Always in Manchester + Birmingham

Bon Jovi's most recent two performances of Always -- Etihad Stadium in Manchester on June 8 and Villa Park in Birmingham on June 9 -- could well be the best ones of the tour so far. From a vocal perspective anyway... Jon's voice seems to have improved in the last couple of shows, so hopefully it's onwards and upwards from here. :)

Manchester


Birmingham

Bon Jovi in Manchester: Garageland + I'd Die For You

Bon Jovi played "Garageland" and "I'd Die For You" for the first time on the Because We Can tour in Manchester on June 8, 2013.

Garageland (including a thank you speech from Jon)


I'd Die For You

Bon Jovi in Manchester: Keep the Faith / Let Me Entertain You

Bon Jovi surprised fans in Manchester with a snippet of the Robbie Williams song "Let Me Entertain You" in a medley with "Keep the Faith", although Jon later said he butchered it. What do you think the performance?



As an side note -- and this is not a slight on Richie Sambora at all -- I don't think I could get sick of watching Phil X play "Faith". His enthusiasm is infectious.

Bon Jovi Manchester set list 8/6/13

Wow. Surprises from Bon Jovi's Manchester show included the tour debuts of "I'd Die For You" and "Garageland", and a cover of "Let Me Entertain You" in the middle of "Keep the Faith". I like that encore on paper too.

Were you at the show?

Manchester, England - Etihad Stadium - June 8, 2013

1. That's What The Water Made Me
2. You Give Love a Bad Name
3. Born to be My Baby
4. Raise Your Hands
5. I'd Die For You
6. Lost Highway
7. It's My Life
8. Because We Can
9. What About Now
10. We Got It Goin' On
11. Keep The Faith
    / Let Me Entertain You - Robbie Williams cover
12. (You Want To) Make a Memory
13. I'll Be There For You
14. Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen from Mars
15. We Weren't Born To Follow
16. Who Says You Can't Go Home
17. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
    / Roadhouse Blues - The Doors cover
    / Rockin' All Over The World - John Fogerty/Status Quo cover
18. Bad Medicine
    / Shout! - Isley Brothers cover

Encore:
19. In These Arms
20. Garageland
21. Wanted Dead or Alive
22. Have a Nice Day
23. Livin' on a Prayer

Encore 2:
24. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
25. These Days
26. Always

Manchester set list

Bon Jovi played at the famous Old Trafford ahead of their headlining show at Hard Rock Calling (which you should hopefully be able to listen to via the Absolute Radio website).

Manchester, England, UK - Old Trafford Cricket Ground - June 24, 2011
Blood On Blood
You Give Love A Bad Name
Born To Be My Baby
We Weren't Born To Follow
In These Arms
Lost Highway
It's My Life
Runaway
Raise Your Hands
We Got It Goin' On
Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen From Mars
Bad Medicine / Roadhouse Blues [The Doors cover] / Shout! [Isley Brothers cover]
When We Were Beautiful
Bed of Roses
I'll Be There For You
Who Says You Can't Go Home
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
Work For The Working Man
Have a Nice Day
Keep the Faith

encore:
Dry County
Wanted Dead or Alive
Livin' on a Prayer

Check Hath's Circle Tour Blog for all the videos.

LH Magic Memory #24: Manchester

The second last Magic Memory in this series takes us to June 22, 2008 in the City of Manchester, UK. This was probably the last real epic show of the tour. I'm not saying the concerts that followed weren't good, but Bon Jovi sets a high standard for live shows, and Manchester lasted a marathon two hours and 40 minutes. The show was full of great performances, plus a great set that combined hits and crowd pleasers with some gems for the diehards.

LIVIN' ON A PRAYER - A bit rough but I think it captures the crowd's anticipation and enthusiasm, as well as Jon's showman qualities.


I'D DIE FOR YOU - Always nice to see a Slippery When Wet rarity live.


LAST CIGARETTE - The first (and only) time this was played on the Lost Highway tour and a great surprise to see live. I thought this was lyrically one of the more clever songs from Have a Nice Day. The trippy Beach Boys-style bridge is cool too, but I still wish Jon would give up the smokes.


DIAMOND RING - Jon and Richie gazing lovingly into each other's eyes and declare to the world: "You're my queen and I'm your king".... Oh, I'm kidding. ;) But the two of them share the mic in this beautiful rendition.


ALWAYS - Could never get tired of this being back in the set!


DRY COUNTY - Words cannot express how much I love "Dry County". Just watch. :)



Manchester, UK - City of Manchester Stadium (22/6/08)
LIVIN' ON A PRAYER
YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME
LOST HIGHWAY
BORN TO BE MY BABY
CAPTAIN CRASH & THE BEAUTY QUEEN FROM MARS
I'D DIE FOR YOU
LAST CIGARETTE
I'LL SLEEP WHEN I'M DEAD w/ Jumpin' Jack Flash + Twist & Shout
BLAZE OF GLORY
WHOLE LOT OF LEAVIN'
DIAMOND RING
ALWAYS
IN THESE ARMS
BLOOD ON BLOOD
IT'S MY LIFE
I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU (Richie)
DRY COUNTY
HAVE A NICE DAY
WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T GO HOME
KEEP THE FAITH
BAD MEDICINE w/ Shout

Encore:
WE GOT IT GOIN' ON
ANY OTHER DAY
I LOVE THIS TOWN

SOMEDAY I'LL BE SATURDAY NIGHT
WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE

Just one more left in this series and a wrap-up, but never fear, there are always worthwhile things to blog about in Jovi land. ;)