Monkees band member plays Lafayette
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 11/05/2009
sponsored by
The Lafayette community proved they don’t “Monkee” around, after booking a nationally known singer.
Peter Tork, a member of the band The Monkees, will perform tonight at Skylight Coffeehouse.
“Well, I’m a fan of his; I have been for years,” said Karen Benner, owner of Skylight Coffeehouse.
“And I thought, you know what, I’m going to treat myself – it’s my business, I can do whatever I want.”
She said with the help of local businesses, she and the community managed to book Tork and his band, Shoe Suede Blues, to perform.
“It’s really nice that all the small businesses are pulling together to help me pull this off,” Benner said.
Tork gained his fame from the TV show “The Monkees,” but Benner said he has always been a talented musician. He now plays jazz music, as well as some of his old hits.
Keith Austin, a Lafayette resident, is attending the show.
“I’d say other than The Beatles, The Monkees are way up there on my list of all-time favorite groups,” he said.
“Playing in proximity literally from my house was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up ... I can walk down the block and see a legend.”
Austin predicts Tork will play old favorites and new material, and is excited to see what the overall feel of the concert is.
Tickets were $25 and sold out to a crowd of 70 people. After discovering the demand to see Tork perform, Benner is trying to book Tork again on his way back from his tour. She encourages anyone interested to contact her to reserve tickets.