Jonathan Herron

 

 

If I were a 1960's pop music icon vocalist with #1 Singles and #1 Albums firmly under my belt, I would probably just coast through my glory years and not lift a finger.

Not Micky Dolenz.

The Voice of The Monkees continues to wow fans worldwide with recent tours through the U.S., Australia, and this past weekend right here in the Rust Belt.

 

 

A CLASS ACT

Micky doesn't have to tour.

He chooses to, honoring generations of fans and creating more musical memories along the way.

 

 

What is most striking to me is that Micky's voice hasn't changed -- He can still hit all the high notes live, entertain us fans with amazing-but-true stories of wacky-antics from over the years, plus share his heart with his fans through a deep catalogue of music.

I've seen Micky do entire solo concerts without an Intermission... You can't even find that kind of dedication and energy in a Monster Energy Drink!

Furthermore, Micky will often stick around after a hot outdoor concert to greet fans and take photos! 

It's those personal, extra touches that create a loyalty with Monkees fans.

 

 

 

I LOOKED UP TO MICKY GROWING UP

Being a child of the 80's, I wasn't introduced to The Monkees until they appeared in 1986 on Disney World's 15th Anniversary tv special (I had tuned in to watch Emmanuel Lewis tap-dancing in front of Cinderella's Castle). 

The bits with Micky, Davy, and Peter grabbed my imagination. 

I taped it on our VCR and wore out that poor VHS tape watching it over and over again. 

At recess during school, all my buddies would pretend to be The Monkees (I was always Micky). 

The Monkees popped back onto my radar in 1987 via Nickelodeon's must-see, not-quite-MTV-but-safe-for-elementary-eyes, Nick Rocks (right after Danger Mouse and before You Can't Do That on Television). 

I was hooked, Heart and Soul.

In 1996, I took Amber on a romantic date to see The Monkees on tour.

It was a blast.  Well, for me it was a blast.  I think Amber was just tolerating my harmless little musical obsession.

In 1999, I took my Mom on a date to see Davy Jones do a solo gig on the riverboats in Davenport, Iowa (above).   Again, blast was had by all.

 

We followed that up with a 2001 Monkees concert in Cleveland, Ohio and a 2006 summer festival solo concert from Micky Dolenz in Akron, Ohio:

 

REMAINING INFLUENCES

I've probably seen Micky, Peter and Mike live more in recent years as they increased their touring capacity starting in 2012.

The live concerts never get old because Micky is always surprising us with new anecdotes, fresh deep cuts, and the occasional cover song (like Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band this past weekend in Columbus, Ohio).

Micky influenced me in 3 key ways:

1. With the exception of Martin & Lewis in 1950, The Monkees were the first to create television music and comedy through improvisation. 
   
   Yes, they had a script, but 1960's NBC was sharp and edgy enough to air the improvised bits created on the fly by the boys. 
   
   The Monkees were trained in improv-comedy by Second City vets, which led me to study there also during my college years.
   
   Micky Dolenz in particular could channel just the right zany vibe to keep scenes moving forward and eyeballs glued to the tv set.  I don't think Dolenz gets enough credit for his acting and behind-the-camera chops as he does for his vocals.
   
   
2. The theme of the tv series was that they were Perpetual Underdogs. 
   
   They never got their big break on the tv show, just shlepping from one gig to another (along with the occasional haunted mansion). 
   
   Perseverance while keeping your sense of humor were the keys to the on-screen band.  And guess what - it's true for real-world creatives also.
   
   
3. The Monkees always had second chances.  
   
   Their 1987 reunion was the highest-grossing concert tour in the world, their 1996 reunion album received great reviews, and their 2011 reunion tour featured rave reviews from Rolling Stone Magazine. 
   
   Even though they were always getting written-off by critics, The Monkees would manage to reinvent themselves over the years and keep the magic rolling.
   
   In recent years, critics have finally come around to what fans already knew: these guys can sing, play, write, and perform.
   
   

I am thrilled that Micky Dolenz continues to tour while also engaging with his fans on social media.  My own children are now growing up listening to Dolenz's hit songs and clapping along at live concerts.  In the years ahead, I am confident Micky Dolenz will discover another new wave of Believers!

Review: Disney's The Lion King (2019)

#WeAreTeamHerron LOVED our Advanced Screening last week of Disney’s #TheLionKing!

Thanks to our friends at Leading & Loving It, we were able to see The Lion King 10 days before it's release... and it is a VISUAL STUNNER.

I had goosebumps twice: once during the first 5 minutes’ unbelievable shot-by-shot recreation of the 1994 animated hit, and again during the movie’s climactic final moments.

The writing was brilliant and director Jon Favreau skillfully slowed down the scenes you remember from the Summer of ‘94 to allow the audience more time to engage with the characters.

Also, John Oliver is an INSPIRED choice of voice’s for Zazu (I was laughing out loud).

Down-sides?

1) Scar’s ‘Be Prepared’ becomes a spoken-word mess instead of a call-to-arms for the villains.

2) The voices of Timon and Pumbaa were COMPLETELY MISCAST.  Seth Rogan was excruciatingly off-pitch in all his songs, which disengaged the audience each time (as a parent, I also was taken out of the movie worried that Rogan’s casting would lead to an F-Bomb in front of my children).

Timon’s voice was equally unable to reach the heights of the ‘94 original; a better choice would have been John Mulaney.

Good News, though...

James Earl Jones was EPIC as Mufasa (Beyonce voiced Nala nicely, but her duet of ‘Can You Feel...’ was raspy and her new pop song about a spirit — whose spirit I am still unclear about — came off as clunky and Disney’s attempt at a cash-grab.

Bottom Line

All in all, The Lion King is a must-see for the moving visuals alone (plus expanded fun with ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’).

Thank you Disney for undertaking this gargantuan task and delivering the family-cinematic-sing-along of the summer!

 

Being a child of the 80's, I wasn't introduced to The Monkees until they appeared in 1986 on Disney World's 15th Anniversary tv special (I had tuned in to watch Emmanuel Lewis tap-dancing in front of Cinderella's Castle). 

 

 

The bits with Micky, Davy, and Peter grabbed my imagination.  I taped it on our VCR and wore out that poor VHS tape watching it over and over again.  At recess during school, all my buddies would pretend to be The Monkees (I was always Micky). 

 

The Monkees popped back onto my radar in 1987 via Nickelodeon's must-see, not-quite-MTV-but-safe-for-elementary-eyes, Nick Rocks (right after Danger Mouse and before You Can't Do That on Television).  I was hooked, Heart and Soul.

 

In 1996, I took Amber on a romantic date to see The Monkees on tour (click my above left pic to see Davy Jones' mad tambourine skills).  It was a blast.  Well, for me it was a blast.  I think Amber was just tolerating my harmless little musical obsession.

 

In 1999, I took my Mom on a date to see Davy Jones do a solo gig on the riverboats in Davenport, Iowa (click my pic on the right).   Again, blast was had by all.

 

We followed that up with a 2001 Monkees concert in Cleveland, Ohio and a 2006 summer festival solo concert from Micky Dolenz in Akron, Ohio:

So, to say I'm a Monkees fan is an understatement. 

In a sense, they changed my life. 

Sorta.

You see, they influenced me in 3 key ways:

1. With the exception of Martin & Lewis in 1950, The Monkees were the first to create television music and comedy through improvisation.  Yes, they had a script, but 1960's NBC was sharp and edgy enough to air the improvised bits created on the fly by the boys.  The Monkees were trained in improv-comedy by Second City vets, which led me to study there also during my college years.
   
   
2. The theme of the tv series was that they were Perpetual Underdogs.  They never got their big break on the tv show, just shlepping from one gig to another (along with the occasional haunted mansion).  Perseverance while keeping your sense of humor were the keys to the on-screen band.  And guess what - it's true for real-world creatives also.
   
   
3. The Monkees always had second chances.  Their 1987 reunion was the highest-grossing concert tour in the world, their 1996 reunion album received great reviews, and their 2011 reunion tour featured rave reviews from Rolling Stone Magazine.  Even though they were always getting written-off by critics, The Monkees would manage to reinvent themselves over the years and keep the magic rolling.
   
   

Davy Jones' passing is a bummer, but also an opportunity to reflect back.  It's a reminder of childhood innocence, bubblegum pop, and how little influences add up in one's life.

So cheer up, Sleepy Jean.  The Monkees sure did leave a mark on many a Daydream Believer.