The Monkees

With only Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz remaining out of the original quartet this was strictly speaking, more Half Monkees than Full Monty. Still, given the fact that both were crucial members of the 1960's TV mop tops, the recognition factor was high enough to ensure a packed Vicar St. (Elvis Costello among them).

Thanks to a cracking band, the old hits were faithfully reproduced with all the showbiz flair of a slick Las Vegas cabaret to the obvious delight of a surprisingly youngish crowd.

Stalking around the stage Jones looked more like a circus ringmaster than a former pin-up pop star and Dolenz's irritating operatic routines were as painful to watch as to listen to. Even more cringe-inducing was a Meatloaf impression from the admittedly large keyboard player.

But in the end the songs won out and the (incredibly fit looking) pair traded vocals impressively, proving they still had it even at 50-something. Predictably, the big ones – ‘Daydream Believer’, ‘Last Train To Clarksville’ and ‘I'm A Believer’ – drew the most delirious response. But lesser known numbers like ‘I'm Not Your Stepping Stone’, ‘A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You’ and the gorgeously evocative ‘Pleasant Valley Sunday’ came across as the timeless classics they are. For the true fan there were rarities such as Mike Nesmith's ‘Papa Genes Blues’ and, from their movie soundtrack to the box office disaster Head, the impressively psychedelic ‘Porpoise Song’.

Hey, Hey indeed!