THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 9, 1996 TAG: 9608090516
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Music Review
SOURCE: BY ROY A. BAHLS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 48 lines
Nostalgia rocked the Virginia Beach Amphitheater Thursday evening as The Monkees poured out their hits.
Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones and Peter Tork (Michael Nesmith didn't come along) hit the stage to an adoring audience as the theme from their '60s TV show blasted over the amphitheater's speakers.
Above them loomed a huge Monkees quitar-shaped logo, and what followed was a string of their catchy classics including ``Last Train to Clarksville,'' ``Valleri,'' ``Mary Mary,'' and ``Pleasant Valley Sunday.''
Their polished antics on stage helped carry the show.
Dolenz shot out his one-liners and turned up the energy with his song ``Last Train to Clarksville.'' Davy (the heartthrob of the group) got the girls screaming at a higher pitch with his ``Daydream Believer.''
Tork danced and showed off his talent on the banjo. He also performed his well-received song ``Do I Have To Do This All Over Again'' from the group's movie ``Head.''
Nesmith was said to be in Los Angeles, mixing the foursome's upcoming disc.
This is the group's 30th anniversary concert tour. And they mean business.
They have sold more than 65 million records through the years and have just passed the halfway point on their 60-plus city nationwide tour. From the looks and sounds of Thursday night's concert, they are having as much fun as the multigenerational crowd.
Each of the trio took his turn at center stage and politely shared the spotlight with their backup quartet.
The group found fame by way of its music-oriented, Emmy award-winning NBC series, which ran from 1966-68. After a couple of reunion tours and the 1986 come-back hit, ``That Was Then, This Is Now'' - their first top 20 record since 1968 - they are back.
The trio joked with one another and the 7,000-plus crowd. Their new disc, ``Justus'' will feature all four members and is expected to be released this fall.
The Monkees certainly gave the crowd a family-fun concert they came to see. MEMO: MUSIC REVIEW
The Monkees
Thursday evening at the Virginia Beach Amphitheater ILLUSTRATION: Photo by LAWRENCE JACKSON, The Virginian-Pilot
Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees gives a wail of a performance at the
Virginia Beach Amphitheater on Thursday night. Only three of the
original four Monkees performed; Michael Nesmith didn't show. by CNB