#hey hey i'm a monkee

[mrswheeldyke]

i may suffer from memory loss but the one thing i can remember is that Head (1968) is a fucking masterpiece and should be treated as such

[takeagiantstep23]

I really shouldn't be watching videos of the monkees at 2:30 am (BECAUSE MICKY AND HIS VOICE MAKE ME WANT TO SQUEAL what am i saying? they all make me want to squeal.) but oh well here we are

[numberonenat]

i asked chat gpt to make a playlist based on my candy love characters...

here's part 2 and 3: others / dateables ul + chani

here's what it gave me:

castiel:

"make me wanna die" by the pretty reckless

"ignorance" by paramore

"welcome to the black parade" by my chemical romance

"bring me to life" by evanescence

"sugar, we're goin down" by fall out boy

"i write sins not tragedies" by panic! at the disco

"sk8er boi" by avril lavigne

"boulevard of broken dreams" by green day

"dirty little secret" by the all-american rejects

"i hate everything about you" by three days grace

"numb" by linkin park

"so cold" by breaking benjamin

"gasoline" by halsey

"the kill (bury me)" by 30 seconds to mars

"i miss you" by blink-182

nathaniel:

"fix you" by coldplay

"fireflies" by owl city

"hey, soul sister" by train

"how to save a life" by the fray

"i'm yours" by jason mraz

"all of me" by john legend

"love song" by sara bareilles

"banana pancakes" by jack johnson

"you're beautiful" by james blunt

"the way i am" by ingrid michaelson

"thinking out loud" by ed sheeran

"bubbly" by colbie caillat

"say something" by a great big world

"make you feel my love" by adele

"count on me" by bruno mars

lysandre:

"supermassive black hole" by muse

"personal jesus" by depeche mode

"sweater weather" by the neighbourhood

"mr. brightside" by the killers

"do i wanna know?" by arctic monkeys

"intro" by the xx

"shake it out" by florence + the machine

"summertime sadness" by lana del rey

"creep" by radiohead

"running up that hill" by placebo

"closer" by nine inch nails

"only happy when it rains" by garbage

"1979" by the smashing pumpkins

"sour times" by portishead

"teardrop" by massive attack

kentin:

"good vibrations" by the beach boys

"walking on sunshine" by katrina and the waves

"don't stop believin'" by journey

"good time" by owl city

"here comes the sun" by the beatles

"happy" by pharrell williams

"sun street" by katrina and the waves

"shut up and dance" by walk the moon

"i'm a believer" by the monkees

"africa" by toto

"i'm gonna be (500 miles)" by the proclaimers

"dancing queen" by abba

"mr. blue sky" by elo

"all star" by smash mouth

"on top of the world" by imagine dragons

armin:

"video killed the radio star" by the buggles

"don't stop me now" by queen

"bohemian rhapsody" by queen

"take on me" by a-ha

"livin' on a prayer" by bon jovi

"sweet child o' mine" by guns n' roses

"every breath you take" by the police

"another one bites the dust" by queen

"don't you (forget about me)" by simple minds

"eye of the tiger" by survivor

"we will rock you" by queen

"don't stop believin'" by journey

"sweet caroline" by neil diamond

"boys of summer" by don henley

"hotel california" by eagles

i actually like this a lot lol

this is always so fun to make even if they don't make sense so yeah qskjvfhdjw

i'll make a part 2!!!

[favorite-music-tourney]

Round 1 match ups

Deny Defend Depose by Joe Devito - Todos Juntos by Los Jaivas

Union Maid by the Almanac Singers - Color in your Cheeks by the Mountain Goats

II: The road Giveth by RENT STRIKE - Two Headed Boy by Neutral Milk Hotel

For What It’s Worth by Buffalo Springfield - I'm not a good person by Pat the Bunny

I ain't Marching Anymore by Phil Ochs - Ballad of a Wobbly by David Rovics

Do you believe in magic by the lovin spoonful - Let the Mystery Be by Iris Demont

California Dreamin by the Mama's and the Papa's - I'm a Believer by The Monkees

Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen - A Song for a Computer Programmer by Cricket!

Blackbird by the Beatles - The Gambler by Kenny Rogers

Feed the Machine by Poor Man's Poison - Curses by the Crane Wives

Big Rock Candy Mountain by Harry McClintock - Pure Obsession by Mirabai Kukathas

Closer to Fine by the Indigo Girls - I want wind to blow, the microphones

War isn't Murder by Jesse Welles - Delta Dawn by Tanya Tucker

Place to Be by Nick Drake - The Wrote and Writ by Johnny Flynn

Time in a Bottle By Jim Croce - Ohio by Neil Young

Little Lion Man by Mumford and Sons - Space Girl by Shirley Collins

A Horse with No Name by America - Fuck it by Days N Daze

The Galway Girl by Sharon Shannon and Steve Earle - The Chain by Fleetwood Mac

Heave Away by the Fables - Stick Season by Noah Kahan

Rule #4 Fish in a Birdcage by Fish in a Birdcage - Your Heart is a Muscle the Size Of Your fist by Ramshackle Glory

War on the Workers by Anne Feeney - The Funeral by Band of Horses

Blister in the Sun by the Violent Femmes - Lyndon Johnson Told the Nation by Tom Paxton

Season of the Witch by Donovan - I’m against the government by Defiance, Ohio

Everybody's Talkin' by Harry Nilsson - Kill the Boy Band by She/Her/Hers

Me and my Bobby Mcgee by Janis Joplin - O Valencia by the Decemberists

Wayward Prodigal by Cora Reef - The War Racket by Buffy Sainte-Marie

The Times they are a changing by Bob Dylan - Miracle of Life by Bright eyes

At Seventeen by Janis Ian - Little Boxes by Malvina Reynolds

I am a Union Woman by Bobbie McGee - Electricity by Sister Wife Sex Strike

Annie's Song by John Denver - Roll On, Columbia, Roll On by the Highway Men

Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter Paul and Mary - Solidarity Forever by Utah Phillipps

I'm Gonna Be an Engineer by Peggy Seegar - Follow Me up to Carlow by the Young Dubliners

Take Me to Church By Hozier - 32 Flavors by Ani Difranco

Fast Car by Tracy Chapman - Murder in the City by the Avett Brother

Mrs. Robinson By Simon and Garfunkel - The Chemical Worker's Song by Great Big Sea

The Fox by Nickel Creek - Oak & Ash & Thorn by The Longest Johns

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald By Gordon Lightfoot - Strangers by Apes of the State

American Pie by Don McLean - Our House by Crosby, Stills, Nash, And Young

Everything I own by Bread - Fire and Rain by James Taylor

The Trolley Problem by Windborne - Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison

Where have all the flowers gone by Pete Seeger - Dream a Little Dream of Me by Cass Elliot

Glad to be Gay by Tom Robinson Band - The Battle of New Orleans by Johnny Horton

Vienna by Billy Joel - Cats in the Cradle by Harry Chapman

One Kind of People by Amigo the Devil - Brave as a Noun by AJJ

Every Town will Celebrate by Mischief Brew - Wild World by Cat Stevens

Plastic Jesus by Tia Blake - Ho Hey by the Lumineers

Ballad of Ho Chi Min by Ewan MacColl - City of New Orleans by Arlo Guthrie

Loose Lips by Kimya Dawson - Excursion Around the Bay by Great Big Sea

Who would Jesus Bomb by Jordan Snart - Rhododendron Honey by Leslie Fish

Hungry Dog on the street by the Taxpayers - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down by The Band

Mr. Tambourine Man by the Byrds - Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen

You're So Vain by Carly Simon - Ooh La La by the Faces

Budapest by George Ezra - Paradise by John Prine

Tear the Facists Down by Woody Guthrie - House of the Rising Sun by the Animals

One Great City by the Weakerathans - Diamonds and Rust by Joan Baez

Bread and Roses by Judy Collins - Angel From Montgomery by Bonnie Raitt

March of the Jobless Corps by Daniel Kahn - There is Power in a Union by Billy Bragg

What a time to be alive by Matt Press - Rhinestone Cowboy by Glen Campbell

Sixteen Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford - All The Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands by Sufjan Stevens?

Not Yet/Love Run by the Amazing Devil - Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers

Tom's Diner by Suzanne Vega - It's too Late by Carole King

Hurt by Johnny Cash - Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell

Jolene by Dolly Parton - Have you ever seen the rain by Creedence Clearwater Revival

I'd work for Free by Blake Rouse - You're Dead by Norma Tanega

[cataclysmiceuphemism]

listening to the Monkees KDWB recording and one of the weirder Dolenzmith elements to it is how strangely negative Mike is about Samantha Juste.

Mike starts introducing Secret City, and Micky steps in which leads to this exchange :

Mike: Hey, now. Thanks a lot, Mick. I was going to give you clues on how to get out here (To the Secret City broadcast where they were recording in the hotel).

Micky: I got the clue. But I had a better clue, Sammy knew.

Mike. Oh, Sammy knew exactly where it was. Thanks a lot. I'll remember this. You know, I pilot the plane down here. You know that, don't you? And I'm going to crash Sammy's seat.

And later Peter and Mike talk about Sam being in the room and Mike says she's "Samantha Juste... Just Samantha"

like look i'm actually not a tinhatter RPS person no matter my ott posts about OTPs... but the digs at Micky's girlfriend seem unrelated to literally anything lol

[poll-position]

Now that the results from all of the 60s Billboard polls are in, let's have a final showdown between the winners!

[your-queer-dad]

dad dad i have a joke my gf threatened to leave me if i kept singing "i'm a believer" by the monkees. i thought she was joking... and then i saw her face

Hey kiddo! 10/10 joke, dad approved!!!

- dad x

[doublydaring]

hey you're an rpf writer. how do i tell rpf writers things like "if this takes place before september 2017 he didn't have a cat yet" without coming off as fucking insane. also how normal is it to be bothered by this anyway

firstly yesss my rlm masterwork is this but I'm working on an early 2000s thing now that is really fun. I admit to being largely ignorant to timeline in the rlm department but I understand your pain because I'm that way about monkees stuff. I cannot tell you how detailed my knowledge of their 80s tour is after all the research I did for a fic. As far as not sounding insane.... I'm afraid I'm not the right person to be asking lol

[beemovieerotica]

hey it's me monkees mpreg anon just wanted to let you know i'm rotating pregnant peter tork in my mind today

if he's rotating rotisserie style then is the baby also rotating around and around or is it like a needle in a compass situation where the baby stays facing the same direction?

[imgonnabuymeamonkee]

My First Fanfic!

peter x y/n (you!)

saving peter

davy jones and peter tork were having a fight again. y/n hears them through the walls in the pad. y/n was sitting in the living room with michael and micky before this. then they got up and went to go check on peter! (as they were worried for his safety). y/n puts their ear to the door, to listen to what davy is saying to peter, more cruely than he does earlier in the day.

"davy stop, why do you always get this way?" peter pleaded with davy.

"i need my maryjauna petah! it keeps me mellowed out!" davy sneered at peter.

"it clearly does not! please, you're scaring us!"

This is when you realzied that you had to take action.

"Davy stop! Leave peter ALONE!" you burst in, and knock davy down. he foolishly forgot how little he was by getting embarrassingly high.

"Y/N, whatsa matta? Wha ave I done to yew?"

"Peter is my best friend, and maybe more ! and the nicest monkee!" you say and wink ;)

"Wow y/n I did not know you felt that way about me." peter smiled

"what? nobody would like YEW petah, your the stupid one!"

"hey now davy that's enough. you do have a problem, peter and y/n are right." michael said

"yes davy, you need to behave better than this, like peter who only has small amounts of weed in a fun way." micky said.

"wait guys, stop, davy will learn his lesson after what y/n did just now. i'm going to focus on the hero, not the villain. thank you y/n. you rescued me. i love you, i knew we had something special." peter proclaimed.

"i-i love you too peter... hey, let's just get out of here. peter, and my friends michael and micky, can we go to the beach and play now?"

"absolutely!" michael and micky say

peter smiles at y/n "absolutely"

[pisshandkerchief]

how do i begin to understand the monkees lore. i know a small amount about them bc im into the beatles but i basically only know that they had a tv show. but all of this stuff sounds fascinating do you have any suggestions as to where to begin (if not no worries youre just the only monkees person i know of to ask)

I was about to write you a whole entire essay about Monkees history (which is why this took so long to reply to), but then I found this YouTube video and it's a good breakdown so I would recommend watching this instead because I'm not great at explaining things. If you don't want the TV show spoiled for you, go to the timestamps in the description and skip the two season breakdowns in favor of the history segments. As someone who has been interested in the Monkees but also 60's culture in general essentially since I was born, I can't help but notice that this girl is a little bit of a beginner when it comes to the history but she has her basic information right and this is a really good starter breakdown to get someone started if you're not very familiar with any of it!

after you watch this, start the TV show! It's all available on archive.org as said in the video, and a majority of the episodes are also up on YouTube. Or, you could just skip all that noise and watch Head (1968) which is also up on YouTube for free. But I do recommend watching the TV show because it is very fun and I love it (however. do keep in mind that it was made in the 60's and as such has some horrifically offensive shit in it. there's some pretty atrocious racism in there, the episodes Monkee Chow Mein, Son of a G*psy, and A Nice Place To Visit are some notable examples of this). There's also some actual good political messaging too though (because it's the 60's and hey we may still think cultural appropriation is cool but at least we know the American government sucks and is fucking us over)

As for the music, my favorite Monkees album is probably Headquarters followed by Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, and Jones. So check those out!

And if you're looking to get a more in depth look at the history, I recommend the book The Monkees, Head, and the 60's, as well as the book Monkee Business. Good luck on your Monkees journey and keep me updated!!

[gamesucks]

i just sent in the last ask but realized i could just. give you a list based on the gatsby numbers.

22, 25, 26, 49, 100, 13

6 whole songs 💥 (you don’t have to do all of em if you don’t want djcbd)

the ultimate tism ask on this joyous holiday... thank you my friend

22: the first gatsby song for the first gatsby number ! how silly

25: also fitting for u lol

26: oh hey a normal song...

49: i have nothing to say abt this one. u know how normal i am abt this particular band

100: im genuinely surprised this ones only 100??? ig i listened to it more on youtube

13: aaand back to the gatsby songs <3

[radio-edit-and-his-world]

Radio Edit Glitches Out

Hey, folks, welcome to my world! Here's my introduction and an explanation behind the posts you'll see.

My name is Fender - as in Fender Stratocasters, and that one company who tries too hard to sell generic guitars. Yes, that's really my name.

I love music - making, writing, and listening to it. I probably even like what you like. If it's a thing from about 1920-2015, I've heard of it and probably have it sitting near my CD player. True? True.

That includes... rock, folk, blues, jazz, country, pop, heavy metal, and more. (Elvis, The Monkees, Journey, Metallica, Alice in Chains, Dexter and the Moonrocks, and so on...)

Let's keep this short now, shall we?

If you don't know me... don't message me, don't interact with me, and don't try to pretend we're cool.

If you do... well, I might ignore you if you message me out of the blue. Sorry, folks, I'm an antisocial prog rocker who couldn't care less.

[cataclysmiceuphemism]

23 dolenzmith🤠🥁

Send me a Ship and a Number and I will Write a Kiss number... in relief

Mike had known, in his heart, that they'd taken Micky home from the police station, not his criminal mastermind doppelganger. He'd known it without thinking at all, when it came right down to it. Babyface and Micky had been yammering no I'm the real Micky Dolenz! over top of one another for a while, and Mike had said, "Hey, Mick."

Only one head had turned. Micky looked at him with big brown doe eyes and asked, "Yeah, Mike?" like Babyface hadn't mattered at all. And Mike had known that the reaction had been sincere, had been his Micky turning to look his way and not some guy who happened to share his face.

Mike had been so certain that he'd strode over, grabbed Micky's wrist, and hauled him out of the police station. He implemented a new rule once they all climbed into the Monkeemobile: "No helping the cops capture guys who look like us." Then he considered it and waved a hand to scratch that comment, amending, "No more being undercover, or none of that. The police haven't paid us once, anyhow, and we haven't got a thing out of it." He'd probably take it back, the next time the cops came asking them for help. But right then he was very aware that he'd take all of The Monkees being safe, happy, and healthy, over doing the right thing in keeping a violent criminal off the streets.

The guys had all agreed without complaint.

Then Peter said, "You know, Micky, you were really good at being Babyface."

And Micky had gone all squint-eyed. He'd nodded his head a bit, grinned crooked, and patted Peter on the cheek. "You got an eye for talent," he commended in Babyface's rough voice, "Keep it up, Kid. You'll go far."

Peter smiled wide.

That was when Mike was hit with the 'what if?' of doubt.

Micky had, after all, spent days slipping in and out of Babyface's shoes. He'd only done it sporadically, the way he would with any of his characters, but he'd do it fully, and as easily as changing clothes. He'd switch to a sauntering sort of walk. His eyes would all of a sudden go sly, shrewd, calculating. He'd even once said, "Hey, dollface," grabbed Mike by the collar of his shirt, and kissed him rough.

Then he'd laughed, bashful, and apologized, like it had been an overstep.

It hadn't been, though Mike had accepted the apology without saying he hadn't needed it. The fact of it was that it had been Babyface who'd grabbed him but Micky who had kissed him— that though the kiss had been rough, forceful, it had been so in the ways Micky kissed him at the end of a long day, or when they'd been apart for a while. It hadn't been the kiss of a gangster who took what he wanted, but of a man who loved what he had.

But soon enough he was back to being Babyface. He'd done a good job of it, actually impeccable, for having only met Babyface for only a few minutes. And Babyface had been just as good at playing Micky Dolenz. And it occurred to Mike, that maybe he hadn't accounted for it all. That maybe Micky hadn't quite slipped out of character, or that Babyface had slipped in to character all too well. That maybe he wasn't as smart as he thought he was, that maybe he didn't know Micky as well as he thought he did.

He was sure, he was positive, that he was right.

Except with Micky play-acting that way, he became all too aware of the weight of being wrong. Micky would be in jail for the rest of his life, and a bloodthirsty criminal would be sleeping in their bed.

"Mick," Mike said, "Do me a favor and kill the bit."

Micky obliged with a "Sure thing, Mike!" and a pantomime of slicing his throat with his hand.

And, well, it was probably his fault for asking that way, but it still made Mike think of a gangster threatening a hit. He tried to focus on the drive home, but found his eyes going up to the rearview to catch sight of Micky's face. Like it would be seeing him unawares that would do it. It did make him think That's Micky, all right, seeing Micky talk animated to Peter in the backseat, seeing him catch Mike's eyes in the rearview and go crosseyed and stick his tongue out. But fear did a funny thing, of taking something a person knew for fact and turning it into doubt.

When they stepped into the pad, Micky took off his suit jacket and hung it over the back of a chair.

He didn't just toss is in the general direction of their loveseat.

That was funny, wasn't it?

"I'm bushed!" Micky declared. He stretched, yawned, said, "Man, a life of crime really takes it outta you. I'm goin' to bed."

Maybe that should've done it on its own; Babyface wouldn't know where their bedroom was. But he also wouldn't know they all shared one— maybe that's what would make it smarter, to go up first, when he could have time to look around the place, instead of following the guys up later.

Mike heard a chorus of four 'good night's, including from his own mouth, two from the kitchen as Peter and Davy looked to fix themselves a quick dinner. Mike wasn't sure the last time any of them had eaten.

Micky came up to him, repeated, "Goodnight, Mike," and kissed him sweet before turning away to head off to bed.

Just like that, any doubt subsided, and relief flooded Mike instead. Mike grabbed Micky's arm and yanked him back, kissed him so forcefully that it bent him over backwards, making Micky reach up to keep the hat he'd been wearing all night on his head. Micky's eyes went wide, startled, and then he settled into it, eyelids fluttering shut and smiling against Mike's lips. When Mike pulled back, Micky looked up at him, dreamy, and that surely would have done it if nothing else had.

"G'night, Mick."

The dreamy expression turned right back into shock. "Well, now I'm awake!" he yelped, giving Mike a swat.

Mike laughed a little and gave Micky one more kiss, almost as an apology for getting him worked up. Or maybe as an apology for being worked up, himself, in a way Micky hadn't known a thing about. "I'll meet you upstairs," he promised.

"You better," Micky teased, blowing a kiss as he disappeared up the stairs.

Mike looked up the stairs after him. Then he looked to Peter and Davy hunting around the kitchen, banging around their empty cupboards, raiding the just-as-empty fridge.

He pulled out his wallet. He had more money than mothballs, so he went to Peter and gave him his cash. "Order us a pizza, huh, Pete?"

Peter grinned wide. "Thanks, Mike!" he said, grabbing the money and running to the phone.

Davy looked at Mike, let his gaze drag from Mike's eyes to the spiral staircase and back again. "Planning to work up an appetite?" he asked, almost managing to keep the teasing grin off of his face even if he didn't hide it from his voice.

"Oh, well, I wouldn't say that." Mike cleared his throat. He put on his best country bumpkin affect, "But it'd be silly for all four of us to wait for the pizza. So you and Peter wait here, and me and Mick will come down in about half an hour."

"Sure, Mike," Davy agreed, a placating 'whatever you say' underneath his words.

"Sure, Mike!" Peter agreed happily, taking a moment to pause his conversation with Shakey's Pizza by tipping his head away from the phone.

And Mike headed up the stairs to revel in all the things he knew were his.

[rainydawgradioblog]

Top Ten Songs that my Roommates Hate:

If I’m good at anything it's being obnoxious. Here’s ten songs that I love, but drive my roommates up the wall.  Ranked from their most to least tolerable.

10.  “Bangs”- They Might be Giants

Starting off very tame, “Bangs” has the signature TMBG geeky sound and whiny vocals. The song conjures imagery of pocket protectors and protractors. With lyrics like "royal flyness" and talk of concordant angles, “Bangs” is likely a big hit in the math department. Hey at least they've got taste.

9.  “Billy Don't Be a Hero”- Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods

What's better than mass manufactured 70s bubblegum pop hit about the Civil War? A cover of the Paper Lace ‘classic’, “Billy Don't Be a Hero” tells a story of a soldier killed in combat, in the most catchy, kitschy way possible. It’s a very addictive song, so please listen responsibly.

8.  “Xanadu”- Rush

“Xanadu” by Rush is not to be confused with the 1980 Olivia Newton John film of the same name, though both are pretty polarizing. The only critique I can offer is that at only 11 minutes, “Xanadu” is entirely too short. Who wouldn't want to " To stand within the pleasure dome, decreed by Kubla Khan” with Geddy Lee. Sounds pretty cool if you ask me.

7. “Motorcycle Mama”- Harpo

Everyone knows that a truly great musician is defined by their references to other, better musicians. Unlike the other songs on this list ( with the exception of Gaucho) this is a bad song, but it's a blast. Harpo’s so caught up in trying to string Ravi Shankar and Fritz the Cat together that he entirely forgets to pay any attention to the rest of the song.

6.  “Be True to Your School”- The Beach Boys

Clearly, my roommates are lacking some serious school spirit. Just wait until some loud braggart tries to put them down. They won't know what hit them.

5. “Your Auntie Grizelda”- The Monkees

I'm a big fan of the Monkees, but even I have to admit that “Your Auntie Grizelda" is an annoying song. There is a definite reason Peter Tork wasn't placed on vocals, but I think there's a certain charm to having a singer who can't really sing.

4. “Schlock Rod Pt. 2”- Jan and Dean

“Schlock Rod Pt. 2” is nothing if not unique, it's an obnoxious conversation between two men, complete with constant voice cracks. Set to a tune consisting of clanging metal and sputtering car engines, it's satire, and I’ll defend it till the end. Think this one is annoying? Check out part one.

3. “Gaucho”- Steely Dan

I apologize in advance to all the Dan Fans out there, but damn this song sucks. Listening to “Gaucho” is like being transported to your grandpa’s pontoon in the 80s, and when a song mentions ponchos more than once, there’s a fundamental issue lyrically.

2. “Sally MacLennane”- The Pogues

The best way to listen to any Pogues song is at an ear-splitting volume, though the people I live with might disagree. If you have too many friends, this will either take care of it (especially if you listen at strange hours of the morning) or you’ll meet the best people you’ll ever know. Rest in peace, Shane MacGowan, you are a legend and a genius.

1. “Strap on That Jammy Pac”- Ween

Recorded on a four-track cassette while both Dean and Gene Ween were supposedly huffing Scotchgard (they probably weren’t) and had mono (they probably did); “Strap on That Jammy Pac” is the first track off of The Pod, which is easily one of the best albums of all time. Shout out to Ween for this much needed addition to blues-country history.

-Parks

[chiimeramanticore]

Part of the Band - Chapter 16 - Back to the Music Store

Chapter summary: Beach Bear and Dook return to band practice for the first time since Beach Bear's accident.

A/N:

watch how long I can write a fanfic about a band without actually writing anyone perform music bc I don't know how to write it without it sounding awkward lmao god how long's it been since I updated. feels like ages. I'm back! and I'm gonna (try to) upload two days in a row to make up for it! we have a little downtime plot-wise rn as we shift gears a little. beach bear's character arc is starting to wrap up, and that leaves us with dook to explore :] I've done a lotta thinking on the guy lately and I'm excited to see where his arc takes us (it's gonna be sadddd) that's all I got today i think! see you tomorrow (probably)! enjoy the chapter!

Chapter word count: 1,172

<- Chapter 15 - Chapter 17 ->

Read it on AO3!

"Y'know we don't have to do this," Dook says.

"I want to," Beach Bear insists. "We already missed band practice last week. I don't want us to fall behind just because of me."

Dook pushes Beach Bear's wheelchair down the street toward the music store. With his car still gone and Beach Bear himself out of commission, they had to take the bus. At least it's got a wheelchair lift, Dook figures. It was a bit of an ordeal getting Beach Bear in and out of Fatz' car the other day. With time, and physical therapy, though, things should get easier.

"What're we gonna fall behind from?" Dook mutters, more of a statement than a question. "We haven't even gotten any gigs yet."

"Yeah, 'cause we don't have a full set list yet," Beach Bear says back. "We need to write more."

"What, you wanna do all original stuff?" Dook asks. " 'S not gonna hurt us to have a few covers. 'Specially if we're just startin' out."

"I guess," Beach Bear says. "I just feel like we can do better."

The two enter the music store, heading into the back room.

"We can take it easy today, though," Dook suggests, leaving Beach Bear by the couch. "Maybe we just play around for a while."

"We always do that," Beach Bear complains. "I wanna get serious."

Dook looks at Beach Bear. He knows him when he gets antsy like this, and it's usually because of something other than the thing he's actually complaining about. But before he gets the chance to ask, the door swings open again.

"Beach Bear!"

"Mitzi!" Beach Bear's face lights up upon seeing her. Mitzi runs to him, giving him a hug. He groans, the force of her body hitting him rough on his still-healing chest. It doesn't stop him from smiling at the sight of her, though.

"I'm so excited to see you here," he says. "We've been hurting for a singer like nobody's business."

"I'm excited too! I wanna sing Monkees," she says.

Beach Bear falters a bit. "N– No, Mitzi, we're not gonna do the Monkees," he says. "We're trying to focus on original music now."

"C'mon, Beach Bear, it's her first day," Dook says. "Ease her in with some Monkees if she wants."

Beach Bear looks between their two expectant faces. "...Alright," he relents. "But just for today."

"Yes!" Mitzi bounces excitedly.

The door opens again. "Morning, everyone," Fatz says.

"Morning, Fatz," Dook says.

"Hey, Fatz," Beach Bear says.

"Hi Fatz!" Mitzi says.

"Mitzi!" Fatz reaches out for a high five, which Mitzi happily obliges. "It's good to see you here."

"We're gonna sing Monkees," she tells him.

"Yeah, it was Beach Bear's idea," Dook teases.

"Hey, now," Beach Bear complains. Then, "Dook, pass me my guitar, would ya?"

"Hi everyooone!" Looney Bird calls, following Billy Bob into the room.

"Heyyy," Dook says back in the same cadence, reaching for Beach Bear's guitar. "We're gonna do the Monkees."

"Yeah, it was my idea," Beach Bear says. Mitzi laughs.

Dook hands Beach Bear his guitar. "How've you two been?" He asks Billy Bob.

"Oh, fine," he says. "Just the usual."

"Billy Bob set the kitchen on fire last night," Looney Bird butts in.

Billy Bob laughs loudly and awkwardly, trying to brush off the comment without inviting any further question. He isn't questioned outright, but does get a questioning look from Dook and Fatz.

"...Well, gee, it wasn't the whole kitchen," Billy Bob finally says. "I left the stove goin' too high!"

"Yeah, and the stove was on fire!" Looney Bird says.

"Ain't a stove supposed to be on fire?" Fatz says. "How're you supposed to cook the food otherwise?"

"It's supposed to be a little on fire," Billy Bob adds.

"Not that much," Looney Bird says.

"Dook," Beach Bear interrupts. He's sitting with his guitar held awkwardly and uncomfortably. "Can we talk outside for a sec?"

"Yeah," Dook says. He helps Beach Bear leave his guitar on the couch and follows him outside the room.

"I can't do this," Beach Bear admits.

"Aw, don't get yourself down so quick," Dook says.

"No, I mean, I literally can't play my guitar," Beach Bear says. "It's–" He makes a vague motion with his hands, trying to illustrate a point and failing. "I can't get it to rest on my lap right 'cause of the damn wheelchair."

"Oh. Well... What if you sat on the couch instead?" Dook asks. That's where he usually sits, anyway. "I don't mind helpin' you."

"Even if I did, I..." He looks down at his right arm, still in a cast. "I'm kinda restricted right now."

"Oh," Dook says. He doesn't have an easy fix for that one.

"I should've thought about this before I started saying I wanted to do band practice again," Beach Bear says. "I don't know how I didn't realize I wouldn't be able to play music."

"Well, now you really are gettin' down on yourself," Dook says. "We can figure somethin' out." What else can he do, though? It's not like Beach Bear plays any other instruments...

"...Hey, uh, Beach Bear?" Dook starts.

"Yeah?"

"Y'know how I said no more secrets between us?"

"...Yeah?"

"I, uh, I have a confession to make," Dook says. "Last time you went out to the beach, I was doin' some cleaning, and I, ah... I found that disc you didn't want me to hear, from a while back. And I played it."

"Ah, geez," Beach Bear says, cringing. "That's embarrassing. It's not even close to finished."

"B- But," Dook continues, "I thought you were fantastic! I think you're a great singer. And if you can't play guitar, maybe..."

"...I can't," Beach Bear says.

"Why not?" Dook asks. "There's nothin' wrong with your voice!"

"It's not my voice, I..." Beach Bear glances toward the door, toward everyone waiting inside. "...I've got, like... stage fright, I guess. I can't sing on the spot, y'know? I've never been good at it. I need time to prepare."

"...Oh." Dook isn't sure what to say. This explains a lot, he realizes. "I... I guess you don't have to, then. I just thought–"

"No, I understand," Beach Bear says. "I appreciate it, really." He smiles at him. "You really liked it?"

Dook couldn't overstate how much he liked it. " 'Course I liked it."

Beach Bear seems to think on that for a moment. Then, finally, "Alright. I'll try."

"Y- You sure?"

"Yeah," he says. "What's your favorite Monkees song, Dook?"

"Uhh–" Now Dook feels on the spot. He skims through every Monkees song he can think of off the top of his head– "I guess, uh, 'Pleasant Valley Sunday,'" he finally offers.

Beach Bear grins. "Alright. I'll sing that, then."

Dook feels his face heat up, and he prays it's not visible. Beach Bear turns and re-enters the practice room without him, smiling the whole time. He's still running laps around him, even like this... Dook follows him inside. At least he gets to hear him sing again.