What a show! My first concert of The Monkees' 2002 Summer Tour was unbelievable! It might even be my best Monkees concert yet. Micky & Davy were their usual outstanding entertainers and the band was rockin'. The sound was great (once they got it right) and the venue was the perfect place to hold a concert. Originally, the show was supposed to start at 4pm, which is what it said on the ticket. But we weren't even let in the venue until after 4:10. Finally, after an hour and forty-five minutes, Barry Williams came out for his very entertaining set. His half hour onstage was definitely worth the time! He started off with a medley of "I Can See Clearly," "Good Day Sunshine," & "Sunshine Day" which is the perfect show opener for him. Then, he grabbed his guitar and sang his excellent version of "Happy Together." Next was the song that he said "more people know the words to than the 'Star Spangled Banner'." That, of course, was an awesome version of the "Brady Bunch Theme." When he was through with that, he moved on to a hilarious joke song about his celebrity boxing match with Danny Bonaduce. He talked about the "Brady Bunch" and the episode where he was Johnny Bravo, because he "fit the suit." He made sure to bring the original suit out to show everyone that it still fit and to sing "Johnny's Back." Following that, he sang the song he used to audition for the part of Johnny Bravo... "You've Got To Be in Love To Love A Love Song." During this song, he came off the stage and walked into the crowd to take pictures with people while singing his song, like Davy is known to do at his solo shows. Next was his hilarious Eminem Parody, "The Real Greg Brady," which got band members Sandy Gennaro & Aviva Moloney dancing together and Eric Biondo shuffling onto the stage. Last, was a broadway tune (can't remember the title) that he did an excellent job on. After Barry's set, there was a 20-25 minute intermission before Micky & Davy's show came up. When those 20 or so minutes were up, the band started the introduction medley and Dave Alexander screamed "Ladies and gentleman please welcome to the stage 'The Best of the Monkees,'" which brought Micky & Davy running onto opposite sides of the stage and joining in the middle. They looked as happy as ever to be together and Micky, especially, was more energetic than I've ever seen him. As always, they began with "Last Train to Clarksville," before Micky screamed "and the hits just keep on comin,'" which led to "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You." After the first two songs, Micky told those who where in the back of the outdoor theatre to move up closer if they wanted to since the venue was only a little more than half full. They then continued with "The Girl I Knew Somewhere," a song "written by a great friend of ours...Mike Nesmith." Next, the Monkees stage manager brought Micky's kettle drum out to the front of the stage. Micky talked about the party the Beatles threw for them and how he didn't remember much about it. Davy agreed and Micky said that the next song was a song he wrote after the party, which he does remember. Then he paused and said "I hope." "Yeah, I hope so too!" Davy said. Of course, that song was "Randy Scouse Git." Micky did his usual crazy act after the song, but went even crazier on the drum than normal and it was taken away from him as he shouted, "The colors! The colors!" Then, Davy led him to the drum set where he raised his arms to the crowd's cheers. As always, his drumming made "Mary, Mary" one of the highlights of the show. Directly after "Mary, Mary," Micky left the stage for Davy to perform his first solo song of the show, "Nice To Be With You." Then, Micky ran back onto the stage to perform the tongue twister "Goin' Down," & Davy's "(Look Out) Here Comes Tomorrow," which was added to the setlist after being left out earlier in the year. Then they went on talking about how "The Monkees" aired in 40 different countries and that Micky had to sing the Monkees theme song in different languages. All of which he said he still remembered. Davy didn't believe him, and when Micky again insisted that he did, Davy said "You don't even remember what you had for lunch." Micky then challenged him to pick a language for him to sing and Davy said that there was no way he could, because "this guy hides his own Easter eggs!" which really got Micky & the band laughing because that line isn't usually in the skit. Finally, Micky proved him wrong by singing it in French, Spanish, and Italian. Then they introduced the band and had Dave Alexander come out. Standing next to Davy he looked like a monster and when Davy asked him how tall he was, "6' 7"? 6' 8"?" he questioned. Dave said 6' 2" and Davy replied "That's impossible, because I'm five, eleven!" That got a chuckle out of the audience before they called Sandy Gennaro down with Dave to do their "All in the Family" skit before they launched into their newest edition to the setlist "You & I" from "Justus." Next were "No Time" & the Nesmith tune, Circle Sky" which are always fun to see performed live. Once again, Micky left the stage for Davy to sing his famous song "Girl" which he sang on the "Brady Bunch." After "Girl," Micky ran back out on stage with his guitar for "That Was Then, This Is Now" which, like "(Look Out) Here Comes Tomorrow" was not on the setlist for this year's earlier concerts. Next, was "Valleri," where at the end, Davy spins his arm around & around & around until the end where he jumps in the air for the song's finish. I'm surprised his arm doesn't fall off after doing that every concert! Then, Davy left the stage to let Micky perform his one & only solo song of the concert, "Since I Fell For You." After, Davy came back on stage for "I Wanna Be Free" & "I'll Love You Forever." Micky usually leaves the stage for these songs, but now stays and plays guitar in the background. Next, was the very relaxing "Porpoise Song" followed by Micky screaming "LISTEN TO THE BAND!" leading to the Nesmith penned tune. The last song before their encore was "Daydream Believer," where Davy made sure everyone in the audience was singing along. For Micky & Davy's encore everyone rushed to the front of the stage for "Pleasant Valley Sunday," "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone," and their final song, "I'm A Believer." To the sound of the band playing the Monkees theme song, Micky & Davy "Monkee walked" offstage. Then, Davy ran back on stage, as Peter did in the 2001 concerts, followed by Micky dragging him off the stage to end another outstandingly unbelievable Monkees concert!
