RSO EP Rise out now

Rise, the debut EP by Richie Sambora and Orianthi's duo RSO has finally been released. (It's been four-and-a-half years since Richie left Bon Jovi, and almost four years since he met Orianthi. Plus we've heard a lot of "soons" in response to when their new music was coming out.) The track list is as follows:

1. Rise
2. Masterpiece
3. Truth
4. Take Me
5. Good Times (feat. k-os)

I know some fans are a bit disappointed that after such a long wait, there are only five tracks being released. But it's been reported (though not officially announced as far as I'm aware) that Rise will be followed by a second EP, before a full album in 2018.

(UPDATE 30/09/17: RSO's e-newsletter and website confirm that Rise is the first of two projects to be released in 2017, with a full-length album coming next year.)

Rise was leaked last weekend so I've actually been listening to it for a few days. It's far from the guitar-driven record I was expecting when I first heard that Richie and Ori were working on new music together, but not a total shock after they debuted "Truth" live at NAMM earlier this year:

Anyway, Rise is a pretty diverse collection of songs. I'm hearing some country and RnB influences, among other things. It's grown on me over the past few days, and I have now bought a copy.

Listen to "Masterpiece":

You can purchase Rise on iTunes and Amazon. (UPDATE 30/09/17: If you get it via the RSO website, you'll receive a reggae remix of "Good Times" as a bonus track.)

You can also stream Rise in its entirety on Spotify:


Have you downloaded or listened to the EP? What do you think?

Bon Jovi in Sao Paulo 23/09/17 + Where to next?

Bon Jovi wrapped up the South American leg of their This House Is Not For Sale Tour in São Paulo. Here's what was played:

São Paulo, Brazil - Allianz Parque - September 23, 2017

1. This House Is Not For Sale
2. Raise Your Hands
3. Knockout
4. You Give Love a Bad Name
5. Born to Be My Baby
6. Lost Highway
7. We Weren't Born to Follow
8. Lay Your Hands on Me
9. In These Arms
10. New Year's Day
11. (You Want To) Make a Memory
12. Bed of Roses
13. It's My Life
14. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
15. Wanted Dead or Alive
16. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
17. Have a Nice Day
18. Keep the Faith
19. Bad Medicine
    
    encore:
20. Always
21. Livin' on a Prayer
22. These Days

Jon danced with a fan during "Bed of Roses", while "Make a Memory" made its tour debut.

Videos from São Paulo

"Bed of Roses" (I was pretty much grinning through for most of this):

Here's most of "Make a Memory":

"You Give Love a Bad Name"... and Jon working the catwalk with some nice mic stand twirls:

"Lay Your Hands on Me":

"Always":

"These Days":

"Someday I'll Be Saturday Night" (including a reflective speech for Jon mid-song):

If you'd like to share more videos from this show, feel free to link to them in the comments.🙂

Jon's voice has been the subject of plenty of discussion in fan circles over the last few years (for good reason), but there have been signs during the South American leg that it's improving. It's nice to see a bit of rock star swagger in these videos too. 😉

Were you in São Paulo?

There's been no official word on any other tour dates, but Phil X tweeted that Europe is on the cards for 2018:

Is it true that you're coming to Europe on May next year? We're desperate to have you guys here!

— maría tt trash (@jonsmanager) September 22, 2017

i'm not sure it'll be May but it will be next year. https://t.co/R7riqJXUFR

— Phil X (@TheRealPhilX) September 22, 2017

Meanwhile, the Gold Coast Bulletin is reporting that an Australian tour is set for late 2018:

BON Jovi are set to answer Gold Coast music fans’ prayers next year when they bring their 2018 Australian tour to Metricon Stadium.

Leading promoter Paul Dainty, president and CEO of TEG Dainty, said he had been working to deliver local music fans a stadium show at the home of the Gold Coast Suns AFL team.

“When Bon Jovi tours next year, I’ll bring them to Metricon,” he said.

“We had something for February next year but we couldn’t get it in there with the Commonwealth Games but we’ve got Bon Jovi coming in 2018/2019.”

Bon Jovi at Rock in Rio 22/09/17

Image: Rock in Rio Facebook

Bon Jovi performed to a massive crowd at Rock in Rio 2017, and here's what they played:

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Barra Olympic Park - September 22, 2017

1. This House Is Not For Sale
2. Raise Your Hands
3. Knockout
4. You Give Love a Bad Name
5. Born to Be My Baby
6. Lost Highway
7. Because We Can
8. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
9. Runaway
10. We Got It Goin' On
11. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night - acoustic
12. Bed of Roses
13. It's My Life
14. Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen from Mars
15. Roller Coaster
16. Wanted Dead or Alive
17. Lay Your Hands on Me
18. Keep the Faith
19. Bad Medicine
    
    encore:
20. Have a Nice Day
21. Livin' on a Prayer

There was a broadcast of this set after all, though not for international audiences. The band was on fire and seemed to be having a great time. The crowd looked really into it, even on songs I didn't expect them to want to hear. Jon was still patchy, but there were times, like during "Lay Your Hands on Me" and "Keep the Faith" when I really felt like The Frontman was on his way back.

Videos from Rio

I believe Rock in Rio videos are being blocked in certain countries, but here goes.

Main set (from broadcast):

Encore (from broadcast):

Were you at Rock in Rio?

The South American leg of Bon Jovi's This House Is Not For Sale Tour wraps up tonight in São Paulo.

Bon Jovi in Porto Alegre 19/09/17

Bon Jovi began the first of three dates in Brazil, starting with Porto Alegre. I'd be lying if I said I kept detailed records of Bon Jovi's touring history over the past three decades (I haven't even been alive that long, lol), but I've been told this was the band's first ever visit to Porto Alegre. Here's what was played:

Set list: Porto Alegre, Brazil - Estádio Beira-Rio - September 19, 2017

1. This House Is Not for Sale 
2. Raise Your Hands 
3. Knockout 
4. You Give Love a Bad Name 
5. Born to Be My Baby 
6. Lost Highway 
7. Because We Can
8. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead 
9. Runaway 
10. We Got It Goin' On
11. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night - acoustic 
12. Bed of Roses
13. It's My Life 
14. Who Says You Can't Go Home 
15. Roller Coaster
16. Wanted Dead or Alive 
17. Lay Your Hands on Me 
18. Have a Nice Day 
19. Keep the Faith
20. Bad Medicine
    
    encore: 
21. Olé, Olé, Olé
22. In These Arms 
23. Blood on Blood
24. Livin' on a Prayer

Videos from Porto Alegre

"It's My Life":

"In These Arms" (includes a few pans to Phil X's epic facial expressions 😜):

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

Bon Jovi's next show is Rock in Rio, which will apparently be streamed live at this link. (UPDATE 21/09/17: The band's performance was not cleared for international broadcast, so the live web stream is no longer happening.)

Bon Jovi in Bueno Aires 16/09/17

Bon Jovi headed to Bueno Aires on the next stop of their South American tour. Here's what was played:

Set list: Bueno Aires, Argentina - Estadio José Amalfitani - September 16, 2017

1. This House Is Not For Sale
2. Raise Your Hands
3. Knockout
4. You Give Love a Bad Name
5. Born to Be My Baby
6. Lost Highway
7. We Weren't Born to Follow
8. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
9. Runaway
10. We Don't Run
11. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night - acoustic
12. Bed of Roses / Cama de Rosas
13. It's My Life
14. Who Says You Can't Go Home
15. God Bless This Mess
16. Wanted Dead or Alive
17. Lay Your Hands on Me
18. Have a Nice Day
19. Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen From Mars
20. Bad Medicine
    
    encore 1:
21. In These Arms
22. I'll Be There for You
23. Livin' on a Prayer
    
    encore 2:
24. These Days
25. Keep the Faith

It was the same set list as the previous show in Santiago. 

Videos from Bueno Aires

"In These Arms":

"You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Born to Be My Baby":

"I'll Be There For You":

"Bed of Roses":

UPDATE 18/09/17: "Captain Crash" and "Bad Medicine", with Jon using the "catwalk" to interact with the crowd:

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

Were you at this show?

Bon Jovi in Santiago 14/09/17

Bon Jovi kicked off the South American leg of their This House Is Not For Sale in Chile. Here's what was played:

Set list: Santiago, Chile - Estadio Monumental - 14 September 2017

1. This House Is Not For Sale
2. Raise Your Hands
3. Knockout
4. You Give Love a Bad Name
5. Born to Be My Baby
6. Lost Highway
7. We Weren't Born to Follow
8. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
9. Runaway
10. We Don't Run
11. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night - acoustic
12. Bed of Roses / Cama de Rosas
13. It's My Life
14. Who Says You Can't Go Home
15. God Bless This Mess
16. Wanted Dead or Alive
17. Lay Your Hands on Me
18. Have a Nice Day
19. Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen From Mars
20. Bad Medicine
    
    encore 1:
21. In These Arms
22. I'll Be There for You
23. Livin' on a Prayer
    
    encore 2:
24. These Days
25. Keep the Faith

First of all, I know they do this every tour... but I must admit, I'm a little disappointed that they've dropped all but three This House Is Not For Sale songs, and one of the ones left is the worst song on the album. 😜

However, despite my bitching, I was actually impressed to see a set list like this, after the stagnant sets of the first leg. I was also anxious to hear how Jon would sound.

Videos from Santiago

"Bed of Roses" (with the chorus sung in Spanish):

"I'll Be There For You":

"Someday I'll Be Saturday Night":

UPDATE 17/09/17: Here's "These Days". I'd be lying if I said it sounded amazing but hopefully it gets better each time:

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

Were you at this show?