Bon Jovi in Brisbane 6/12/18

I know this post is much later than usual, but on the day that I would've posted it (December 7), I caught up with some friends who were doing the whole Bon Jovi Australian tour and met Phil X. And then the day after (December 8) was the day of the Sydney concert, which I was attending (and yes, that post is late as well). And the day after that (December 9) I was flying home to Perth.

Anyway, Bon Jovi's Brisbane show brought some more surprises with it, including the tour debut of "Last Man Standing".

Brisbane, Qld, Australia - Suncorp Stadium - December 6, 2018 set list

1. You Give Love a Bad Name
2. Raise Your Hands
3. Lost Highway
4. Who Says You Can't Go Home
5. This House is Not For Sale
6. Roller Coaster
7. Runaway
8. We Weren't Born to Follow
9. It's My Life
10. New Year's Day
11. Born to Be My Baby
12. Have a Nice Day
13. Keep the Faith
14. Bed of Roses
15. Lay Your Hands on Me
16. We Got it Going On
17. Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen From Mars
18. Bad Medicine
    
    Encore:
19. Last Man Standing
20. Blood on Blood
21. Wanted Dead or Alive
22. Livin' on a Prayer

Videos from Brisbane

"Bad Medicine":

"New Year's Day":

"Last Man Standing" and part of "Blood on Blood":

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

Were you at this show?

Last Man Standing in Dallas

Last Man Standing from Bon Jovi's Have a Nice Day album has had a couple of runs in recent shows. This is the performance from Dallas on April 11. Jon altered the third verse lyrics (possibly not on purpose) but, assuming it was a mistake, he recovered pretty well.

Videos from St Louis

The North American leg of Bon Jovi's 2011 tour ended in St. Louis on May 22. It's been confirmed that it was Phil X's last show with Bon Jovi, so presumably Richie Sambora will return for the European tour.

Anyway, here are some selected videos.

Last Man Standing

Jon performs the song from the 100 level of the Scottrade Center before making his way through the crowd and back onto the stage.

Dry County

Phil's solo was "different" again but hardly awful given he's a fill-in as opposed to a replacement. Jon also changed the "He'd be back, back someday" lyric to "He'd be back come Judgement Day". Good overall performance.

I'll Sleep When I'm Dead / Takin' Care of Business

Sleep with one of their rarer "jukebox covers" in a light, fun performance.

Wanted Dead or Alive

Jon thanked the fans and Phil in his final show and again dedicated the song to "Brother Richie". The crowd sings the first verse and Phil sings the second.

Blood on Blood

Lyric change: "Richie's doin' the best that he can. Well me, I'm here, a singer of a grateful rock 'n' roll band." Nice touch. I also love this song and personally I think it's better away from the opening spot.

I'll Be There For You

This kind of became a Richie tribute song during this leg of the tour. Additional lyrics as follows (Corrections welcome):

If you want me to
I'll be there for you
Come on...
If you want me
Oh, I'll be there for you
I'll be your shoulder to lean on
I'll be the bus
I'll be the neighbour you can call
Count on me
Oh
You can count on me
Whoa
Call my name
Call my name
And I'll come runnin', baby
I'll come runnin', baby

Check out Hath's Circle Tour Blog for more videos.

Thought I'd also give serpephone a plug, as there are lots of great videos from the North American leg on her account.

Videos from Columbus and Uncasville

Not too long now before Bon Jovi plays in Des Moines, so let's catch up on a few videos from the previous two shows.

From Columbus, Ohio (May 10, 2011)...

Wanted Dead or Alive

Jon rests a fan's JBJ and Richie Sambora dolls on his guitar during Wanted.
To David Bryan: "No that's not you! It's me!" Poor Dave! :P

Who Says You Can't Go Home (partial)

Why the heck would I put Who Says, I hear you ask! Well, it's less for the song and more for the funny moment where Jon stops the song in the middle to have a chat to event security guard Troy about how women stick their boobs in his face trying to take photos. Everyone is out of time when Jon tells the band to resume the song from the second chorus, but he doesn't give anyone the Infamous Stink-Eye. ;)

I'll Be There For You

Filmed from the pit (i.e. from behind Jon) as Jon is out on the platform. Additional lyrics (I think -- corrections welcome as always):

I'll be there for you
If you want me to
I'll be the air for you
I'll do anything
Well, I'll be there for you
Ooh yeah
Ooh yeah
Oh, I'll be there for you
If you want me to be
Through this driving rain
I'll take the weight of the world off your shoulders
Just call
Just call my name
Just tell me, my friend, that you'll be comin' back again
And I'll be there
I can hear you
Let me hear you
Let me hear you sing!

And from Uncasville (May 7, 2011)...

Last Man Standing

I guess Have a Nice Day is considered fairly mediocre in many circles, but it's an album that means a lot to me personally so it's been good to see this played semi-regularly since The Circle Tour, even if I'm not 100% sold on it as an opener, and there are other HAND songs I prefer.

So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star

This Byrds cover was rather unexpected. Not sure if it has special significance or if Jon just felt like throwing it in. Prior to this, Rock 'n' Roll Star was last performed at the Jon Bon Jovi and Friends Starland Ballroom show in January.

More videos on Hath's Circle Tour Blog.

Videos from Montreal

Bon Jovi played a couple of nights at Montreal's Bell Centre on February 18 and February 19. So how about a few videos to whet the appetite for Madison Square Garden? ;)

The Radio Saved My Life Tonight

Chorus will always lack the power of the studio version when it's dropped an octave, but this is still one of my favourite songs. Maybe even my favourite performance of it.

Living in Sin / Chapel of Love

I'm a bit filthy this wasn't on the Greatest Hits. It was a top 10 Billboard single, which is more than I can say for a lot of other inclusions.

Love's the Only Rule

Love. This. Song. Although Jon starts off with a two-minute speech about the protests in the Middle East; I don't mind this personally, but I know a lot of people get jacked off when rock concerts get "political", even when the artist is well known for their politics.

Dry County

Many of you know I'm incapable of complaining about "Dry County". ;)

Last Man Standing / You Give Love a Bad Name

Focuses on the main stage, so no Jon for "Last Man Standing".

Blood on Blood (acoustic; partial)


Start Me Up / Jumpin' Jack Flash / Dancing in the Street / I'll Sleep When I'm Dead

More Sydney 2nd night videos

Here are some more videos from Bon Jovi's second Sydney show (December 18, 2010).

Last Man Standing - I'm not 100% sold on this as an opener, but I do like the song so I'm glad they brought it back on this tour.


Just Older + I'd Die For You - I've always wondered why "Just Older" wasn't a single. It's nice to get a Slippery When Wet album track too.


Homebound Train - This is a perfect Richie Sambora song, both vocally and... guitarily (yes, I just coined a word). Suits him much better than "Lay Your Hands on Me".


Lay Your Hands on Me - Jon on lead vocals, the way it was supposed to be. ;)


Wanted Dead or Alive - I don't showcase "Wanted" on the blog too often, since it's played at every show anyway, but this was basically a duet between the crowd and Richie. A few people have mentioned that David Bryan looks annoyed about Richie getting to sing the second verse. I don't think I'd read too much into his expression though.


In These Arms - If there was one "major" criticism about the three-night stand in Sydney, it would be that neither of the big ballads "Always" and "Bed of Roses" were played. They did at least get "In These Arms" though.

Videos from London (The O2 arena)

First up, here's some edited pro-shot video from Bon Jovi's rooftop gig prior to their opening night at The O2... Includes snippets of all four songs they performed and an interview with Jon.


And here are three vids from the second night: June 8, 2010....

DRY COUNTY - This song never fails to give me goosebumps. Especially now that Jon is in such fine voice. And Richie Sambora, you are a god.


BED OF ROSES - Speaking of Jon's voice, this was a real heart melter. Great to see the song that took my Jovirginity being performed like it was meant to be.


LAST MAN STANDING - Very shaky video that features some enthusiastic but off-key "backup" vocals, but it does include the opening before the band hit the stage as well as the whole song.


Two down and 10 to go!

Last Man Standing, Working Man, Have a Nice Day in Uncasville

Three more videos from Bon Jovi's second night (March 27) at Mohegan Sun Arena.

A few other videos from Uncasville, namely "Never Say Goodbye", "Miss Fourth of July", "Radio Saved My Life Tonight", "Hot Legs" and "Squeeze Box" were posted earlier.

LAST MAN STANDING - I think I'd prefer this a bit further down the set (I really love "Happy Now" as an opener), but it's still cool to see it played.


WORK FOR THE WORKING MAN - I know Jon's a hypocrite to sing about the "working man" while pricing him out of concerts. But I've still liked this song since I first heard it at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service. And that Jon/Richie/Hugh/Bobby walk during the bridge (from about 2:07 in the video) is pretty damn cool.


HAVE A NICE DAY - I wouldn't yet call this a "rarity" but this is the first tour since Have a Nice Day came out where this song hasn't been staple. It's actually my personal favourite out of the so-called "It's My Life"-esque lead singles, although I've seen better performances of it. :P

Rare Magnetic Hill videos

The two genuine rarities Bon Jovi played at Magnetic Hill were "Last Man Standing" and "Takin' Care of Business" (in the "Sleep When I'm Dead" medley). I'm hoping for complete videos of both, but here are a couple of snippets to pass time with.

LAST MAN STANDING (42 seconds)


TAKIN' CARE OF BUSINESS (53 seconds)


HALLELUJAH (complete). I'll be honest; I really hate hearing out of key/out of tune crowd singing on videos. But I included this because it's a clear shot of a beautiful song that is still reasonably rare, as evidenced by Jon constantly looking down at what I suspect are lyric sheets. ;)