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Bon Jovi
A Concert Review |
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Since my photo pass got
messed up, here's a photo of Jon Bon Jovi from five years ago.
He basically looks the same but with shorter hair. DOTR |
I had a lot of opening lines already planned for this Bon Jovi
review. One went something like "It’s been almost five years
since Bon Jovi played in Chicago. Want to know how I know that?
Because I graduated in 1985, blew off my ten year reunion to see
Jovi in ’95, and since it’s now the year 2000, well, that makes
it five years." Another was simply "Bon Jovi rocks.",
but I already used that one in ’95. Yet another was, "It was
good to see they were able to put Jon’s head back on after he got
it blown off on a submarine." But from a question posed to me
before the show and after I read a couple of other reviews after the
show, let’s start it this way:
"Do you still want to see Bon Jovi?" I was asked that
question by the person I was getting tickets from, and I found the
question odd. I thought to myself "Hell yea I still want to see
Bon Jovi. A chance to see the boys from Jersey in a smaller venue
like the House of Blues – what kind of question is that?"
But, I politely said "Yes" and it was off to Bon Jovi I
go. The question stuck in my head, at least until I read a couple of
reviews by people who seemingly didn’t want to go but had to
because it was their job and proceeded to wail on the band as ‘80s
has-beens. I wondered if they ever liked Bon Jovi, or rock bands in
general, and also wondered if they were asked the same question and
what their reply was. If they said they wanted to see Bon Jovi, from
what I read, I’m guessing they lied.
In any case I was excited, but sadly The Dude on the Left and I
got there a little later than planned so we couldn’t get a cool
spot on the main floor. This is an important thing when seeing a
show at the House of Blues in Chicago as will be explained later.
But, we do get some good railing spots towards the back, grab a
couple of drinks, and wait through a nice set by Shelby Lynne in
anticipation of the main event. A screen comes down, the lights go
low, a quick little slide show takes place, and to familiar
high-pitched screams and Richie Sambora kicking up the talk box for
"Livin’ On a Prayer", here came an hour and a half show
of sing-a-longs, new stuff, and just plain rock and roll.
With the show only being an hour and a half, the boys of Bon Jovi
had a lot to accomplish in a short amount of time. This show, as
well as a couple of other club dates they’re doing, are sort of
warm-up shows, preparing for the release of their new CD,
"Crush," as well as a major tour coming in the summer.
With that it was intermingling time – hit song here, new song
there, hit song here, new song there, toss in a couple of covers,
send the crowd home wanting more but having to wait for their next
time in town, and this was the show. Hit songs, you know the names,
"You Give Love a Bad Name," "Lay Your Hands on
Me," "I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead," and the like.
New songs, you don’t know the names (hell, I’m not totally sure
of the names), but you get the likes of "It’s My Life"
(the first single), "Thank You For Loving Me" (with a
great Richie solo at the end), "Next 100 Years" (with a
way excellent breakdown at the end), and "Just Older" (my
favorite new song so far) to maybe name a few. Covers, usually
intertwined into a "Bad Medicine" or "Sleep…"
included "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," "Jumpin’ Jack
Flash", and "Shout," as well as a fun duet of
"Me and Bobby McGee" with Shelby Lynne helping out.
Basically just a balls out rock and roll show preaching that being
in a band can still be so much damn fun, as evident by Jon running
all over the stage while grinning ear to ear, wiggling a hip to get
the screams, doing a quick crowd-surfing maneuver, and rock-posing
with Richie like a couple of high-schoolers still trying to pick up
the chicks.
Jon did some introducing for most of the new songs, although
these introductions were drowned out because, like I said before, we
weren’t in a cool spot on the main floor, but back by the bar area
where the Chatty Cathy’s proceeded to gab back and forth during
the stories and during the new songs. I so much wanted to turn
around and yell "Would you shut the fuck up!", but I guess
I have myself to blame for not getting there early enough. Oh well.
Anyway, as the show was rapping up, following a sing-a-long with
Jon sort of doing harmonies while the crowd was singing lead for
"Wanted Dead or Alive", and preaching an "I’m
getting too old for this" after "Shout," but heading
back on stage leading the band back into "Bad Medicine," I
sort of wondered if "I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead" is an
appropriate song for Bon Jovi to play anymore. Me, I used to have
that attitude, but I’ve learned lately that sleep is a priceless
treasure that shouldn’t be wasted. Jon's comment hinted at that,
but he came back blazin' to send the people home. Maybe I just
need to be in a band?
In any case, although the show was a little short at an hour and
half, Bon Jovi rocks. Screw those other reviewers, let them go back
to waiting for grunge to make a come back. Not that I don’t like
the new stuff, but give me a band that knows how to just play some
kick-ass rock and roll and I’ll be a happy man. Bon Jovi did that,
and I’m a happy man. At least today.
Let’s wrap this up. I’m looking forward to the new CD,
looking forward to seeing Bon Jovi again, even at a larger venue,
and hoping that next time my photo pass doesn’t get messed up so I
don’t have to recycle an old picture. It’s TWO "JUST PLAIN
OL', KICK-ASS, ROCK ‘N ROLL" THUMBS UP for Bon Jovi!!
That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!! |
