Micky in Del Mar

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NoraLou	Micky in Del Mar	Lead	[-]
Posts: 9570 (07/14/08 4:52 PM) Rev. Nora Paperback writer Amazing Grace Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	The day before I packed up my mom and daughter, I felt smugly proud of myself that I'd gotten all the babysitters lined up for my son and that everything seemed to be going on-track. Then I get a call from my mother-in-law: she's broken two ribs in a fall. Oh well, call another sitter. Problem solved for Thursday. Not two hours later I get a call from my Friday sitter, who's stuck in Nevada (and yes, it was for a legitimate reason). Fortunately her mom could cover for her. Whew! I blew a sigh of relief as we boarded the plane the next day that no one else had cancelled on us! The venue for this concert was the San Diego County Fair, or as my mom dubbed it "Heart Attack on a Stick". I had never seen so much fair fare before, and this is coming from someone who's attended the State Fair several times. Everywhere you turned was a booth for "Deep Fried Frog Legs" "Deep Fried Twinkies", "Deep Fried This" and "Deep Fried That". Despite my effeciency at getting ready in the morning, my travelling companions were lacking a bit in this department. We made it on time for the 11:00 concert but not in time for the primo seats. Oh well, another concert followed at 1:00, we could move up then. Soon the DJ of a local oldies radio station ("The Walrus") came out to introduce... From offstage we could hear him singing "Here I come...", then ran onstage to wild applause and screams (and that was just from my mother! ) Micky didn't hesitate to get this party started, and launched into four hits in a row, "That Was Then," "Little Bit Me", "She" and "Words", a duet he did with keyboardist Dave "Loafy" Alexander, who has a pretty decent voice himself. After finishing these, Micky sat down at the edge of the stage and panted "I'm getting too old for this". At some point in the show there was a little problem with Micky's vocal monitor and while it was being adjusted, Micky turned the microphone stand upside down and balanced it on the palm of his hand to entertain the audience! Those things aren't light, either! Other songs he did were "Johnny B. Goode" and "Clarksville" while Coco handled the leads on "Different Drum" and "White Rabbit". Both were exceptional treats to hear and my mom was blown away at how well she could sing. About halfway through the show, Micky got up behind the drum kit. As he was adjusting his headset, Coco turned to him and said "What's this, an apparation?" He performed "Mary Mary" and "Steppin' Stone" while on the drums. I tried calling home during "Mary, Mary" so my son could have a listen, but alas, no one answered the phone, so I left a snippet of it on the answering machine. After the pulse-pounding sounds of these songs, Micky toned it down a little with "D.W. Washburn." Interestingly, it's not one of my favorite songs on a record but I enjoy the way he does it live. Somewhere in there he threw in "Purple Haze" and everyone did an awesome job on it, especially Wayne Avers. But I have to say it's just kind of weird to look over and see your mother rocking out to this acid-trip of a song, even though my mom was living in S.F. and taking frequent trips to the Filmore the year this song became a hit. (She also claims she saw Jefferson Airplane, Big Brother and the Holding Company, the Grateful Dead and Bill Cosby perform before they got famous). Micky continued with "Daydream Believer" and honored John Stewart with a few words about him. He and Coco looked like they were having a lot of fun doing this one together. Next was "Pleasant Valley Sunday", another big crowd pleaser. Micky left the stage after that then came back to do an "encore" of "Gimme Some Lovin'", which I think is a great showcase for him. As Micky told the audience "I do that song just because I like it!" The last song of course was "I'm a Believer", and he invited all the kids in the audience to come up on the stage and dance with him. Unfortunately my own daughter got a case of stage-fright and refused to go, in spite of my offer to go up with her. (I admit it, I have no shame. ) About a dozen kids took him up on the offer and it was really cute. That was the one moment I had regretting not bringing my son with. He would have been up there in a flash. Oh let's face it, he would have been up there from the moment the concert started, tugging the mic away from Micky! Coming soon: Between the Shows and Show #2! (and pics!)
NoraLou		#1	[-]
Posts: 9571 (07/14/08 4:53 PM) Rev. Nora Paperback writer Amazing Grace Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	After the finale, Micky hurried over to the merchanise table where he shook hands and signed autographs for everyone. (The photo-ops came later). I hadn't brought anything along for him to sign this time, so I figured I would just say hello and introduce my family, or have him sign the program for the fair. My daughter really wanted him to autograph something, but I hadn't made it to the ATM yet and was short on cash. (The last of my cash at the time was spent on bottled water!) As we inched closer to him in line, she got an idea, though and pulled a dollar bill out of her little purse. "He can sign my dollar!" Then the moment came and we were face-to-face with the one and only Micky Dolenz. It's possible that he's starting to recognize me by now because he said something like "Didn't I just see you?" with a laugh. I said "Yes, but I brought my mom and daughter this time; the boys stayed home." My mom told him she remembered watching him as "Circus Boy" and he tried to flatter her by saying she looked too young to remember that. Heather (my kid) said she wanted him to sign her dollar, and he laughed at that. I told her to put it away somewhere so she didn't actually spend it and Micky said with a wink "Yep, that's your dollar one not to spend". We waited with the crowd after the autograph session for a chance for a picture. We were about the last people there and when I asked if I could get a picture, Micky asked Heather if she'd be there for the next show. She said yes and he promised her a picture after the next one since he only had about a half hour to get ready. I thought that was very nice of him. Anyway, I'll post more about the 2nd show (there were a few changes) soon.
NoraLou		#2	[-]
Posts: 9572 (07/14/08 4:56 PM) Rev. Nora Paperback writer Amazing Grace Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Second Show After getting some lunch (I figured a slice of pizza and a diet pepsi were a couple of the healthier food items there), and went to the ATM, I moved my family up to the front section, about the 3rd or 4th row. Not surprsingly I saw a lot of people staying on for the second show who'd attended the first. Being at one of Micky's concerts is such a treat and of course I never want them to end, so it was great to have another show to look forward to! During one of the first songs, Micky got upstaged at his own show! An older woman got up and danced-by herself!- right in front of the stage, something that is normally reserved for the last one or two songs. She didn't look the age of a "typical" Monkees fan. Micky took it in stride, smiling at and acknowledging her. I found out later that she was 83 years old!!! She was sitting a row or two ahead of me and I later told her she was my hero-I want to be dancing when I'm 83! I think you can see the back of her (seated) in a couple of the pics. She has the long white hair done up in a braid with a turquoise clip. It just proves you're never too old to rock 'n' roll! The second show only had one signficant change, and that was "Mary, Mary" was replaced by "Oh, Darlin'". Micky told his story of getting to attend the St. Pepper recording session dressed in his hippie rigalia, but this time only said George Martin played something for him that they had done. Maybe someone quietly informed him that indeed that tune is not on the album! At some point he asked what famous landmark of San Diego was used in the pilot episode. I called out "The Del Coranado!" and he acknowledged me with "That's right, honey! We filmed part of the pilot at the Del." Another funny thing that happened is he reversed the verses to "Johnny B. Goode". He asked how many people knew it was his audition piece for the Monkees and quite a few people raised their hands. "That's because you were at the first concert," he joked. "Now how many of you realize I got the verses backwards?" All in all, it seemed like Micky was really enjoying himself and interacting with the audience, Coco and the band. I think he was enjoying better overall heatlh than he was last month when I saw him, because I didn't hear him cough or clear his throat once. Once again we found ourselves in the autograph line since I'd promised Heather she coud purchase something now that I was flush with some cash. We chatted with some pleasant fanfolks while standing in line. It always does my heart good to know that most fellow fans are kind, caring, friendly people. Coco was on hand to greet people this time as well. After choosing a photo and having it signed by him, ("You must have hit the jackpot" he joked), my daughter and I waited by the stage for Micky to pose for pictures. During this time I noticed that my mom and Coco were having a rather lengthy conversation, talking about being part of the S.F. scene in the 60s. Evidently they hung out in several of the same places. I snapped the picture of Heather and Micky first, and thought it was very sweet how he made her feel at ease. Then my mom took the one of the two of us. I would have gotten one of all three generations but the band was packing up their stuff, ready to head for home. I realize there are some details I may have forgotten during the past week. Hawkychico, if you'd like to add anything, please feel free! Also, if anyone has a specific question I'll try to answer it as best I can. Thank you for all the compliments! Who's review will I be reading next?
LittleMetalBottletops		#3	[-]
Posts: 3061 (07/15/08 8:28 AM) Mistress of the Marathon Mod Squad Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thanks so much for re-posting your review here, Nora! I'm so glad you finally got your computer troubles straightened out, too! Would you like me to repost the pictures in this thread? And for those who missed the original thread in which it appeared (and so might be wondering about the references to feedback from others), here's a link to the thread where Nora originally posted her concert impressions (and where you should be able to find some pix too ): http://monkeeland.yuku.com/topic/6121?page=1
NoraLou		#4	[-]
Posts: 9582 (07/15/08 10:05 AM) Rev. Nora Paperback writer Amazing Grace Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thanks for adding the link, LMBt! And yes, if you have time it would be great to re-post the pictures!
LittleMetalBottletops		#5	[-]
Posts: 3068 (07/16/08 12:34 AM) Mistress of the Marathon Mod Squad Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Okay, here are Nora's pictures. I'll caption them as best I can, but you can add more details if you like, Nora. Micky, Coco and the band Coco Micky on drums Wayne Avers on guitar Micky and the audience dancers (including hawkychico)! Micky with Nora's daughter Nora and daughter with Micky
NoraLou		#6	[-]
Posts: 9594 (07/16/08 12:37 AM) Rev. Nora Paperback writer Amazing Grace Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thank you so much, Little!