BON JOVI FTW \o/

[erilyn]

I can die happy. I've heard "Blaze of Glory" live. And while there are Bon Jovi songs I love more, it was Jon's Blaze of Glory album that really got me listening to the band (yeah, I rather liked the Young Guns movies *g*).

The atmosphere at Acer Arena was fantastic. veronamay, lydia_petze and I were right up in the rafters, but honestly, it didn't matter, it was just so fucking awesome to see them (plus, both concerts sold out really quickly, rear view and everything, so we were lucky to get seats at all). The concert started bang on 8:30pm, and didn't finish til about 11:10pm. With not many breaks. Now that's a show.

Great setlist, good mix of old and more recent, with a surprising amount of covers (only Glad All Over and Hallelujah were done in full though). Shout and Dancing in the Streets really got people dancing. Beautiful rendition of Hallelujah. As you'd expect, some of the big classic songs like Bad Medicine and Living on a Prayer etc went OFF, but the response to the tracks from the most recent album were pretty good too.

Jon's legs are made of rubber and springs. He spends more time bouncing than doing anything else, apart from singing and playing guitar. Being an enormous ham would come close behind. He doesn't tend to do literal choreography, preferring to go for more abstract interpretative dance poses. Before Runaway, he took us all in his time machine (which came equipped with seat belts for all) and counted back down through the years to 1982, and described himself telling the radio dj to play their song, and how he was going to be a rockstar! However, his rockstar pose looked a lot like ballet to me :) He also loves to shake his ass, and to shake maracas even more. His voice sounded in great form, and lasted the long night well.

Richie always looked like he was just having a brilliant fun time. Especially when he pulled out the DOUBLE GUITAR. And the long lilac leather pimp coat towards the end was just awesome, plus some sillyish hats. He sang "These Days" and it was great. Tico Torres is looking good, I gotta say. And David's hair cracked me up everytime he was on the screen (which was a lot - they didn't shortchange the rest of the band too much to focus on Jon, which was nice, it was well shot, which we needed *g*).

For Make a Memory, Jon was on a little sidestage half way along the arena on the opposite side to us, and he and Richie sang to each other. Then Richie joined him back there for I'll Be There For You. The Extended Mix. It just kept going and going (and I commented to lydia_petze that no one could remember how to end the song *g*). There was much snuggly mic sharing (at one point Richie snuck up behind Jon and had to tap him on the shoulder to get him to move over) and cracking each other up and back-to-back playing at various times. Though the cutest back-to-back was between Richie and their hot and awesome violinist, Lorenza Ponce, when she came up to share the front mic as well (after the shoulder tapping). All three were goofing around, then she and Richie were dancing around and playing, back to back.

As Jon came back to the main stage from the side, he was shaking/slapping hands in the crowd, and kissed one woman's hand. In a graceful move, perfectly shown on the big screen, she lent forward and kissed him on top of the head. He looked up, startled, but gave such a grin, and she got such a cheer (video). Top points to her :)

Glad All Over
Lost Highway
You Give Love a Bad Name
Raise Your Hands
Runaway
Radio Saved My Life Tonight
Blood On Blood
In These Arms
Knocking On Heavens Door
Blaze of Glory
Whole Lotta Leavin
Born To Be My Baby
We Got It Goin On
It's My Life
Bad Medicine / Shout
These Days (Richie)
Make a Memory
I’ll Be There For You
Bed of Roses
Have a Nice Day
Keep The Faith
I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead / Jumpin Jack Flash / Dancing in the Streets
Who Says You Can’t Go Home
Livin On A Prayer
Encore: I'd Die For You
Hallelujah
Wanted Dead or Alive
I Love This Town

Comments

[lydia-petze.livejournal.com]

Great report! That's going into memories ;-)

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

I was jotting stuff down at work today ;) If I don't do it now, I won't do it at all (see my lack of proper concert posts for My Chemical Romance - I meant to write about them...)

It was pretty good going getting out of the carkpark - I was down there and out by about 11:40, and home just after midnight (despite a fricking detour just as I was getting close to home, hmpf).

[lydia-petze.livejournal.com]

That's about when we got back, too - train as far as Strathfield, then the world's sweetest cabbie ;-)

Yeah, I only reported one of the three U2 concerts properly, it's amazing how fast you forget if you don't!

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

I'm pleased I forced myself to do posts on all three Backstreet concerts, it's nice to have it recorded properly. But so many things I haven't done good posts on, tis a shame.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOrtFFdn0Os

Video of the head kiss! :D

[trumpeterofdoom.livejournal.com]

Ahhhhhh! What I would've given to have been there! Alas, I have forsaken Bon Jovi this year for two BSB concerts, there is only so much I can afford. But yay for what sounds like an absolutely fantastic gig!

HALLELUJAH. Omg, how did they sound doing Hallelujah? I fucking LOVE that song.

*wishes she'd kept her Bon Jovi icon*

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

It sounded beautiful. There isn't video up yet on youtube from Sydney of it, but there seems to be from other concerts :)

Yes, between Bon Jovi and BSB, I'm hoping no one else announces tour dates anytime soon (ok, Panic at the Disco can, for the middle of the year *after* my exams, but that's it *g*).

[sperrywink]

I was impressed by how long their concert was as well. Certainly no lack there. The new songs received a great reception in NJ as well- so good that I didn't realize they were new until afterwards!
I'm glad you had a great time! (And that was a great recap!).

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

I had an awesome time (I only wish MCR had been opening for them *g*), and I'm glad you enjoyed the recap!

[nyydesignsync.livejournal.com]

being born and raised in the land of Bon Jovi, New Jersey. If you haven't seen a BJ concert you can't call yourself a Jersey Girl. I've seen them from almost the top of Giants Stadium for their 20th anniversary concert in the POURING rain, to 3 people from the stage 2 summers ago. It's an experience no matter where you're sitting. Glad you had a fabulous time!
and Damn that was a long set list! But they'd play for hours on end if they could.

(I was even blasting them on my stereo yesterday while I worked from home)

Here's a pic from the 3 people from the stage experience

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Mmmmmm. Funnily enough, I'll be back at the same venue in a month and will be in the third row (for Backstreet) - I was looking a little longingly at the floor, but yeah, they're that good, where ever you're sitting :D

[digital-diva.livejournal.com]

Gah! So jealous! I haven't seen them since 1992 and I don't know if I'm gonna be able to make it this year. Love 'em!

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hope you do! :)

[themegs.livejournal.com]

I seriously lost it to hear Bed of Roses live.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

TOO MUCH AWESOME TO TAKE IN \o/

[not-nele.livejournal.com]

Oh god oh god 3 more days! Thank you for the set list! Now I will be able to sing along yay! Weird question. Did everyone stay at their seats on the floor? I need to know whether to expect a crowd surge *g*.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they stayed in their seats (from what I could see in the nosebleed section *g*), it didn't even look like other rows went up to the barrier, only the first row (maybe some people from the second).

Have an awesome time! :)

[yetunknown.livejournal.com]

bouncing! jon being a ham! long lilac leather pimp coat(? ahahahaha)! back-tobacks and snuggly mic sharing! awwwwww

so glad you had a great time :)

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

It was definitely in the lilac family of shades ;) It was a really great concert, I'm so glad we got to go.

[babygotbass.livejournal.com]

I saw Bon Jovi in 2000 and they played EVERY SONG that had been a single, except for Living in Sin. They know how to put on a show!! And even after all these years, "Blaze of Glory" kind of gives me chills.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

So many years of listening to them - it was so weird to finally see them live (if really tiny, way below me *g*). But so very very good!

And I'm totally singing Blaze of Glory to myself now.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bettina_/]

I've seen Bon Jovi twice so far and they are an amazing live band! They have so much fun on stage and they always play very long with several encores. It's amazing :-).

They have the little bits like "Shout" in all their concert. Very cool :-).

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

I really hope it isn't another 12 years til they tour here properly again :)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bettina_/]

*crosses fingers*

I didn't actually intend to see them a second time, but during their last tour the only concert in Austria was in my home town so I took the chance. Austria is so tiny, we don't get lots of concert dates *pouts*.

[arysteia.livejournal.com]

Yusss! They're here Sunday. Woo!

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Are you going? Have a fabulous time! \o/