Thursday, April 6, 2017

Bon Jovi in Pittsburgh 05/04/17

Hot on the heels of the "playback" scandal in Uncasville, Bon Jovi played a short (approximately 90-minute) show due to Jon being ill. Jon pulled a fan from the crowd up to sing "Born to Be My Baby" and David Bryan sang "Livin' on a Prayer" from the second verse onwards. Here's what was performed:

Set list: Pittsburg, PA, USA - PPG Paints Arena - 5 April 2017

  1. This House Is Not For Sale
  2. Knockout
  3. You Give Love a Bad Name
  4. Lost Highway
  5. Whole Lot of Leavin'
  6. Roller Coaster
  7. We Weren't Born to Follow
  8. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
  9. Runaway
  10. We Got It Going On
  11. Who Says You Can't Go Home
  12. It's My Life
  13. Lay Your Hands On Me
  14. Born to Be My Baby [ft. Brad]
  15. Bad Medicine
  16. Livin' on a Prayer [David Bryan vox on 2nd verse]

"God Bless This Mess", "New Year's Day", "Keep the Faith", "Raise Your Hands", and of course "Wanted Dead or Alive" were the songs cut from the planned set list. Jon apologised midway through the show for "singing like shit". He has reportedly been sick since Saturday night, which is concerning with the Madison Square Garden shows coming up.

Now, I'm kind of torn here. Part of me is thinking, "This is your damn instrument, Jon, stop wrecking it. Reschedule the show, take the hit on social media. There's no point being a 'fighter' when you're a professional singer who can't sing." Plus, as a fan, if you'd saved up to go to this one show, it wouldn't be unreasonable to feel a bit ripped off. But then there are fans who have travelled for the show and can't get refunds on accommodation and airfares. And aside from the fact that Jon doesn't typically cancel when he's sick, he probably felt like he had more to prove after what happened in Uncasville. It got picked up quite a bit online, and now casual fans, former fans, and non-fans alike seem to think Jon routinely mimes entire shows, which is patently false. Even now, there are people claiming Jon is "conveniently" sick because he "got caught lip syncing". So whether he did the show poorly or cancelled it, it was a no-win situation for him.

UPDATE 07/04/17: Jon has bronchitis. On doctor's orders, the two Madison Square Garden shows have been postponed until April 13 and 15 respectively. Bon Jovi's website still has the previously-rescheduled Denver show going ahead on April 14.

UPDATE 08/04/17: Denver has now been cancelled. I'm assuming it wasn't logistically possible to go from NYC to Denver and back again. And doing so many shows in close succession whilst recovering from bronchitis may not have been the best idea. But cancelling a show that had already been postponed, in favour of the two MSG shows, effectively tells Denver fans that they are worth less than New York fans. I'd feel pretty hurt in that situation.

Videos from Pittsburgh

"Born to Be My Baby" featuring a fan from the crowd:


UPDATE 7/04/17: More videos have been uploaded. Thanks to the commenter below for links.

Here's "Livin' on a Prayer" with Dave on the second verse:

"It's My Life":




This is another angle of "Born to Be My Baby" with Brad:


If you'd like to share any videos from Pittsburgh, feel free to link to them in the comments.

Were you at this show?

15 comments:

  1. I agree, a total loss here regardless of what he does. I don't see how he recovers in time for MSG and considering that is the next show, perhaps that should have played more into his decision to cancel? Who knows. Regardless, as a die hard fan, this tour remains very disappointing.

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  2. That was the thing with Richie.....he would have saved this show and at least could have give the fans something vs. this cluster fuck.

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  3. Completely agree with you, Anonymous. Would have been a great opportunity to make it a special show for fans. Let Dave sing In These Arms as he has before - he wrote the song! Let Phil X entertain us with a cool guitar solo and cover song. The guy has been playing for decades. Let him shine for a song or two. I would have been really disappointed with this show if I had paid $250 face value for a decent middle floor seat. I agree that Richie's prescence could have made it really special with him taking over lead vocals on a few songs. Shanks is useless as anything but a yes man who is cashing in on Richie's absence.

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    Replies
    1. Shanks is definitely a better guitarist than Bobby Bandiera, but not as good of a singer. Bobby was a surprisingly good singer and could hit some pretty impressive notes for a man his age. He is the reason that the background vocals during the Because We Can tour were much better than during the current tour. Listen to a live version of "Superman Tonight" if you want proof.

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  4. Also as a true fan, the copy and paste setlist for each night is disappointing and doesn't do anything to quell lip synch rumors. Do I think Jon lip synchs the whole show? Absolutely not. Do I think he has been using a backing track which would explain the same setlist each night in the same order with very few deviations? It's definitely possible.

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  5. Do not pardon, the 4 comments before rummage about in their own lives shit... bored and disgusted enough. Seems, no one wants to read that insults. You've (do remember your own faults and croaking) only waited for a moment of weakness of hard working JBJ to rip their own ill tongues to rags! They must feel imprisoned in bad habits. As Brits they don't know yet what 'square' means. Whatever those mean or try to push... the real fans are with You to recover well and get back your strong nerves just for yourself!

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  6. Obviously everything is okay with his beautiful lips...
    i guess about 150 000 000 girls want kiss these
    and take care of him as nurses :)

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  7. A few more videos from the show have been posted:

    IT'S MY LIFE
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP1aqApGIhI

    LAY YOUR HANDS ON ME
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KARxevqop7k

    BAD MEDICINE
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbzGj4z6cwI

    LIVIN' ON A PRAYER
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8WvF7GN-r8

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    Replies
    1. Great, thanks! I'd been waiting for Prayer. :)

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  8. Jon has bronchitis... Madison Square Garden shows have now been postponed until April 13 and 15. Bon Jovi's website has the previously-rescheduled Denver show still going ahead on April 14.

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    Replies
    1. Jon's voice three shows in a row.......good luck with that. Not a good move.

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    2. More like 5 in almost a row. The shows in Canada on the 10th and 11th have unfortunately not been rescheduled. They should be, as it takes a while to recover from bronchitis, considering how it and other types of lung ailments can affect one's voice...

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    3. Denver has now been cancelled.

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  9. This is becoming the Murphy's Law Tour 2.0. Just a matter of time before something happens to Tico again, likely lung-related due to him having been a smoker likely since the '70s. Or something even more unexpected that I, or any other Bon Jovi fan, could not imagine.

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Thanks for giving me your time.