Kings of Suburbia's Hampton Water happy hour

In today's episode of Things I Never Thought I'd See, Jon Bon Jovi covered The Killers and Black Eyed Peas. It was part of Hampton Water Cares -- a virtual concert featuring Jon's other band, the Kings of Suburbia, and lots of bottles of Hampton Water rosé. The show was streamed on Facebook and raised money for World Central Kitchen's COVID-19 relief efforts.

Jon was joined at his studio (with plenty of social distancing) by Everett Bradley on percussion, Lorenza Ponce on violin, Greg Mayo on guitar and Carl Gentry on keyboards. Jon's son and Hampton Water Wine co-founder, Jesse Bongiovi, hosted the broadcast.

You can watch/re-watch the full broadcast of Hampton Water Cares on the Hampton Water Facebook page. The performances are also up on YouTube.

I really like Jon in acoustic mode these days. He sounds pretty good and it's the only time we can realistically expect him to pull out bonus tracks like "I Will Drive You Home". Plus, it was unexpectedly cool to see him having a bit of fun with "Mr Brightside" and "I Gotta Feeling", even if he flubbed the lyrics. I've affectionately renamed the latter song "I Gotta Feeling (Oh No, Somebody Sing the Chorus)". 

Jon also indicated during the after party on Instagram that there are plans to broadcast the 2020 album being performed live, in lieu of a tour.

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Jon Bon Jovi performs Blind Love & Fingerprints; talks about 2016 album

At the last fan club show of 2015 -- in Dallas, Texas -- Jon Bon Jovi debuted Blind Love and Fingerprints from Burning Bridges. Check out the videos.

Blind Love


Fingerprints


And since I'm already here, here are a few other videos from the gig, courtesy of Serpephone.

Destination Anywhere - The album of the same name is probably my favourite solo project of anyone from Bon Jovi.


Never Say Goodbye - Jon started this twice after a funny mixup with the lyrics.


With These Two Hands - A bonus track from What About Now that's arguably better than half the actual album.


You Give Love a Bad Name - This is similar to the version Bon Jovi did for the This Left Feels Right DVD and on MTV Unplugged, which is not to everyone's liking, but it's something a little different.


Jon also said the new album, This House Is Not for Sale, will be out in the first half of 2016. Here's part of the Q&A from this show.

Jon Bon Jovi performs at Citrix Summit

Jon Bon Jovi and the Kings of Suburbia performed at the Citrix Summit at Universal Studios on January 14. I don't have a full set list, but these songs were among those played:

• You Give Love a Bad Name
• Wanted Dead or Alive
• Who Says You Can't Go Home
• Livin' on a Prayer
• Old Time Rock 'n' Roll [Bob Seger cover]
• Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band [Beatles cover] - Bobby Bandiera vox

Here's a stripped down video of Livin' on a Prayer:
Bon Jovi @ Citrix Summit 2014 Orlando


Jon will also perform at Howard Stern's birthday bash on January 31 along with John Fogerty and Steven Tyler, and at a fan club trip to Las Vegas on February 25.

Livin' on a Prayer with JBJ, Taylor Swift & Prince William

Jon Bon Jovi, with a little help from Lorenza Ponce on violin and Bobby Bandiera on guitar and backing vocals, performed at the Winter Whites Gala at Kensington Palace. In a video that's been doing the rounds on mainstream media, Taylor Swift and Prince William joined JBJ at the microphone for an acoustic rendition of Livin' on a Prayer.

Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi, and Prince William sing 'Living On A Prayer' at the Winter Whites Gala

Jon Bon Jovi on Letterman

JBJ was a guest on the Late Show with David Letterman on December 20, 2012 to promote the Stand Up Guys soundtrack.

Check out his interview:


And his beautiful performance of the Golden Globe-nominated Not Running Anymore:

Because We Can out Jan 7; What About Now buzz

Because We Can, the lead single from Bon Jovi's upcoming album What About Now will be released on iTunes on January 7, 2013. The song was co-written by Billy Falcon.

Jon was on VH1's Big Morning Buzz Live a couple of days after the 12.12.12 Concert for Sandy Relief to talk about Hurricane Sandy and the benefit gig, as well as the new album. In terms of the content (Anthemic but socially conscious) it's all interview soundbites we've heard before. But the band seems to be experimenting with augmented reality on the album cover and I can't wait to see how it turns out!

After the interview, Jon also performed Not Running Anymore with Bobby Bandiera and Lorenza Ponce.

You can download the Bon Jovi smartphone app (for iOS and Android) from Mobile Roadie.

JBJ Soul Foundation - Hurricane Sandy Relief videos

Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation has released seven videos interspersing a live JBJ performance from November 9, 2012 with images of the Hurricane Sandy disaster to encourage donations in support of relief efforts.

Here are two brand new songs Jon wrote for the Stand Up Guys soundtrack (He performed them at a fan club gig in August but they have not been officially released yet).

Old Habits Die Hard


Not Running Anymore


You can watch and share the other videos at the JBJ Soul Foundation website.

Jon Bon Jovi - Skavlan interview + Hurricane Sandy benefit

While in London recently, Jon Bon Jovi guested on Norwegian talk show Skavlan and talked about Hurricane Sandy, the political climate in America and his career trajectory. He also shared a bit of a bromance with Robbie Williams who was one of the other guests.


Jon cut short his planned European promotional tour in the wake of the devastation caused by the superstorm.

Backed by Lorenza Ponce and Bobby Bandiera, he performed a beautiful acoustic rendition of Who Says You Can't Go Home and Livin' on a Prayer for the Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together appeal on November 2.

Jon Bon Jovi debuts new songs in Napa Valley

Jon Bon Jovi (backed by Bobby Bandiera and Lorenza Ponce) performed an acoustic fan club gig at the Castello di Amorosa in California's Napa Valley on August 28, 2012. He talked about writing songs for the upcoming Bon Jovi album as well as the soundtrack of a movie called Stand Up Guys (starring Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin) and played some of these new songs. Here are videos of The Fighter, Running, and Old Habits:

The Fighter - from the new Bon Jovi album


Not Running Anymore - from the Stand Up Guys soundtrack


Old Habits Die Hard - from the Stand Up Guys soundtrack (I wasn't expecting that opening line, haha)


So... What do you think of the songs?

I also haven't been able to find a set list for this show but from what I've managed to quickly piece together from different sources online, it was reportedly something like this:

• Superman Tonight
• (You Want To) Make a Memory
• Born to Be My Baby
• Running
• Old Habits
• The Fighter
• Livin' on a Prayer
• Santa Fe
• Hallelujah

Can anyone confirm what was played?

Here's Santa Fe for good measure:

JBJ & Friends Tiger Jam videos

Jon Bon Jovi and Friends headlined Tiger Jam 2012 on April 28 (check out the set list and some comments here) and I promised some videos so here we go. If it was a normal Bon Jovi show I'd just pick some standout performances or rarities but given it wasn't, I'll just link to videos of all the songs.

• So You Wanna Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star + You Give Love a Bad Name -- with an introduction from Tiger Woods and Jon on guitar.
• Ain't Nothin' But a House Party
• Oh, Pretty Woman
• Lost Highway -- Jon pays tribute to Tiger's philanthropic side, talks about working on a new album, then flubs the words to his own song at about 3:05. ;)
• Chain of Fools -- Layonne Holmes on lead vocals.
• I'm Your Man -- Jon is kind of playing up to his sex appeal with the Adam and Eve speech at the beginning but I really enjoyed this, probably more than the Leonard Cohen version. *hides* :P
• Bad Medicine
• Old Time Rock and Roll -- sharing vocals with Layonne, Bobby Bandiera, and I think Jeff Kazee?
• We Weren't Born To Follow + Just Older
• Livin' on a Prayer
• Wanted Dead or Alive
• Under Pressure
• Sympathy For The Devil
• Start Me Up
• Baba O'Riley -- Bobby Bandiera on lead vocals with an epic violin solo from Lorenza Ponce to finish.
• I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
• The Letter
• Who Says You Can't Go Home
• Hallelujah
• 634-5789

So... what did you think of the show? How do you feel the band songs turned out?

In one definite plus, Jon is sounding pretty good.

Richie Sambora at MDA Telethon

Richie performed at the MDA Labor Day Telethon... Here are some videos.

Acoustic Livin' on a Prayer and It's My Life featuring Hugh McDonald and Lorenza Ponce.


A brief interview in which Richie mentions working on a solo record and Bon Jovi record. I'd love a solo album from him but we've heard that one before.

Lorenza Ponce: Have violin, will travel

Lorenza Ponce tends to divide Bon Jovi fans (some love her; some hate all things country or all things violin, and by extension any association she has with Bon Jovi). But since a lot of my Twitter followers dig her and her new album Soul Shifter, and presumably some of them also read my blog, I thought I'd link to this article about her in the Asbury Park Press (Besides, she talks about Bon Jovi too):

“One thing I learned from Bon Jovi — it’s good to be on top,” Ponce said, with a laugh. “They live a great lifestyle. But, it’s a lot of hard work and they are incredibly disciplined. Everything is geared to the show — working out, eating, vocal warm-ups. Everything is scheduled to be gig-ready. And that’s why they’re so successful. It’s a job. They love it, but they know they have to take it seriously. They don’t always get the best press or whatever, but there’s a reason why they’ve lasted. You can go crazy and drink and last for five years, or you can have the discipline that Jon has and still be performing at the top after 25 years.”

Lorenza also talks about her diverse musical background, social networking, and working with Sheryl Crow. Read the full article here.