Monkees Anniversary Tour Uk Shows
by Lynda Wiles
ROYAL ALBERT HALL,LONDON. 19/5/2011
As this was my first Monkees concert I wasn't at all sure what to expect but in the end it was all I had hoped for and more.
My friends and I queued up outside a few minutes before the doors opened,busy chatting and almost missed seeing the 3 Monkees drive by in the Monkeemobile !Of course we didn't have our cameras at the ready but happily a few minutes later it re appeared [ Monkee-less] to be driven back to its' hidey-hole and we had the opportunity to snap a couple of photos.
I had a very good seat right at the front of the circle with a clear ,if somewhat elevated view of the stage.While the seats were filling up,and there were very few empty ones,lesser known Monkees songs were played over the sound system and the Monkees logo was displayed on the giant screen at the back of the stage.
Then the lights went down and to mounting excitement the backing band started into a medley of Monkees hits.The screen showed their audition clips from the TV series and a huge cheer went up as the three Monkees came on stage.
Every song was delivered with such energy one wondered if they could possibly keep it up for the whole show but they did ,right to the end !
Some moments that will stay in my memory;
Peter playing banjo on What am I doing hanging round and French horn on Shades of grey
Mickys fantastic rendition of Alternate Title
Davy stepping down into the audience to sing
A really rocking version of Circle Sky and Listen to the band, which they dedicated to Michael
Daydream Believer when Peter brought a little girl up on stage to sing along
Micky going to throw his towel into the audience and then saying '' No way, this is going on e-bay !''
During the intermission they showed the Kelloggs and Yardley advertisements from the 60's.The second half of the show started with songs from Head.Davys wife danced to Can you dig it.performing an almost exact copy of the belly dance from the film. She also danced with him to Daddys Song.
All too soon the two and a half hour show was over but I know the audience went home with big smiles on their faces and the music still ringing in their ears!
ROYAL ALBERT HALL,LONDON. 19/5/2011
As this was my first Monkees concert I wasn't at all sure what to expect but in the end it was all I had hoped for and more.
My friends and I queued up outside a few minutes before the doors opened,busy chatting and almost missed seeing the 3 Monkees drive by in the Monkeemobile !Of course we didn't have our cameras at the ready but happily a few minutes later it re appeared [ Monkee-less] to be driven back to its' hidey-hole and we had the opportunity to snap a couple of photos.
I had a very good seat right at the front of the circle with a clear ,if somewhat elevated view of the stage.While the seats were filling up,and there were very few empty ones,lesser known Monkees songs were played over the sound system and the Monkees logo was displayed on the giant screen at the back of the stage.
Then the lights went down and to mounting excitement the backing band started into a medley of Monkees hits.The screen showed their audition clips from the TV series and a huge cheer went up as the three Monkees came on stage.
Every song was delivered with such energy one wondered if they could possibly keep it up for the whole show but they did ,right to the end !
Some moments that will stay in my memory;
Peter playing banjo on What am I doing hanging round and French horn on Shades of grey
Mickys fantastic rendition of Alternate Title
Davy stepping down into the audience to sing
A really rocking version of Circle Sky and Listen to the band, which they dedicated to Michael
Daydream Believer when Peter brought a little girl up on stage to sing along
Micky going to throw his towel into the audience and then saying '' No way, this is going on e-bay !''
During the intermission they showed the Kelloggs and Yardley advertisements from the 60's.The second half of the show started with songs from Head.Davys wife danced to Can you dig it.performing an almost exact copy of the belly dance from the film. She also danced with him to Daddys Song.
All too soon the two and a half hour show was over but I know the audience went home with big smiles on their faces and the music still ringing in their ears!
PLYMOUTH PAVILION 23/5/2011
I thought before hand the atmosphere might not be as good in this much smaller venue but the guys seemed much more relaxed at this show. They really appeared to be having a lot of fun with the music and banter.The stage here didn't lend itself to Davy coming down among the audience to sing this time but Peter still amnaged to get a little girl up on stage to sing to I'm a believer.
I had a meet and greet ticket for this show and queued up with everyone else clutching my Issue 1 Monkees Monthly to be signed. As we waited in the corridor Davy and Micky walked by waving and saying Hi.Then Peter came along and stopped to speak to us. He apologized for the speed in which we would be ushered through the meet and greet. ''You'll go through so fast your heads will spin ! We are sorry it has to be like this''
I did notice the person organizing it made sure fans cameras had worked before moving to the next one. Someone ahead of me had the ''wobble head'' Monkees dolls in a box and had that signed. It was quick, you only had the time it took the guys to sign their names but I got my magazine autographed and managed to speak to Peter.And of course, I got the all important photo!
I thought before hand the atmosphere might not be as good in this much smaller venue but the guys seemed much more relaxed at this show. They really appeared to be having a lot of fun with the music and banter.The stage here didn't lend itself to Davy coming down among the audience to sing this time but Peter still amnaged to get a little girl up on stage to sing to I'm a believer.
I had a meet and greet ticket for this show and queued up with everyone else clutching my Issue 1 Monkees Monthly to be signed. As we waited in the corridor Davy and Micky walked by waving and saying Hi.Then Peter came along and stopped to speak to us. He apologized for the speed in which we would be ushered through the meet and greet. ''You'll go through so fast your heads will spin ! We are sorry it has to be like this''
I did notice the person organizing it made sure fans cameras had worked before moving to the next one. Someone ahead of me had the ''wobble head'' Monkees dolls in a box and had that signed. It was quick, you only had the time it took the guys to sign their names but I got my magazine autographed and managed to speak to Peter.And of course, I got the all important photo!