This is a story about the Monkees concert I went to July 25, 1997 in Kingsport, TN. This comes directly from my journal and I'm not changing anything. However, anything I comment about will be preceded by (NOTE: )
I went to see The Monkees in concert on July 25, 1997, just 2 days ago. It was sooo great. It--wait--let me go back a little further, to July 16, 1997. I was having a sleepover and we were talking about the Monkees. You know, what they wear and stuff. That's when I had a thought. I told my friend Melissa to wait a sec. I remembered that my grandma had bought me a tobogan--a green one (Like Mike's). So, I put it on and said "Hey, Hey!" Melissa instantly knew. The hat was almost like Mike's. It had no "ball" on top and it had a bill like a cap, but hey, it was close enough.
Well, the next day, Melissa and I turned on the radio at church, where we were doing day camp. I was talking and all of a sudden, I heard "The Theme from the Monkees!" It was talking about a concert! I didn't hear any details, but I made sure to remember the station--98.5 WTFM. So, later on that night I turned on the radio, and I heard the concert info again and I paid attention. It said:
I couldn't believe it! The Monkees! I could see them for only 4 bucks! I showed Mom and she said "Wow, 4 bucks. Ok, if you can find someone to take you, you can go." AAAAH! She said I could go. All I had to do now was tell my fellow Monkee pals, Jessi, Sarah, and Missy (Melissa). So on the next day, Friday, I called Jessi. I told her:
Jessi: "What?"
Me: "Well you know the Monkees concert, um...it's next Friday and Mom said if we can find someone to drive I can go. you wanna go too?"
She flipped. From then on we talked about the Monkees for 30 minutes. So, I told her to call Sarah and I would call Missy. Jessi said Ol and we hung up. When I told Missy, she was really happy too and told me maybe someone in her family would take us. Cool! As for Sarah, her dad was a little hesitant at first, but then at about Wednezday, 7/23, he said yes. So, we made the plan. I would go to Missy's at 2 pm (her mom and dad were gonna take us). Then Missy's mom would go to get Jessi and Sarah, come back for us, order pizzy, meet Missy's dad at a gas station, eat, and leave for Kingsport at 3:30. We knew we had to get there when the gate opened so we'd get a good spot.
Now I'm all caught up. we got at the stadium at 5:00 exactly. We were part of the first 4,000. Our seat was great! Third or fourth row, left side. It wasn't the best seat, but we were close. We had time to kill. We walked around a bit. Most of the time was killed in line to get Monkee souvenirs. We had all planned to buy a T-shirt, but I didn't really like them (I mean it was '97 tour stuff which meant no Mike, and they were $25.00!) So, I got what I wanted though: their new CD "Justus!" I got the CD and the video tape in honor of it. Missy got it, too. I love the video. Know why? Mike, Mike Mike! Mike's in it. I've watched it about 6 times in 2 days. I love it! Mike!!! Anyway, we bought our stuff, and it was about 6:15. The rest of the time we talked. I got to watch the fans during this time. All of 'em were Monkee crazy. They had old posters, old books, old T's. Oh, yeah I saw this one T-shirt that had the '67 tour cities and all 4 in '67. I want it! (NOTE: I now have that shirt)
Well, at 8:00 I looked back at the stadium seats and they were filled. The Catalinas were OK. I listened to them 'til about 8:30, when the Monkee bus came. The the 4 of us got closer. We got to the fence! But, there was trouble. See, we were on some woman's blanket and she had gone. When she came back, she jumped all of us. It brought one woman to tears. See, she had picked that position (she had been there since 9 am that morning!) When she got moved, she told that woman off! Go her!! (It was a lost cause anyway, cause we trampled the blanket during the concert.) After that I put on my Mike hat. (He'd be there in spirit anyway) Well at 9:00 the concert began. Micky, Davy, and Peter were great. They played great songs. But, it had to end. I twas a memory that will last forever in my mind. I'll talk about the concert in "Concert II" because I'm tired and need to rest, cause it's late. TBC (To be coninued)
--End 12:30 a.m. July 28, 1997
--Begin 11:34 p.m. July 27, 1997
"Well, I've got some good news."