So hey hey it's the post Davy Jones Monkees, and what are we gonna get on Sunday at the Beacon? Not enough Davy Jones songs, for one thing, but more than enough from prodigal son Mike Nesmith who ridiculously waited till Davy died before coming to terms with his history.
The reviews have been very promising and I myself caught Dolenz at BB Kings earlier this year and was blown away. The setlist is overloaded (looks like 150 minutes to me) but it is a testement to the bands enduring greatness that not much of this is remotely filler.
I plan on catching 90 minutes, till around 930p to be specific, before rushing to Webster Hall for Titus Andronicus. Or I may at the last minute go to Saturdays TA gig in Maxwell and stay till the end. Meanwhile, here is the setlist plus opinions…
1. Last Train To Clarksville – The first masterpiece about a soldier leaving to Vietnam – Grade: A+
2. Papa Gene's Blues – Nesmith in full country rocker mode – Grade: A
3. Your Auntie Grizelda – One of two times Peter Tork grabs the moment as he warns a girl to be her own woman – Grade: A
4. She – The Monkees as hard rock band – Grade: a
5. Sweet Young Thing – Blah Nesmith doesn't connect, though Davy's back up vocals are good – Grade: C+
6. I'm A Believer – Kinda odd place for your biggest hit. Shows boatloads of self-confidence – Grade: A+
7. (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone – The Sex Pistols covered this – Grade: A
8. I Wanna Be Free – Some misogony by Mr. Jones -with a video playing in the background by the way.
9. You Told Me – The first of SEVEN SONGS off Headquarters – Grade: C+
10. Sunny Girlfriend – Tasty lick opens it, harmless Nesmith – Grade: B
11. You Must Be The One – One of Headquarters best moments, a gorgeous Tamborine heavy hard pop song – Grade: A
12. Mary, Mary – Dolenz in fine voice, especially the ending where he gets deranged – Grade: B
13. The Girl I Knew Somewhere – Wow, talk about deep album cuts – Grade: B
15. For Pete's Sake – From the closing credits, of course – Grade: B
16. Early Morning Blue's And Greys – Jones singing, so I wonder who gets it this night – Grade: C
17. Randy Scouse Git – Sorta vaudeville weirdness with a hippie snap judgement in the chorus – Grade: B+
18. Daily Nightly – Harshly lit psychedelia – Grade: B
19. Tapioca Tundra – I have nothing against the song so if they wanna play it is alright by me. But I have nothing for it either – Grade: B
20. Goin' Down – When I heard Dolenz sing this at BB Kings in October, he killed it – Grade: A-
21. Porpoise Song – Sorry, I'm a none believer on this one – Grade: C
22. Daddy's Song – Jones soft shoe shuffle – Grade: B
23. Can You Dig It – One of 5 songs off Head… a sorta raga – Grade: C
24. As We Go Along – Serious artists get artistic – Grade: B+
25. Circle Sky – Pleasant enough rocker – Grade: B
26. Do I Have To Do This All Over Again – I will be at Titus Andronicus long before this sees the light of day – Grade: C
27. Daydream Believer – Apparently they are having the audience sing it, they shoulda brought out his daughters – Grade: A+
28.. What Am I Doing Hang Round – Nesmioh at his Texan best – Grade: A
27. Listen To The Band – Ho hum hit – Grade: B-
28. Pleasant Valley Sunday – I can do without the "status symbol land" stuff in 2012 but that's my only complaint – Grade: A
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