Monkees 1989 Universal Amphitheatre Nesmith
"Papa Gene's Blues" at the Universal Amphitheatre

UNIVERSAL AMPHITHEATRE

 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

With Special Guest Michael Nesmith
(July 9, 1989)

THE SET LIST

Monkees 1989
Sitting for TV interviews in July '89 (Photo by Michael G. Bush)
  • Hello Hello, I'm Back Again
  • Pleasant Valley Sunday
  • A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You
  • D.W. Washburn
  • Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again
  • She Hangs Out
  • Goin’ Down
  • Baby, You’ll Soon Be Sixteen
  • Your Auntie Grizelda
  • Hangin’ By a Thread
  • Zilch / Mary, Mary
  • I Wanna Be Free
  • That Was Then, This Is Now
  • Valleri
  • As We Go Along
  • Sea Change
  • She
  • Cripple Creek
  • Acoustic Set:
  •     -When Love Comes Knockin’  (Davy)
  •     -Sometime in the Morning  (Micky)
  •     -Take a Giant Step  (Peter)
  • WITH MICHAEL NESMITH:
  • What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?
  • Cruisin’
  • Joanne
  • Papa Gene’s Blues
  • Last Train to Clarksville
  • No Time
  • (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone
  • Daydream Believer
  • Encore:
  • Ditty Diego (Monkees rap)
  • Listen to the Band
  • I’m a Believer

Monkees Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony
Before the 1989 tour officially kicked off on July 1 in Winnipeg, Canada, all four Monkees gathered in Los Angeles, California to promote their reunion concert at the Universal Amphitheatre.  The show would coincide with the band receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and with a Monkees convention that was taking place in Los Angeles that same weekend.  The quartet appeared on The Mark & Brian Show on KLOS Radio on June 28.  (Audio of this appearance can be heard below.)  The quartet sang "Papa Gene's Blues" and "Daydream Believer" live on the air with Peter playing acoustic guitar.  The band also appeared live on another radio program hosted by Rick Dees on KIIS Radio on June 30.

Monkees Universal Amphitheatre 1989
On the day of the show,  The Monkees conducted a series of rehearsals and later sat for an extensive round of interviews with the press.  The band was met later that evening by a sold out crowd at the Universal Amphitheatre, where they played an extended concert set together for the first time since late 1968.  Mike had joined the reunited trio once since the band's revival in 1986, but only for the two song encore performance at the Greek Theatre in 1986.  For this concert, the regular 1989 summer tour setlist was slightly re-arranged to allow for Mike’s appearance, which came during the second half of the show.  Introduced after the acoustic set and receiving a warm welcome from the audience, he led the reunited quartet through "What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?", a standout track from The Monkees' fourth album, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones Ltd.  Two of Nesmith's better known solo songs, “Joanne” and “Cruisin” (the latter featuring Micky on drums) were added to the set, as was “Papa Gene’s Blues.”  Mike played guitar for most of his time on the stage. 

The following day, The Monkees gathered in Hollywood to receive their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  Each member of the band made short remarks during the ceremony.  Afterward, The Monkees held a press conference at the hotel where the Monkees convention was taking place that weekend.  Micky, Davy and Peter continued the tour after the festivities in Los Angeles with two more California dates before heading overseas for their first round of concerts in Japan since 1968.
Monkees 1989
The Monkees in Los Angeles, California in June 1989 (Photo by Henry Diltz)
The audio file below is from an audience recording of the Universal Amphitheatre concert.  The Monkees perform "What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?" along with two of Mike Nesmith's solo songs, "Cruisin" and "Joanne," as well as "Papa Gene's Blues."  Micky sits behind the drum kit for "Cruisin." 
(Below) "Cruisin'"

1989 REUNION PHOTO GALLERY

VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE 1989 REUNION

WALK OF FAME PHOTO GALLERY

THE PRESS CONFERENCE