciting tour dates lined up for his Songs and Stories tour. Check them out and see if he’s coming to a city near you!

• Thursday, March 20 @ 7:30 PM – The Factory, Chesterfield, MO

• Saturday, March 22 @ 8:00 PM – Uptown Theater, Kansas City, MO

• Wednesday, April 9 @ 8:00 PM – The Plaza Live, Orlando, FL

• Thursday, April 10 @ 7:30 PM – Capitol Theatre, Clearwater, FL

• Saturday, April 12 @ 8:00 PM – Seminole Center, Immokalee, FL

• Friday, April 25 @ 8:00 PM – The Palladium, Carmel, IN

• Sunday, April 27 @ 3:00 PM – The Franklin Theatre