First the good news: Michael Nesmith is touring with the Monkees for the first time in the United States since 1969.
Now, the bad news: Davy Jones died in February, after this tour was conceived.
Other good news: the remaining trio did not try to replace Davy with some guy from a Monkees tribute band.
The bad news: It just wasn't really the same Thursday night at the State Theatre without Davy.
Between the video clips, the music and seeing three aging Monkees in person, there was plenty of nostalgia. But there wasn't much chemistry, spirit or passion. Except for Micky Dolenz.
He not only hasn't stopped touring (he released a solo album this year and played at the State Fair) but his voice is still effective and he tries hard to entertain.
By contrast, neither Peter Tork nor Nesmith manifested much vocal power (the sound engineer should boost their vocal volume). Moreover, Nesmith, who looks a bit like Don Shelby with loafers as sparkly as Michael Jackson's beaded glove, has retained his shy, eyes gazing down demeanor from the 1960s.
During the 110-minute sold-out show, the Prefab Three played the hits, most of the tunes from side one of the 1967"Headquarters" album, plenty of deep album tracks and selections from the trippy, take-us-seriously 1968 movie "Head."
