On Friday, March 12 , 1999, Peter Tork and the Shoe Suede Blues Band played a show at Doc's in Monterey, California. I was so busy videotaping the show that I only took a couple of photos, and the only one that came out decent is below. It was great to see Peter in a non-Monkees show (it was a first for me), as he could showcase his considerable talent on the guitar. The whole band rocked, and yet seemed to be relaxed and having a good time. Peter's vocals were the best I'd ever heard live. Doc's was the perfect intimate venue, and I hope Peter comes back soon! (or better still, come to Santa Cruz and save me an hour's drive!)
*Frankly, I don't care if I ever hear I'm a Believer in concert again; I would prefer to hear almost any other Monkees song besides this one! I'm a Believer is so over played that it has distorted and minimized the Monkees' musical legacy. It is the most frequently played Monkees song on oldies stations (it's almost the only Monkees song played, with Daydream Believer in second place, and -fortunately- Pleasant Valley Sunday getting light rotation on some stations). I know it was the Monkees' biggest hit, and people expect to hear it, but there are so many other great Monkees tunes that were featured in the show, and that deserve more exposure. For Peter's show, I would have substituted any of the following: For Pete's Sake (probably the most well known of his songs, and cowritten with a local Santa Cruz songwriter), Long Title, Can You Dig It, Shades of Gray, or his version of Take a Giant Step. Even Auntie Grizelda is preferable to another tired rendition of I'm a Believer!
bbarrow@NOSPAM.cruzio.com
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Thanks, Bryan