Big Thanks to the wonderful Holly for sharing her account of the 100 Monkeys show at The Detroit Bar.

Unfortunately, I cannot give you an accurate review of the entire night, seeing as I arrived very late, around 11pm.

When I arrived, the band before the boys had just finished. I stood to the left of the stage, just in front of the main microphone and Uncle’s bongos.

The bar was a nice, roomy setting, with booth like seats along the back walls with candles lit all around. The “lounge” was near the back of the bar, almost a separate room. The stage was quite low, about knee high, very small and lined with red curtains along the wall. The boys came on stage and the girls swarmed. What was once a roomy, comfortable place to stand, ended up being a sardine can as girls shoved forward to get a closer look at the band. I can’t remember exactly, you’ll want to ask Katie or Aileen the set list, Jerad gave them both a copy. I believe they started the night with Orson Brawl.

The boys played with full enthusiasim and dedication. The show was as energetic as ever, as the boys sang… a few girls surrounding the stage sang along and it became a crowd wide sing along. The first Improv they sang was titled “Tator Tots”… it was hard to decipher, but from what I heard of the lyrics, Jackson worked his magic, yet again. Ben G told his jokes, Jerad made fun of him, Jackson made girls swoon and Ben Johnson kicked ass on his drums!

The guys ended their set and ran back to their hide out backstage and most of the crowd disbursed.

Sad to say for the people who left, the boys returned to jam out a jazz session. During this set, they played their slower, more bluesy songs and it was much more laid back. At one time during the show, Jerad exclaimed, “I’ve got an ailen in my pocket!” and pulled out a tiny plastic Toy Story alien that he placed on the keyboard. It was a cute addition to the band!

While they tuned their instruments, we asked Jerad to make up a song, we suggested “Fruitcake”, given the season… and he agreed.

Sad to say, he had a lot of trouble with it… but Ben G helped him out. It was a priceless moment, seeing Jerad laughing so hard he couldn’t come up with lyrics. At one point, Uncle came up and sang, it was quite a sight. If I’m not mistaken, I believe he sang Champagne and Reefer… but I could be wrong. It was hard to understand him over the bass. No matter, I love watching him get lost in the music.

We all started screaming out for a Spencer Bell song and Ben Johnson came through for us Ben Johnson ended the night with Spencer Bell’s “Violin”. Unfortunately, I can’t report much on the song, I kind of got lost in the music

What a way to end the night! The boys didn’t come back out after the show, although girls waited around.

The show was a fairly good turn out, nothing as crazy as the Grape Viper Room release party, but I’d say a good 40 people showed up for the show. There was arm room, but still crazy screaming… my kind of monkey show

Overall, I felt it was a good beginning to a crazy tour. I wish them the best of luck and can’t wait to see them home in L.A. again!

A big thank you to Becky for taking the time to write this awesome review of her time in Dallas and to share her experience with everyone about the 100 Monkeys shows!

Hmm Monkey shows….here I was at a Twilight convention and the only thing on my mind? Monkey shows!! I was excited to be able to attend the guys performance at TwiCon. Knowing many of those in attendance would only be there because of Jackson it did my heart good to see how many Monkeys fans came out for the guys’ CD signing earlier in the day, sans Jackson. Yes some “fans” left but so many more stayed! The guys were all smiles when Johanna, Shelby, Debbie, new Monkey Fan Kim, and I got to the table! And I think I shocked Jerad a little – “Becky! You made it!” were the first words out of his mouth when he saw me.

So on to the show. Debbie and I did our thing for the Memorial while in line for the show. We found a lot of Junkies were among those that had never been to a show before which made us happy. So great to see the Junkie Nation out in force! After the usual long wait (we sat down in line around 5pm…doors opened at 830pm.) We were in! And to the front of the stage we went, to discover the “Volturi” Apparently those running the Con assumed there would be a crush to the stage once Jackson came on so they were a barrier between the fans and the stage. That’s something I’d never seen before. This must be a big show.

Estimates range from 700 to 1000 people descended on the ballroom that night to see the guys play. WOW. And the guys LOVED IT. There was a real energy about the crowd that night. We were treated to the Monkey Song complete with the rap, Smoke, Ugly Girl, Wasteland Too, and a newer version of Wings On Fire, with more accapella harmonies and Graupner playing airplane and flying around the huge stage. Jackson had a great time hoping around the drum stand and shaking it! LOL No improv for this crowd though.

After their set at the Con was over, the party moved to Poor David’s Pub. This is more like a normal Monkey venue – packed with people, a smaller space and stage. The bands felt right at home. TNR rocked it again with their set, though thankfully at both the Con show and PDP Jeremiah decided to keep those pants up!

It almost seemed like we’d had an intermission on the guys show – once they hit the stage it was as if no time had passed and they went right back to rocking the house. It was another all ages crowd but there were not as many younger fans in attendance, presumably due to the late hour. The guys didn’t start playing till about 12am.

Here we got a few more songs and some repeats, but that is never a bad thing with the Monkeys! Ugly Girl, Thank You Song, and an amazing Orson Brawl sung by Graupner! That had to be the best I have ever heard that song performed! Much to the delight of the crowd, Scott the Scientist was in attendance and joined the band on stage for an awesome rap. Graupner treated us to a Cover of the Rolling Stone’s Champagne and Reefer. We also had not one but two improvs at PDP – the first was Hot Dogs and the second was suggested by Jungle members Nikki and Franny in honor of another Jungle member, Holly. Holly was wonderful! Jackson to a cue from the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s and went with that as the theme for the song. Some sample lyrics –

Yes, I know you like all the finer things,
Sparkling necklaces and diamond rings
But I can only afford to bring you what an artist can bring!
A little love a little… company!
You know that’s my Holly girl…
she’ll deck the halls of the whole wide world
She is my Holly… girl…
She can deck the halls of this whole wide world
My little Holly… go… lightly

During one song Jerad really let loose on Annabelle. He was really feeling the vibe of the crowd and he just let it fly! Astounding! The end of the PDP show was a beautiful Ben Johnson singing Spencer Bell’s Twenty to One. Amazing to see that man perform and see him so intense and focused on the music.
Saturday held the Monkey’s other major show – the Palladium. Before hand they held a CD signing for the fans with many of the Twilighters in town in attendance. The band was gracious as always with the fans and there are reports Jackson was wearing a monkey on his hat? Oh to have been that monkey!
This was a huge venue. Big rock star stage, lights, smoke. Perfect place for the guys to let loose. They opened with the revamped Wings on Fire with Graupner once again flying around the stage, taking advantage of the wide open space. Fan faves Ugly Girl, Monkey Song, this time with the rap sung with a little assistance by the crowd, Smoke, and Grocery Store Song with No More were all performed. The band was joined on stage at this concert by the Stevedores Shawn Fernando, mostly backing up Uncle Larry but also hitting the keyboards and the glockenspiel. The last song brought TNR back onstage for Graupner signing Champagne and Reefer.

Well we THOUGHT that was the last song….but the guys being the cheeky monkeys they are did an encore! New Monkey trick! After a little bit of a wait, with the guys came back out for an encore of Junkie for the lucky few that had actually stayed or were slow to leave. The weekend was just one great monkeyparty! They guys really rocked the shows and seemed to have a better time than usual up there on stage delighting the crowd. I am very glad I was able to get to Dallas to engage in all the Monkey activates – 2 CD signings, 3 shows, and getting to hang out at the Monkey’s merch table with Lydia, Heather, Vi, and Tim telling everyone about this amazing group of guys called 100 Monkeys!