And we're back! We as in this blog, but also we as in Bon Jovi the band.
I'm actually away on a Muay Thai camp at the moment, doing two two-hour sessions a day in the heat, which is why my published thoughts on the comeback shows are delayed by several days. Training like this, plus showering and doing laundry ASAP after each session, is tiring and time-consuming, y'all!
Anyway. Jon Bon Jovi's vocal issues, and his subsequent vocal cord surgery in 2022 have been fairly well documented at this point. There was a certain buzz and trepidation about their closest thing to a tour since then.
Jon has performed live here and there over the last few years... but to be perfectly honest, it's been a bit heartbreaking and underwhelming most of the time. So while I'm sure I would have bought tickets if they'd announced a show in Australia, I can't say I've been expecting much from this run of shows.
But here's what they played:
New York City, NY, USA - Madison Square Garden - 7 July 2026 setlist
- With a Little Help From My Friends - The Beatles cover
- Beautiful Drug
- We Weren't Born to Follow
- Lost Highway
- Who Says You Can't Go Home
- You Give Love a Bad Name
- Born to Be My Baby
- Legendary
- Whole Lot of Leavin'
- In These Arms
- Have a Nice Day
- It's My Life
- Livin' on a Prayer
- Lay Your Hands on Me
- Blood on Blood
- Living Proof
- This House Is Not for Sale
- Keep the Faith
Encore: - I'll Be There for You
- Wanted Dead or Alive
- Bad Medicine
Selected videos from MSG
With a Little Help from My Friends - including the video intro. With lines like "What would you do if I sang out of tune?" and "I'll try not to sing out of key", it may seem a little on the nose to open with it. And it's not exactly a high energy rocker. But in this case, it felt fitting somehow, especially with everyone coming together to sing the chorus.
Living Proof - finally, the neglected single! Actually sounds pretty decent, if I do say so myself. I can't turn back time but I so wish this had been the song that got any promotion from Forever, rather than "Legendary".
In These Arms - Jon honestly sounded way better than I was expecting here and I'm so weirdly proud of this man who doesn't know me from a bar of soap and whose achievements I have absolutely nothing to do with.
Blood on Blood - Hmm he's trying, but this sounds pretty fragile. I
don't know if we can maybe bump Everett Bradley up in the mix? I know Everett's
not Richie Sambora, but Richie left of his own accord and Everett does make the current lineup sound better vocally than they otherwise would.
Livin' on a Prayer - between the click track and the entire venue always singing along, "Prayer" has arguably been spared to a large extent as Jon's vocals declined, despite being a painfully difficult song to sing. But I do think he sounds a bit better here than he has in recent times?
Final thoughts
It was a solid return, not perfect but I don't think anyone's expecting that anymore. Though I do really hope Jon gives me the finger and surprises us all. The set list could be stronger but I guess it's okay. Hopefully we get some deep cuts during this short run of shows.
I honestly don't know how much of a future my beloved band has. Or how I feel about it all. A lot has been made of Jon's voice but I'm also considering the band as a whole -- no one's getting any younger, and it's probably Phil X and Everett bringing the bulk of the animation and energy on stage. I still rate Jon as a songwriter but people don't buy music the way they used to.
Anyway, what did you think of the comeback show? Were you there, or watching from somewhere in the world?
And which Bon Jovi song should be my walkout song if I could pick one for a hypothetical fight? 😉
Feel free to share your thoughts below. 😊
