Monday, May 28, 2012

Richie Sambora goodness

So as you may know, Richie Sambora has a solo album that looks every bit like it's finally going to be released. MLPJ Entertainment has been hired for international distribution and marketing.

And Jovi Land has been abuzz with these song previews on the MPCA Music Publishing website, which include snippets of songs we haven't heard before.

(EDIT: Here's another link to the previews in case you can't access the one above)

What do you think?

Oh, and here's Richie performing with Don Felder at the recent Midnight Mission Awards:

Monday, May 21, 2012

Bamboozle set list

Bon Jovi's set list for the Bamboozle Festival.

Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA - Bamboozle - May 20, 2012
  1. Raise Your Hands
  2. You Give Love a Bad Name
  3. Born to Be My Baby
  4. We Weren't Born to Follow
  5. Lost Highway
  6. It's My Life
  7. Blood on Blood
  8. Runaway
  9. Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen from Mars
  10. Wanted Dead or Alive
  11. Bad Medicine
  12. We Got It Goin' On
  13. Have a Nice Day
  14. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
  15. Who Says You Can't Go Home
  16. Keep the Faith
  17. I'll Be There For You
  18. In These Arms
  19. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
  20. Livin' on a Prayer

Who was there? How was the show?

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Richie Sambora on indie rock and philanthropy

LA Weekly interviewed Richie Sambora earlier this week about his upcoming solo album and his philanthropic work. Here are a few of his answers:
On his new solo record:
"Well, it's a really personal record. What isn't? I mean, we're all the same motherf***ers right? Well, we're taking a really indie rock approach."

Wait, indie rock!?
"You know what? The music business is broken, we all know that. Everyone is kinda hanging on by a string. I was a big label guy, but I was lucky enough to free up my solo contract. I still have a big label contract with the band, but I can do whatever I want with my solo stuff. There's a whole new approach. There's a company out there called Dangerbird Records. My record doesn't sound like Bon Jovi at all. It's got different musicians and I have a different point of view. There will be a lot of jamming on there...different stuff."

Isn't Dangerbird in the philanthropy business, too?

"Yeah, Jeff [Castelaz]'s son had an unfortunate situation and he used the label to help out with that ...the Pablove Foundation. And yes, I plan to get heavily involved with Pablove. We've already been talking about that and I can't wait to help out. "

Wait. Really? Indie!?

"Yeah, that's why I feel really good about the whole indie thing. I feel really good about bands that are out playing, they are out there playing real instruments and playing real shows and they're actually bands. And that lends itself to a live performance ...which I will be doing. I'll be going on tour this fall and playing some shows. Maybe even in my backyard, who knows? Yeah, I'm gonna get back down to the bottom of the barrel and work my way up...without that whole corporate structure thing."
Interesting. I'm even more keen to hear this album now.

You can check out the rest of the interview here.

(Oh, and yes, I did asterisk out Richie's swear word even though it's abundantly clear what he was saying. I've done it in the past. I have no issues with swearing personally but I do generally try to keep a PG-13 rating on this blog. :P)

Sunday, May 6, 2012

JBJ & Friends Tiger Jam videos

Jon Bon Jovi and Friends headlined Tiger Jam 2012 on April 28 (check out the set list and some comments here) and I promised some videos so here we go. If it was a normal Bon Jovi show I'd just pick some standout performances or rarities but given it wasn't, I'll just link to videos of all the songs.


So... what did you think of the show? How do you feel the band songs turned out?

In one definite plus, Jon is sounding pretty good.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Tiger Jam and Golden Heart awards

A couple of quick updates... First of all, Tiger Jam raised $1 million:
For the third time in 14 years, Jon Bon Jovi rocked Tiger Woods’ annual concert fundraiser Tiger Jam, and this weekend was the best of the hat track, raising $1 million. It’s difficult to believe that Jon, 50, is stronger than ever jumping, racing and running all over the Mandalay Bay Events Center stage.

It was “a jukebox full of rock and roll hits,” as Jon put it himself, and the sold-out house loved them all.

There are photo gallery links at Las Vegas Sun and Zimbio. I'll put videos up soon.

Also, check out the JBJ and Friends set list and discuss the show here.

Meanwhile, Richie Sambora is going to be honoured at the Golden Heart Awards on May 7 for his work with the Midnight Mission:
Grammy award-winning musician Richie Sambora will be honored at the 12th Annual Golden Heart Awards on May 7 – along with Del and Bettina Breckenfeld – for his philanthropic work with The Midnight Mission, a human services agency offering emergency services, drug and alcohol recovery and transitional programs for homeless men, women and children in Los Angeles.

The Golden Heart Awards will take place at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel and will begin with a 6:00 pm reception, followed by dinner, the awards and entertainment.

“I have a profound respect for the Midnight Mission,” says Bon Jovi guitarist Sambora. “I’m inspired by the work they do day in and day out. I’m proud to be affiliated with such a solution-minded outreach program. For the betterment of our community, I gladly contribute whenever I’m able to lend my support to the cause in any way I can. To have the Midnight Mission recognize me with this award is humbling and an incredible honor.”