I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: October 26, 2016] The Monkees

Like most people of my age I used to watch The Monkees on TV.  I was never a huge fan, but I liked the show a bunch and used to sing the theme (and pretend to be The Monkees when at the beach).  But I never really gave them much thought as a musical act (especially when I got older and learned that *gasp* they didn’t even play on the songs!).

Then I learned that there are some people who really really like The Monkees.  My college roommate was a huge fan, and a fellow I’ve met through another friend is an even bigger one–Craig, good luck on that book, man!  I also found out that Sarah and her fried Joanna used to watch the show all the time and were mega Monkees fans (without the album buying).

So when the band announced their 50th (FIFTIETH!) Anniversary tour, I thought it would be fun to go and thought Sarah would really enjoy it.  Sarah saw them on a previous anniversary tour (25, maybe?), where Peter, Micky and Davy were presence (Mike doesn’t typically do this sort of thing).  Of course, with Davy passed on, we wondered just how much of a Monkees show this would be.

Well, I never realized that Mickey sang most of the songs.  It makes sense now that I think of it, he is the voice of the Monkees after all, but I’d assumed it was a bit more democratic.  So as long as Mickey’s there it is still a Monkees gig.  Having Peter there lends it some credibility (Mike did perform a couple of shows when the tour went through California).

I figured I’d know all of the songs they played.  We do have a Greatest Hits after all and I really liked their new album Good Times! (turns out I knew those songs better than a lot of the other ones).

The two guys came out with a backing band lead guitar, bass, drums and keys).  Mickey played guitar and for a few songs, he played drums (big applause when he sat behind the kit–which Peter played up for laughs).  Peter played guitar, banjo and keyboards. And every song had a fun video behind them.  Most of the older songs included clips from the show (I assume from where the song was performed in the show.  Newer songs had new videos and there were a couple with other clips from the band during the years.

The show was just over 2 hours long–not bad for guys in their 70s.

The show had something for everyone–classics, new songs and what I thought of as deeper cuts.  There was comedy, including a little physical comedy (check out the “comedy” during “She“), audience participation and delightful nostalgia.  And they all sounded good.  Mickey’s voice was quite good–although Sarah said there were a few parts where he either didn’t hit something or just didn’t try.  Overall we were pleasantly surprised by how good they sounded.

They came out to the theme song from the show and proceeded to romp through classic after classic (on the setlist below I’ve put an * next to anything on the greatest hits record from 2003 that we have).  How fun to hear “Clarksville” and hear Mickey sing it just like on the record.

I didn’t know “Saturday’s Child” but Sarah was thrilled to hear it.  And “Look Out Here Comes Tomorrow” sounded great too.

They did a number of covers, although since many of their songs were written by others, I’m not sure what is always considered a cover.  I also don’t know if The Monkees were known for all of those covers.  But I do know that “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone was a big hit for.

They also mixed in three of the songs from their new album, the amazing pop song “She Makes Me Laugh” (written by Rivers Cuomo [Weezer]), “You Bring the Summer” (written by Andy Partridge [XTC]) and “Me & Magdelena” (written by Ben Gibbard [Death Cab for Cutie]).  And these songs fit in perfectly with the rest.

Mickey didn’t sing everything.  Peter sang a fun a wild version of “Your Auntie Grizelda.”  Peter told us that they were going to play a song they don’t usually play called “Steam Engine” (which I didn’t know) and then told us about how he wrote “For Pete’s Sake” and how it was used as the closing credits for the last season of the show.

And even though Mike doesn’t tour with them, they don’t leave his contributions out.  They included him on all of the video clips and also played his “Papa Gene’s Blues,” “The Girl I Knew Somewhere” and “Circle Sky.”

I loved that they played “Randy Scouse Git” and that Mickey came out in a poncho (for sale for $75!).

The set 1 highlight for everyone though was when they dug into their wayback machine and produced Davy’s voice to sing the opening of “Shades of Grey” which was really delightful (and not cheesey of maudlin at all).

They ended Set 1 with Peter playing a folkie banjo rendition of “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher.”  And then they took a little break.

Set 2 opened with a fun version of “Mary Mary.”   And a really trippy version of “Porpoise Song.”  I really enjoyed What Am I Doin’ Hangin’ ’round?” and for “Goin’ Down” (a song I didn’t really know) Micky brought the microphone to a lady in the audience who (Sarah assures me) got the entire fast verse correct (see right).

I liked that “Words” featured the twinkly percussion and lead vocals from both guys.

And they brought “Davy” back out for a delightful crowd-singing-along of “Daydream Believer.”  And the second set ended to much delight.

Of course they were going to come back out for en encore, and we were treated to “Pleasant Valley Sunday” and an everyone-on-your-feet singalong of “I’m a Believer”

The show was great fun.  And I was amused by how many songs I knew the choruses of but not the verses (whereas Sarah could sing along to almost every word).  It seemed, though, like a lot of people weren’t singing along when we were supposed to.  This surprises, especially because there were so many people who clearly dressed up for the occasion–there were 70s flower dresses, and people in fezzes and sequenced bowler hats and all kind of things–a place just ripe for dancing and singing along.

Aside from the children, we were probably the youngest people there.

But we were still really happy to be home by 11!

• (Theme From) The Monkees*
• Listen to the Band*
• Last Train to Clarksville*
• That Was Then, This Is Now (The Mosquitos cover)
• Saturday’s Child
• Your Auntie Grizelda*
• She*
• She Makes Me Laugh
• A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You*
• The Girl I Knew Somewhere*
• You Bring the Summer
• Steam Engine
• Shades of Gray*
• Me & Magdelena
• Papa Gene’s Blues*
• Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)*
• Randy Scouse Git*
• For Pete’s Sake*
• Sometime in the Morning*
• (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson cover)
• Let’s Dance On
• Set 2:
• Mary, Mary*
• Circle Sky
• Porpoise Song (Theme From “Head”)*
• Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again?
• (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone (Paul Revere and The Raiders cover)*
• Words*
• Goin’ Down*
• D.W. Washburn (The Coasters cover)
• What Am I Doin’ Hangin’ ’round? (Michael Martin Murphey cover)*
• Daydream Believer (John Stewart cover)*
• Encore:
• Pleasant Valley Sunday (Carole King cover)*
• I’m a Believer (Neil Diamond cover)*