Concerts!

Yup, another oldies night in the Northfork Theater at Westbury (ne Westbury Music Fair). Rare Earth was first up. Not an act I really know or care about, but they put on a nice if brief show. A bit too loud and the mics got screechy. My poor ears.

Next up was Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean fame. He had a nice group of musicians and singers (The Surf City All Star Band) backing him up, including Al Jardine's son who solo'ed on a Beach Boys number. Dean sang some Beach Boys numbers, too, and gave a nice performance. I'd been wanting to see him. He looked pretty good.

Mickey Dolenz came out next. He didn't say anything about WCBS and being fired along with all the other DJs in the June format purge. But he was funny and fun and had his sister Coco along as usual. She sang the Mike Nesmith-written "Different Drum" made famous by Linda Ronstadt and did a couple of duets with Mickey from the big band days. Mickey sang "Day Dream Believer" which just sounds weird when it's not sung by Davy Jones, but he does put on a great show.

Peter Noone is probably one of the few guys on the "oldies" tour who can outdo Mickey both in playing to the audience and sheer energy. He's like the Energizer Bunny onstage. He jokes around, he shakes hands with folks in the front rows, he sings, he dances, he does impressions (the Michael Jackson from the young Michael days was a surprise), and is a joy to watch. Mickey was my favorite Monkee; Peter was my favorite rock 'n' roller when I was growing up. He looks great in his "rubber" pants. I'm assuming vinyl or leatherette and his pinkish jacket looked like it was made of the same or similar shiny material. He made jokes about Mickey, and then Mick Jagger being his father and had fun with members of the audience, including a rather old guy who'd nodded off. He's great fun onstage.

After, hubby and I waited to meet and get autographs from Peter and Mickey, which was very cool. Shook hands with both of them. When I told Peter I kept 16 Magazine in business buying every issue with him in it, he said so did his mum. Okay, so not a great moment, but it was fun. He was still energized, but Mickey had mellowed out, probably waiting the hour Peter was filling with his set. It had been getting late, so I worried that he'd do only a short set, maybe 40 minutes, but he got his hour in. Not as much as when he's on as the main or only act, but good enough.

Feeling:

concerts