Post by dave910 on Jul 12, 2008 1:47:03 GMT -5
On Wed. evening, my brother Steve and I got a chance to see a 80's rockers Bon Jovi put on a massive 2 hr. 15 min. set at the TD Bank North Garden in Boston. These New Jersey rockers have been pleasing fans and making hits for 25 years! One of the cool things about the band has been its ability to keep the same lineup all these years. The one exception was Alec John Such, whom was sacked in 1994, for basically phoning in his bass duties. O.K. so you know a little brief history, let's get to the performance and the songs that have kept this band packing arenas and on the radio. 
First, The All American Rejects were opening act whom performed their power pop hits "Swing Swing" and "Move Along" with the energy of racing greyhounds! These young dudes got much props form the younger set in the audience!
The show began @ 8:30 with the title track from their latest effort, "Lost Highway". This CD shows the band trying their hand at country music. Being Bon Jovi, it had it's own driving rock flavor mixed with in with a female fiddle player on tour with the group. But rock anthems is what we know Jon and his mates for and they delivered. Next up were "Born To Be My Baby" and "You Give Love A Bad Name" which helped launch the band into stardom. Even though these man are nearing middle age, they played with the vigor and a new band.
Richie Sambora may get more headlines for being the ex of Denise Richards and Heather Locklear, but older listeners remember him as the lead guitar man and the co-writer of many of the bands big hits with singer Jon Bon Jovi. Sambora's work shined through "Keep The Faith" and "It's My Life".
Jovi has much respect for his fellow mates on the road. Actually more like blood brothers. During "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" Jovi cued keyboardist Dave Bryan to break into a little "jukebox music", to which Jon launched into the Isley Brothers' "Twist and Shout". Jon was looking sharped decked out in black leather vest and jeans. Much to the pleasing of the female contingent of the crowd.
The audience was a mix of grade school kids to their parents who owned the records when they were growing up. Also some grandparents who got into the music as well.
Bon Jovi has been known to pen a few ballads. These weren't the typical cheese power ballads that sometimes polluted the airwaves in the late 80's. The first in the set was "I'll Be There For You", which Jovi turned over solo guitar and vocal duties, to his "brother" Richie Sambora. This was one of four number ones the band had in the 80's! Following Sambora, it was Jon's turn for "You Want To Make A Memory", where he sang in the lower balcony of the arena!
This was the first radio single from the bands latest CD "Lost Highway".
This was a full-scale rock show with videos and light show. During "Bad Medicine" videos of bikini clad women played on the screens. 
Jovi broke into the song with a second Isley Brothers track "Shout!" 
The band was able to please the new and old fans even playing "Runaway" which was their debut hit! Even though the band may not be a staple on rock stations as in their heyday. They can still churn out a rocker like 2005's "Have A Nice Day" or "Who Says You Can't Go Home" which gave the band their first number one on the country chart wit Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland. Nettles isn't a member of the Jovi crew, but the Jon and the boys delivered a rousing version of their own.
Jon gave props to Boston for not only being world championship town, i.e. Celtics and Red Sox,. but also for the support the city has given the band over the past 25 years.
For encores the band played the gems "Wanted: Dead or Alive" and "Livin' On A Prayer", which kept the crowd on their feet.
First, The All American Rejects were opening act whom performed their power pop hits "Swing Swing" and "Move Along" with the energy of racing greyhounds! These young dudes got much props form the younger set in the audience!
The show began @ 8:30 with the title track from their latest effort, "Lost Highway". This CD shows the band trying their hand at country music. Being Bon Jovi, it had it's own driving rock flavor mixed with in with a female fiddle player on tour with the group. But rock anthems is what we know Jon and his mates for and they delivered. Next up were "Born To Be My Baby" and "You Give Love A Bad Name" which helped launch the band into stardom. Even though these man are nearing middle age, they played with the vigor and a new band.
Richie Sambora may get more headlines for being the ex of Denise Richards and Heather Locklear, but older listeners remember him as the lead guitar man and the co-writer of many of the bands big hits with singer Jon Bon Jovi. Sambora's work shined through "Keep The Faith" and "It's My Life".
Jovi has much respect for his fellow mates on the road. Actually more like blood brothers. During "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" Jovi cued keyboardist Dave Bryan to break into a little "jukebox music", to which Jon launched into the Isley Brothers' "Twist and Shout". Jon was looking sharped decked out in black leather vest and jeans. Much to the pleasing of the female contingent of the crowd.
The audience was a mix of grade school kids to their parents who owned the records when they were growing up. Also some grandparents who got into the music as well.
Bon Jovi has been known to pen a few ballads. These weren't the typical cheese power ballads that sometimes polluted the airwaves in the late 80's. The first in the set was "I'll Be There For You", which Jovi turned over solo guitar and vocal duties, to his "brother" Richie Sambora. This was one of four number ones the band had in the 80's! Following Sambora, it was Jon's turn for "You Want To Make A Memory", where he sang in the lower balcony of the arena!
This was the first radio single from the bands latest CD "Lost Highway". This was a full-scale rock show with videos and light show. During "Bad Medicine" videos of bikini clad women played on the screens.
Jovi broke into the song with a second Isley Brothers track "Shout!" 
The band was able to please the new and old fans even playing "Runaway" which was their debut hit! Even though the band may not be a staple on rock stations as in their heyday. They can still churn out a rocker like 2005's "Have A Nice Day" or "Who Says You Can't Go Home" which gave the band their first number one on the country chart wit Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland. Nettles isn't a member of the Jovi crew, but the Jon and the boys delivered a rousing version of their own.
Jon gave props to Boston for not only being world championship town, i.e. Celtics and Red Sox,. but also for the support the city has given the band over the past 25 years.
For encores the band played the gems "Wanted: Dead or Alive" and "Livin' On A Prayer", which kept the crowd on their feet.
