The weekend surrounding the Hoboken Arts and Music Festival of 2008 was slightly chaotic—as some events with Micky Dolenz often were—Micky was working an event in Parsippany, NJ that weekend–Chiller Theatre, as I recall [or another similar convention]. Normally, Micky would be working the entire weekend at Chiller Theatre in Parsippany, NJ–but because the Hoboken Arts and Music Festival had scheduled Micky to perform that Sunday afternoon, he would be leaving Chiller Theatre early—and be transported directly to Hoboken, NJ, for his concert affair.
As someone involved with Micky’s performances, and helping out with the merch table, etc, I initially asked if I could help him at Chiller Theatre—it seemed easier, calmer, more contained. Indoors, climate controlled. Convenient bathrooms. All my favorite things, LOL.
Micky made it clear though that Chiller Theatre had been taken care of—they had so much staff, and he had people there working for him—and that he’d really love if I could be there for the concert in Hoboken, NJ instead.
Initially I didn’t want to. I longed for the suburban palace of climate controlled Sheratons LOL. Alternatively, I pictured the outdoor venue being uncontainable, uncontrollable urban chaos.
Pleasant Valley Sunday indeed.
But Micky wrote to me, “When I think of Hoboken, I think of Frank Sinatra, swing music…”, and sold me on coming to the event.
I arrived late as I often am—and George was yelling at me.
“GET TOWELS. YOU NEED TO GET TOWELS.”
There was a bit Micky always did at his shows where he would wipe the sweat from his face, and then throw the towel into the audience for someone to catch—LOL forever the sex symbol Micky—and apparently no one had bought these towels for this event.
Which meant my first order of business was buying towels—at a local CVS around the corner from the show, which was already in full blast. The only kind I could find at CVS were beach towels, so beach towels are what Micky got.
Getting back into the backstage area, and through the crowd from the CVS, was a bit of a nightmare. It was indeed the urban chaos I was imagining. The performance was on a stage on the street, under a tent, with fans extending well out of the tent, into the street and all around. But it was exciting to see so many fans engaging with Micky’s show. And it was a beautiful day—an absolutely beautiful, perfect, warm spring day. Flowers and flowering trees were in bloom everywhere, and the air smelled so good. The perfect day for this event.
After getting back stage and giving Micky the towels [I think the towels may have been cut up into smaller pieces as well], Micky did his bit wiping his face and throwing the towels into the audience—the crowd roared, they always love this, with usually an adoring female fan catching the towels and squealing with delight. Micky was all smiles.
I could relax a little at this point and enjoy the show—from the vantage of being behind the stage and watching everyone from behind LOL.
Micky did all of the Monkees hits—”Pleasant Valley Sunday”, “Last Train To Clarksville”, “Daydream Believer”—and the crowd swooned when Micky performed “Since I Fell For You.” Micky held court in Hoboken, NJ that day.
After the show, George asked for my help with the merch table—and little did I know I’d be sitting next to Micky the whole time. Fans lined up behind a crowd control security fence—a long line that went down the streets—and thankfully there was great Security and police there helping as well. The fans were completely polite [I don’t recall anything too crazy], and Micky graciously signed photos, CD’s, records, anything the fans had, and spoke to them all for a few moments each. There were some photos for sale to be signed. “You look hot here” I said, pausing to look at a classic headshot of Micky taken by Henry Diltz in the 60s, that was printed in bulk to be signed. Micky beamed. Micky signed these photos, but also he signed anything the fans brought. Micky wasn’t able to leave the table for photos, but fans would turn around and take the occasional “selfie” with Micky behind them.
The autograph line must have lasted at least an hour or two, since Micky engaged with everyone as much as he could—and everyone was happy and in a good mood. It was wonderful to see how much joy Micky brought to so many people—and these were just the people of Hoboken, NJ.
It was overall a beautiful day. It *was* a Pleasant Valley Sunday after all.
These photos were not taken by me: the ones of Micky onstage were taken by a fan online who goes by “Jazz Guy” on his Flicker account, and the photo of Micky and I was taken by a photographer for a Hoboken newspaper.
Were you at the Hoboken Arts and Music Festival May 4, 2008? If you were, feel free to share photos or stories in the comments section!