Monday, June 6, 2022

Rock in peace, Alec John Such

Bon Jovi heart and dagger logo with text that reads: 'Bon Jovi Forever. Alec John Such, 1951-2022.'
 

It was Sunday in the US (and Monday in my native Australia) when the news came through that Alec John Such had died at the age of 70.

Alec left Bon Jovi in 1994, before I became a diehard fan (or really knew any music that wasn't on Play School or Sesame Street). So I never saw him live in person. But as the original bass player, there's no disputing Alec's importance to the history of what would go on to become my favourite band -- through thick and thin, for better or worse. And I guess it's a sobering reminder of the mortality of our heroes.

Jon posted this statement on social media:

"We are heartbroken to hear the news of the passing of our dear friend Alec John Such. He was an original. As a founding member of Bon Jovi, Alec was integral to the formation of the band. To be honest, we found our way to each other thru him - He was a childhood friend of Tico and brought Richie to see us perform. Alec was always wild and full of life. Today those special memories bring a smile to my face and a tear to my eye.
We'll miss him dearly."

I'm so, so glad Alec got to be part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2018. All those speeches were emotional for me at the time and they'll be even more so whenever I revisit them now.

Bon Jovi's current bass player, Hugh McDonald, posted a sweet picture of himself with Alec on Instagram, and described reconnecting with Alec as one of the high points of the band's induction into the Rock Hall.

RIP rock star. 💔

Here's Alec rejoining his former bandmates for "Wanted Dead or Alive" at Giants Stadium in 2001:


And things like this epic performance of "Blood on Blood" from the Moscow Music Peace Festival in 1989 hit a little harder today -- brothers 'til the day that we die:

Edit: JBJ paid tribute to Alec on Sirius XM's Bon Jovi Radio. Listen to his words below:



Feel free to share your thoughts below. 😊
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Thursday, May 5, 2022

The end? Bon Jovi tour wraps up in Nashville

I feel a bit crappy saying this, but it's been a few days since Bon Jovi's 2022 Tour ended (assuming no further dates are announced) and... thank Yoda that's over.

I mean, I love Bon Jovi. Obviously the classic lineup is unlikely to ever be together again unless they do some sort of reunion special for the 40th anniversary coming up. But even the current lineup is okay with me. Besides, I met Phil X a few years ago and he's just a really cool dude. And Jon is someone I've idolised for a huge chunk of my life. But I don't think he did himself, the band or their great legacy any favours going out there and sounding like he did last month.

If the speculation is true that this tour was just a contractual obligation to Live Nation after cancelling the 2020 dates instead of postponing... well, that's a whole other shit-show. And a pretty sad way to go out if this ends up being the end. 😢

Anyway, the last show of -- the tour? This leg? -- was in Nashville and here's what was played.

Nashville, Tennessee, USA - April 30, 2022

Bridgestone Arena

  1. Livin' on a Prayer
  2. You Give Love a Bad Name
  3. The Radio Saved My Life
  4. We Weren't Born to Follow
  5. It's My Life
  6. Beautiful Drug
  7. Born to Be My Baby
  8. This House Is Not For Sale
  9. Just Older
  10. Let it Rain
  11. Keep the Faith
  12. American Reckoning
  13. Whole Lot of Leavin'
  14. Do What You Can
  15. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
  16. Lost Highway
  17. Roller Coaster
  18. Who Says You Can't Go Home

    encore #1:
  19. Wanted Dead or Alive
  20. Bad Medicine

    encore #2:
  21. I'll Be There For You

Selected videos from Nashville

"Livin' on a Prayer". "Limitless" was dropped for the first time this tour so they could open with "Prayer". Jon performed it from the back of the arena while mingling with the fans and it's probably the most fun a live "Prayer" has been in years. And he's definitely singing the bits he doesn't throw to the crowd:


"I'll Be There For You". If that does end up being the last thing they ever play on tour, it's a good song to remember:


Where to now?

I know there are plenty of fans who are totally cool with the current state of affairs and would happily continue to pay big bucks to see Jon multiple times a tour in his current state. 

I also think the dudebros trying to build their platforms with "What is wrong with Jon Bon Jovi's voice?!" videos are pretty scummy.

But that doesn't change the fact that he just doesn't sound good. There are moments where he sounds okay... but it's not good... and once upon a time, he was great. If certain fans want to tell the rest of us that we're horrible humans for having functional ears, then that's okay. Because I know myself, and I'm not trying to take potshots at Jon -- I'm legitimately heartbroken.

He had vocal coach Katie Agresta with him in 2008, and he sounded brilliant -- better than he had in a long time. And then things started falling off the cliff around 2013, which I'm sure he was aware of since he started requesting a vocal coach as part of his rider during the Because We Can Tour. Mary Jo Duprey started working with him, as well as Everett Bradley, on the This House Is Not For Sale Tour in 2018, but it hasn't yielded the results we all want. (I'm in no way suggesting that's Mary Jo's fault -- she uses the same methods as Katie, after all. But Everett's probably a much better advertisement for her than Jon is.)

Is it a physical issue that's beyond repair? I've read people suggesting that Jon has a voice disorder like spasmodic dysphonia but I wouldn't have a clue about that. I just know that I don't want my idol going out there in front of the whole world (and thanks to the internet, it really is the whole world) sounding like... well, a professional singer who can't sing for toffee.

The acoustic set they were doing earlier on this tour had a lot of promise, and I think that could potentially be a way forward if Bon Jovi keeps touring after this. I know Jon wants to sell out the desert but an intimate acoustic tour would be pretty cool.

Anyway, while Jon takes an indefinite break and hopefully finds a way through this, Phil X is currently on the road with Kurt Deimer, supporting Yngwie Malmsteen.


Feel free to share your thoughts below. 😊
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Saturday, April 30, 2022

Texas turmoil for Bon Jovi in Houston & Dallas

I put off posting anything about these shows because... well, I didn't really want to watch any of the videos. I mean, Jon has sounded pretty painful for several years now unfortunately -- but it was Houston that triggered a string of "Last Man Standing" quotes (specifically "That boy don't lip sync").

But let's back it up a bit. Here were the set lists.

Houston, Texas, USA - April 26, 2022

Toyota Center

  1. Limitless
  2. The Radio Saved My Life Tonight 
  3. You Give Love a Bad Name
  4. We Weren't Born to Follow
  5. It's My Life
  6. Beautiful Drug
  7. Born to Be My Baby
  8. This House Is Not For Sale
  9. Just Older
  10. Let it Rain
  11. Keep the Faith
  12. American Reckoning
  13. Whole Lot of Leavin'
  14. Do What You Can
  15. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
  16. Lost Highway
  17. Roller Coaster
  18. Have a Nice Day
  19. Livin' on a Prayer

    encore:
  20. Wanted Dead or Alive
 
No "Bad Medicine" or "Who Says You Can't Go Home", making it the shortest show of the tour with only a couple more left (presumably). Jon reportedly got a pre-gig IV drip and had the bandage on his arm during the show.
 
Scroll down for videos/dissection.

Dallas, Texas, USA - April 28, 2022

American Airlines Center

  1. Limitless
  2. The Radio Saved My Life Tonight
  3. You Give Love a Bad Name
  4. We Weren't Born to Follow
  5. It's My Life
  6. Beautiful Drug
  7. Born to Be My Baby
  8. This House Is Not For Sale 
  9. Just Older
  10. Let It Rain
  11. Keep the Faith
  12. American Reckoning
  13. Whole Lot of Leavin'
  14. Do What You Can
  15. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
  16. Lost Highway
  17. Roller Coaster
  18. Who Says You Can't Go Home
  19. Livin' on a Prayer

    encore:
  20. Wanted Dead or Alive
  21. Bad Medicine

 

"Have a Nice Day" was dumped after whatever happened at the previous show.

Videos from Houston 

"Have a Nice Day". This was the song immediately before "Prayer" -- Jon pulls out of the end of the first line, turns around and makes an explosion gesture at his throat, which foreshadowed what came afterwards:


"Livin' on a Prayer". Jon's always been pretty awkward at miming when it's called upon for TV appearances -- but he does try to make a decent fist of not singing down to the front rows so it may not have been too obvious on the night, I dunno:


To be fair, I don't think "Prayer" has ever been 100% live -- they've played to a click track and sung over some playback since the 80s. But it really saddens me to see Jon struggling as much as he is.

Jon did come out after that "Prayer" debacle and sing "Wanted Dead or Alive" (i.e. not on playback), but the crowd took the whole first verse and Phil X's harmonies are turned up loud enough to drown out the lead vocal:


Videos from Dallas

"Livin' on a Prayer". He is singing it this time:


"Keep the Faith". Just a great song and a great showcase for the band. Despite not being the classic Bon Jovi lineup, this is still a good group of musicians and I think that has been forgotten amidst all the voice dramas:

One more show left for the 2022 Tour, unless they announce new dates...


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Monday, April 25, 2022

A trio of Bon Jovi Texas shows begins in Austin

First of three shows in Texas as we hit the home straight of the Bon Jovi 2022 Tour. Here's what folks in Austin got.

Austin, Texas, USA - April 23, 2022

Moody Center

  1. Limitless
  2. The Radio Saved My Life Tonight
  3. You Give Love a Bad Name
  4. We Weren't Born to Follow
  5. It's My Life
  6. Born to Be My Baby
  7. This House Is Not For Sale
  8. Beautiful Drug
  9. Just Older
  10. Let it Rain
  11. Keep the Faith
  12. American Reckoning
  13. Whole Lot of Leavin'
  14. Do What You Can
  15. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
  16. Lost Highway
  17. Roller Coaster
  18. Have a Nice Day
  19. Livin' on a Prayer

    encore #1:
  20. Wanted Dead or Alive
  21. Who Says You Can't Go Home
  22. Bad Medicine

    encore #2:
  23. I'll Be There For You

Selected videos from Austin

"Keep the Faith". Great energy. The band isn't what it was but that doesn't mean they're not good players: 


"I'll Be There For You". Same exit as St. Louis, where Jon kind of just waves to the crowd and leaves, except that this time the rest of the band wasn't caught off guard:



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Saturday, April 23, 2022

Elvis has left the building at Bon Jovi's St Louis show

We're nearing the end of Bon Jovi's 2022 Tour. In years gone by, I would've said "end of the first leg" but I really have no clue what the future holds at this point. Anyway, here's what was played in St. Louis.

St. Louis, Missouri, USA - April 21, 2022

Enterprise Center

  1. Limitless
  2. The Radio Saved My Life Tonight
  3. You Give Love a Bad Name
  4. We Weren't Born to Follow
  5. It's My Life
  6. Beautiful Drug
  7. Born To Be My Baby
  8. This House Is Not For Sale
  9. Just Older
  10. Let It Rain
  11. Keep the Faith
  12. American Reckoning
  13. Whole Lot of Leavin'
  14. Do What You Can
  15. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
  16. Lost Highway
  17. Roller Coaster
  18. Have a Nice Day
  19. Livin' on a Prayer

    encore #1:
  20. Wanted Dead or Alive
  21. Who Says You Can't Go Home
  22. Bad Medicine

    encore #2:
  23. I'll Be There For You

Selected videos from St. Louis

"I'll Be There For You". Jon seemed emotional here, taking it all in. He used similar "Drive All Night" ad libs to the ones on the Live from London performance of "Always" in 1995. And then he just... left the stage, leaving David Bryan looking a bit confuzzled:

Jon's brother Matt called it the "Elvis exit":

"Beautiful Drug". I dig the track but I'm mostly posting this because it's one of the few new songs where Phil X can kind of cut loose a bit:

 "This House Is Not For Sale". I just like the song, okay:
 

Feel free to share your thoughts below. 😊
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Thursday, April 21, 2022

Everett returns as Bon Jovi plays Indianapolis

After two days off, Bon Jovi made it to Indianapolis. Everett Bradley, an Indiana University alum, was back from his recent bout of COVID. This is what the band played.

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA - April 19, 2022

Gainbridge Fieldhouse

  1. Limitless
  2. The Radio Saved My Life Tonight
  3. You Give Love a Bad Name
  4. We Weren't Born to Follow
  5. It's My Life
  6. Beautiful Drug
  7. Born to Be My Baby
  8. This House is Not For Sale
  9. Just Older
  10. Let it Rain
  11. Keep the Faith
  12. American Reckoning
  13. Whole Lot of Leavin'
  14. Do What You Can
  15. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
  16. Lost Highway
  17. Have a Nice Day
  18. Livin' on a Prayer

    encore:
  19. Wanted Dead or Alive
  20. Who Says You Can't Go Home
  21. Bad Medicine

I mean, after two whole days to think about it, you probably could've chucked "Love's the Only Rule" or something back in, but whatever. 😜

Selected videos from Indianapolis

"You Give Love a Bad Name" with the 'get up off your seats' spiel:


"Wanted Dead or Alive" (never drop this again, you're Bon Jovi):



Feel free to share your thoughts below. 😊
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Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Here comes the Sunrise/Fort Lauderdale Bon Jovi show

Okay, so on the official Bon Jovi tour dates, this show is listed as Fort Lauderdale, but when I Googled the venue it appears to be in Sunrise, which is apparently a different city? 

If any Floridians read this, help me out here -- what's correct?

In the meantime, here's what was played...

Sunrise/Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA - April 16, 2022

FLA Live Arena

  1. Limitless
  2. The Radio Saved My Life
  3. You Give Love a Bad Name
  4. We Weren't Born to Follow
  5. It's My Life
  6. Beautiful Drug
  7. Born to Be My Baby
  8. This House Is Not For Sale
  9. Just Older
  10. Let It Rain
  11. Keep the Faith
  12. Lower the Flag
  13. Whole Lot of Leavin'
  14. Do What You Can
  15. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
  16. Lost Highway
  17. Roller Coaster
  18. Have a Nice Day
  19. Livin' on a Prayer

    encore:
  20. Wanted Dead or Alive
  21. Who Says You Can't Go Home
  22. Bad Medicine
 
"Wanted Dead or Alive" was played after being unceremoniously dumped from the previous show in Tampa.

Selected videos from Sunrise/Fort Lauderdale

"Lower the Flag". Jon dedicated it to those affected by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school shooting in Parkland, Florida -- which is of course mentioned in the bridge of the song:


"Have a Nice Day". Great take-on-the-world song on the album. I've heard a couple of people say it sounded better in person than it does when you're listening back to the video:



Feel free to share your thoughts below. 😊
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Sunday, April 17, 2022

Bon Jovi's halfway there in Tampa (but Wanted Dead or Alive isn't?)

We're at the halfway mark of Bon Jovi's 2022 Tour since no further dates have been announced after April as yet.

Since it was back to back shows again this weekend, I was going to combine the two consecutive Florida shows into one post like I did with Charlotte and Raleigh in North Carolina.

And then Bon Jovi went and skipped their national anthem "Wanted Dead or Alive" and I just had to put down my hot cross buns and chocolate eggs (Happy Easter, by the way) and say something. Anyway, let's breathe first, and look at what was played.

Tampa, Florida, USA - April 15, 2022

Amalie Arena

  1. Limitless
  2. The Radio Saved My Life Tonight
  3. You Give Love a Bad Name
  4. We Weren't Born to Follow
  5. It's My Life
  6. Beautiful Drug
  7. Born to Be My Baby
  8. This House Is Not For Sale
  9. Just Older
  10. Let It Rain
  11. Keep the Faith
  12. American Reckoning
  13. Whole Lot of Leavin'
  14. I'll Be There For You
  15. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
  16. Lost Highway
  17. Roller Coaster
  18. Have a Nice Day
  19. Livin' on a Prayer

    encore:
  20. Who Says You Can't Go Home
  21. Bad Medicine

 

"Wanted Dead or Alive" was actually in the printed set list -- it was supposed to open the encore but they just straight up didn't play it. I guess this scenario was flagged in Savannah, when "Wanted" was listed as an audible (but did end up getting played). Still, it's a Bon Jovi show. You can't not play "Wanted"! Jon, my love, if you need to preserve your voice then please drop some of the other songs that literally no one goes to a Bon Jovi show to hear.

In other news, percussionist and king of cool Everett Bradley didn't take to the stage after testing positive to COVID, along with some 15 crew members. Everett's backing vocals have actually become really important to the current Bon Jovi live setup so I don't know if that played a part. But seriously, no "Wanted" is a no-no and I cannot stop thinking about this.

Selected videos from Tampa

"The Radio Saved My Life Tonight". This is one of my favourite songs from 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong so a legit joy of this tour has been seeing it in the set:


"Just Older". Been good to see this one in the set too. David Bryan's vocals seem so much higher in the mix here but that's maybe not a bad thing:


"Livin' on a Prayer". This is another song that you can't just not freaking do at a Bon Jovi concert, even if you have to lower the key:


"I'll Be There For You". I don't think it's a secret that I'd prefer Phil X to be taking all the solos:



Feel free to share your thoughts below. 😊
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Friday, April 15, 2022

Operation Bon Jovi headlines Savannah

Shout-out to the BJtours site for alerting me to the fun tidbit that this was Bon Jovi's first headlining show in Savannah -- the last time they played there was as an opening act for the Scorpions in 1984.

So here's what Bon Jovi played almost 38 years later.

Savannah, Georgia, USA - April 13, 2022

Enmarket Arena

  1. Limitless
  2. The Radio Saved My Life Tonight
  3. You Give Love a Bad Name
  4. We Weren't Born to Follow
  5. It's My Life
  6. Beautiful Drug
  7. Born to Be My Baby
  8. This House Is Not For Sale
  9. Just Older
  10. Let it Rain
  11. Keep the Faith
  12. American Reckoning
  13. Whole Lot of Leavin'
  14. Do What You Can
  15. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
  16. Lost Highway
  17. Wanted Dead or Alive
  18. Roller Coaster
  19. Have a Nice Day
  20. Livin' on a Prayer

    encore:
  21. Who Says You Can't Go Home
  22. Bad Medicine

Selected videos from Savannah

"Wanted Dead or Alive". Although this was played, it was actually listed as an audible (along with "I'll Be There For You") which is wild:


"American Reckoning". Electric version as the sit-down acoustic portion of the show was dropped for the first time this tour:


"It's My Life". Okay, this is gonna sound like massive shade but the backing vocals are great:



Feel free to share your thoughts below. 😊
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The grass is Greenville for Bon Jovi

Yeah, that was an awful pun and may or may not be my silly attempt at distracting you from the fact that I'm falling behind again. But hey, I work full time and spend a lot of that time in front of a computer screen so sometimes watching videos and blogging isn't necessarily my priority afterwards. I'm sure it's no skin off Jon's back. 😜

Anyway, show #6 of Bon Jovi's 2022 tour took us to Greenville -- which was actually the scene of the opening show of the This House Is Not For Sale Tour way back in 2017. Gosh, that feels like a lifetime ago.

Here's what happened in 2022...

Greenville, South Carolina, USA - April 11, 2022

Bon Secours Wellness Arena

  1. Limitless
  2. The Radio Saved My Life Tonight
  3. You Give Love a Bad Name
  4. We Weren't Born to Follow
  5. It's My Life
  6. Beautiful Drug
  7. Born to Be My Baby
  8. This House Is Not For Sale
  9. I'll Be There For You
  10. Just Older
  11. Let It Rain
  12. Keep the Faith
  13. American Reckoning - acoustic
  14. We Don't Run - acoustic
  15. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night - acoustic
  16. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
  17. Lost Highway
  18. Roller Coaster
  19. Wanted Dead or Alive
  20. Have a Nice Day
  21. Livin' on a Prayer

    encore:
  22. Who Says You Can't Go Home
  23. Bad Medicine
 

Selected videos from Greenville

 "I'll Be There For You". I mean, the voice is what it is. But the crowd "whoa-oh-ohs" are always cool:


"Keep the Faith". Phil X is fire and hands-down my favourite thing about live performances of this song:

"Born to Be My Baby". Jon can definitely still do his front man thang, I won't deny that:



Feel free to share your thoughts below. 😊
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Monday, April 11, 2022

Sweet North Carolina - Bon Jovi goes back to back in Charlotte & Raleigh

That's right, it's a double show post 'cause Bon Jovi did back-to-back shows on the weekend (which is a little rarer these days than it might have been in tours gone by). Here's what they dished up to the fine people of North Carolina.

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA - April 8, 2022

Spectrum Center

  1. Limitless
  2. The Radio Saved My Life Tonight
  3. You Give Love a Bad Name
  4. We Weren't Born to Follow
  5. It's My Life
  6. Just Older
  7. Born to Be My Baby
  8. This House Is Not For Sale
  9. Let It Rain
  10. Keep the Faith
  11. American Reckoning - acoustic
  12. We Don't Run - acoustic
  13. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night - acoustic
  14. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
  15. Beautiful Drug
  16. Wanted Dead or Alive
  17. Roller Coaster
  18. Have a Nice Day
  19. Livin' on a Prayer

    encore:
  20. Who Says You Can't Go Home
  21. Bad Medicine

Scroll down for videos.

Raleigh, North Carolina, USA - April 9, 2022

PNC Arena

  1. Limitless
  2. The Radio Saved My Life Tonight
  3. You Give Love a Bad Name
  4. We Weren't Born to Follow
  5. It's My Life
  6. Just Older
  7. Born To Be My Baby
  8. This House Is Not For Sale
  9. Story of Love
  10. Let It Rain
  11. Keep the Faith
  12. American Reckoning - acoustic
  13. We Don't Run - acoustic
  14. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night - acoustic
  15. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
  16. Lost Highway
  17. Wanted Dead or Alive
  18. Roller Coaster
  19. Have a Nice Day
  20. Livin' on a Prayer

    encore: 
  21. Who Says You Can't Go Home
  22. Bad Medicine

Selected videos from Charlotte

"American Reckoning". Bruce Springsteen is quite possibly my favourite live act, so I have a real soft spot for the use of "The Promised Land" harmonica intro/outro. Actually, Jon cranking out the harmonica was one of my favourite things about this song anyway. And the "New Jersey vs Everybody" shirt is a nice touch, ha:

"Let It Rain" with another harmonica outro. Harmonica, more like HarJonica, amirite? Okay, that was terrible -- I'll shut up now and let you watch the video (with bonus David Bryan facial expressions):


 "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" is probably one of my less liked Keep the Faith tracks, but it's a fun song that made its tour debut in Charlotte:


Selected videos from Raleigh

"Story of Love". Big fan of this song, which made its tour premiere in Raleigh:

"Limitless". I'm still disappointed this was the lead single over "Beautiful Drug" but whatever. The song is okay and I don't mind it as the show opener:


"Someday I'll Be Saturday Night". Jon has a bit of a coughing fit in the middle of this performance but I'm fairly confident he hasn't re-contracted COVID. Anyway, I always dug the acoustic version of "Saturday Night" regardless of why they might be doing it that way now:



Feel free to share your thoughts below. 😊
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Saturday, April 9, 2022

Like a phoenix from the ashes - Bon Jovi's call to #StandUpForUkraine

Bon Jovi joined Global Citizen's Stand Up for Ukraine campaign with a pro-shot version of the acoustic "We Don't Run" they've been doing on this tour:


It appears to be the performance from Omaha, but they could potentially have used some of the  St. Paul footage or audio, since I think everyone was dressed and set up the same for both nights.

You can find out more about the Stand Up For Ukraine campaign and donate to crisis relief efforts via the Global Citizen website.


Feel free to share your thoughts below. 😊
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Friday, April 8, 2022

We're all alright! Hello Wisconsin! Bon Jovi in Milwaukee

Sorry about the title, I was just thinking about That 70s Show for some reason. 😜

But after two identical sets to start the tour, we got a few set list changes when Bon Jovi played in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA - April 5, 2022

Fiserv Forum

  1. Limitless
  2. The Radio Saved My Life Tonight
  3. You Give Love a Bad Name 
  4. We Weren't Born to Follow
  5. It's My Life
  6. Just Older
  7. Born to Be My Baby
  8. Beautiful Drug
  9. I'll Be There For You
  10. Let it Rain
  11. Keep the Faith
  12. Lower the Flag - acoustic
  13. We Don't Run - acoustic
  14. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night - acoustic
  15. Who Says You Can't Go Home
  16. Lost Highway
  17. Wanted Dead or Alive
  18. Roller Coaster
  19. This House Is Not For Sale
  20. Have a Nice Day
  21. Livin' on a Prayer

    encore:
  22. In These Arms
  23. Bad Medicine

Selected videos from Milwaukee

"Bad Medicine". Well, Jon's moving around a bit, the backing vocals sound pretty good, and the band members seem to have a good vibe with each other:

"Lower the Flag". One of my favourite songs from 2020, and I'm glad it's made its tour debut. Plus, Jon's current tone actually kind of works to convey the mood of a song like this:

"Just Older" comes with added "sha-la-las" on this tour:

"In These Arms". Part of me wants David Bryan to sing this one permanently, but unfortunately that would just highlight the difference between him and Jon vocally:

"I'll Be There For You". This is an emotional experience for me, honestly, but probably not in the way it's supposed to be:

Anyway, we're a week into the tour but no dates have been announced beyond this month so I don't know what happens after April. I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Feel free to share your thoughts below. 😊
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Wednesday, April 6, 2022

The same sunrise, it's just another day for Bon Jovi in St. Paul

Okay, that title came across snarkier than I intended. (But it's a reference to "The More Things Change", which was probably my favourite previously-unreleased track from the Greatest Hits album that came out in 2010.)

I know I'm running behind already but given the second show of Bon Jovi's 2022 Tour featured the exact same set list as the first, it's not like I made y'all miss much! (Also, this blog isn't really a "breaking news" kind of space -- there are other fan sites and social media pages covering that sort of thing.)

Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA - April 3, 2022

Xcel Energy Center

  1. Limitless
  2. The Radio Saved My Life Tonight
  3. You Give Love a Bad Name
  4. We Weren't Born to Follow
  5. It's My Life
  6. Just Older
  7. Born to Be My Baby
  8. Beautiful Drug
  9. Let It Rain
  10. Keep the Faith
  11. American Reckoning - acoustic
  12. We Don't Run - acoustic
  13. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night - acoustic
  14. Who Says You Can't Go Home
  15. Lost Highway
  16. Wanted Dead or Alive
  17. Do What You Can
  18. This House Is Not For Sale
  19. Have a Nice Day
  20. Livin' on a Prayer

    encore:
  21. Love's the Only Rule
  22. Bad Medicine

 

Selected videos from St. Paul

"We Don't Run". Sharing this one again because I said I wasn't sure about the arrangement after Show #1 but it's growing on me. And because I kind of think an acoustic/unplugged tour might be the best way to go after April, but that's another post for another time:


"Keep the Faith". Look, I don't think there's any point pretending that was an outstanding vocal performance, but I always love the band on this song:


"Let It Rain". Ooh, that harmonica outro is cool:



Feel free to share your thoughts below. 😊
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Monday, April 4, 2022

No April Fools, it's 2022 - Bon Jovi's "2020" tour begins in Omaha

And we're back! And by we, I mean Bon Jovi, but I've been MIA for a long time as well. I haven't decided how I want to approach the tour at Blame It On The Love this time around, but we'll figure it out over the course of this leg, I guess. 😀

After two years on the sidelines, Bon Jovi finally began their tour in support of the 2020 album -- on April Fool's Day of all days. Kelli McDonald, Hugh's wife, made Jon's American flag leather jacket. And this is what the band played:

Omaha, Nebraska, USA - April 1, 2022

CHI Health Center Omaha

  1. Limitless
  2. The Radio Saved My Life Tonight
  3. You Give Love a Bad Name
  4. We Weren't Born to Follow
  5. It's My Life
  6. Just Older
  7. Born to Be My Baby
  8. Beautiful Drug
  9. Let It Rain
  10. Keep the Faith
  11. American Reckoning - acoustic
  12. We Don't Run - acoustic
  13. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night - acoustic
  14. Who Says You Can't Go Home
  15. Lost Highway
  16. Wanted Dead or Alive
  17. Do What You Can
  18. This House Is Not For Sale
  19. Have a Nice Day
  20. Livin' on a Prayer

    encore:
  21. Love's the Only Rule
  22. Bad Medicine
 
Some nice inclusions there, including: 
  • "The Radio Saved My Life Tonight" for the first time since 2015;
  • "Just Older" for the first time since 2011, and
  • "Love's the Only Rule" (aka The Circle song they should be playing all the time) for the first time since 2013.
Cheers to Bon Jovi Updates for the heads-up on how long it'd been since those songs were played, 'cause I'm so not keeping track of that stuff.
 

Selected videos from Omaha

"Beautiful Drug". I like this song a lot and I'm bummed we haven't gotten that single and music video for it:
 
 
"We Don't Run". The This Left Feels Right-style acoustic version was dedicated to the people of Ukraine. I'm in two minds about the arrangement but I like Jon in acoustic mode:

"American Reckoning". I alternate between thinking this song is too ham-fisted and thinking it's beautifully sad. But anyway, here it is, with a bit of Bruce Springsteen's "The Promised Land" as a harmonica intro/outro:

"Livin' on a Prayer". This has been transposed to a noticeably lower key but I'm honestly fine with that:

"Love's the Only Rule". Won't lie, this is a bit of a vocal mess. But I still maintain that every time Jon goes to put "Born to Follow" in the set, he should take it out and put this in instead. Or maybe "Superman Tonight". I know he doesn't really rate The Circle anymore, but it's got some good tracks on it:
 
Got other videos from the show you want to share or highlight? Add a link in the comments.

Feel free to share your thoughts below. 😊

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