This is where we came to see bands, wow! For the thousandth time Thank you.” Bon Jovi’s concert at MSG (March 5 2011) felt like thank you. A Nostalgic fun trip through Bon Jovis’ 27 years of Rock and roll. It was loud and fast and full of hits. The band built such momentum that when an audio malfunction occurred doing the acoustic set MSG just sang along without the band and it was cool when Jon reached over to the lucky front row and asked, “am I on?”
The band relied heavily on the screens behind them, providing graphics to go with the songs and filling up an empty stage. the bassist, key board and drummer a step up and far behind Richie and Jon. Leaving the right side of the stage completely empty. I found the screens to be distracting. The has a fondness for highways. Lots of footage of highways & NYC traffic (during Runaway). During the song “we weren’t born to follow” a screen behind him showed Obama, Mandela, MLK and for a reason that baffles me, Oprah Winfrey. During two new songs things did feel a bit political. Blue collar politics which Bon Jovi should leave to Bruce Springsteen. “ We weren’t born to follow” sounded a bit like a Chevy truck commercial
Bon Jovi is still a commercially viable band, it was great to hear their current hits, Lost Highway, It’s my life and Keep the faith .
I think they are at the meadowlands in May, to quote Jon
“who says you can’t go home?”
Last Man Standing
You Give Love (A Bad Name)
Born to be my baby
We weren’t born to follow
Lost highway
When we were beautiful
It’s my life
Runaway
Superman tonight
The more things change
We’ve got it going on
Bad medicine w/ pretty woman
Lay yours hands on me w/ Richie on vox
Acoustic Set:
I’ll be there for you
Something for the pain
Someday I’ll be Saturday night
Who says you can’t go home
Sleep when I’m dead w/ start me up
No apologies
Have a nice day
Keep the faith
Encore:
In these arms
Wanted
Prayer