It always surprises people when I tell them I’ve been to a Monkees concert. My mom and dad were supposed to go together when the band came through Peoria in November of 1986, and while I wasn’t privy to the details (because I was 7) I can look back now and realize my parents were in the process of separating at that point and my mom took me instead. It was my first concert ever.

The show openers included Gary Puckett & the Union Gap, Herman’s Hermits, and The Grass Roots.

We were in metal folding chairs, set up on the floor of the arena. When the bands started, my mom helped me balance on the seat of the chair so I could stand up to see above all of the adults. At some point in the show, in true 80’s form, the guy in the seat next to me lit his cigarette and started puffing away. My mom switched places with me so I could stand on the chair closest to the aisle.

While I was probably younger than anyone else at the Civic Center that night, I really was already a huge fan. I knew most of the songs they sang and had seen reruns of their television show on MTV.

I remember being a little disappointed when I realized Michael Nesmith wasn’t there. Mom told me when I asked that he wasn’t going to be part of the show that night, but I didn’t realize until I went back to look up some facts to write this that due to his movie-making career he wasn’t part of the tour at all. At the time I thought he had just skipped Peoria.

Seeing Peter, Mickey, and Davey on stage was fantastic. Thirty-five years later I can still see flashes of them on stage in my mind. I would LOVE to see some photos or videos, but I haven’t found any yet.

I can remember hearing and singing along with some of these, but not all of them. Here is the tour setlist from The Monkees Archives:

Last Train to Clarksville
A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You
(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone
Cuddly Toy
Goin’ Down
I Wanna Be Free
Your Auntie Grizelda
She
Cripple Creek
For Pete’s Sake
That Was Then, This Is Now
Shades of Gray
Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)
No Time
Daydream Believer
Zilch / Randy Scouse Git
I’ll Love You Forever
MGBGT
Valleri
I’m a Believer
Encore:
Listen to the Band
Pleasant Valley Sunday

Sadly, that’s all I know about the history of music in Peoria. Two months later, my mom, sister, and I moved to Texas. The next time I set foot in the Peoria Civic Center was roughly 2003 to join some family to see the Barnum & Baily Circus. I did see a handful of shows at the Civic Center after that, but I don’t remember seeing any other non-Civic Center local live music until I purposely sought it out in 2017 for Peoria Music Live.

I would love to hear about other bands, big and small, touring or local, that played in Peoria over the years. Research tells me our first Rock n Roll concert was in 1957… that’s a lot of years of live music. So, who’s next? I can’t wait to hear and share it with others.

Below is a promo video from the tour:

Written By: Kindall Reuschel, Owner & Founder of Peoria Music Live