Bon Jovi in Melbourne 1/12/18

Bon Jovi kicked off their Aussie tour at the MCG, where my football team, the West Coast Eagles, won this year's AFL Grand Final. (Sorry, I had to throw that in. 😛)

I wasn't at this show, but I did attend both Melbourne shows (at a different venue) in 2013 (the last time Bon Jovi toured Australia) and have fond memories of freaking out because I finally got to hear "Dry County" and "These Days" live. That didn't happen this time around, but here's what did get played:

Melbourne, VIC, Australia - Melbourne Cricket Ground - December 1, 2018 set list

1. This House is Not For Sale
2. Knockout
3. You Give Love a Bad Name
4. Whole Lot of Leavin'
5. Lost Highway
6. We Weren't Born to Follow
7. Roller Coaster
8. Who Says You Can't Go Home
9. Born to Be My Baby
10. It's My Life
11. God Bless This Mess
12. We Don't Run
13. Keep the Faith
14. Bed of Roses
15. Lay Your Hands on Me
16. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
17. Bad Medicine
    
    Encore: 
18. Blood on Blood
19. I'll Be There For You
20. Wanted Dead or Alive
21. Livin' on a Prayer

Videos from Melbourne

"I'll Be There For You":

"It's My Life":

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

Were you at the show?

Sambora fans unhappy with his performance

As some of you know, I was all set to go to RSO's concert at Metro City in Perth until it got cancelled. A couple of people have since messaged me suggesting I may have dodged a bullet, after fans went on Richie Sambora's Facebook page to vent their anger at his performance at Melbourne's Margaret Court Arena.

Noise11 has summarised some of the comments, but the general consensus seems to be:

• RSO came on stage an hour late with no apology or explanation;
• Richie appeared drunk or stoned and didn't know the lyrics;
• Orianthi did a good job of trying to hold the show together on her own;
• There were too many Bon Jovi songs and covers, only one solo Sambora song, and none of the promised new material from the upcoming RSO album;
• Fans left early and are trying to get refunds.

It's worth noting that the concert in Adelaide, which is Orianthi's hometown, didn't attract the same level of vitriol. Most fans I heard seemed happy with the Adelaide show, and while there was criticism of the set list, it was mainly from people who hadn't been there. So who knows what sort of performances Sydney and Brisbane are going to get?

Here is RSO's cover of Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe" from Adelaide:

And their version of "Wanted Dead or Alive" from Melbourne:

Have you seen RSO on their Australian tour so far? What did you think?

Richie Sambora Soundwave Perth 3/3/14 & Melbourne 28/2/14 set lists

Richie Sambora finished his Australian tour by playing at Perth's Soundwave Festival, with he and his band dishing up a few surprises.

Perth, WA, Australia - Arena Joondalup - March 3, 2014

1. Paranoid [Black Sabbath cover]
2. Nowadays
3. Burn that Candle Down
4. Lay Your Hands on Me
5. Voodoo Child [Jimi Hendrix Experience cover]
6. Learning How to Fly with a Broken Wing
7. Don't Change [INXS cover]
8. No Surrender [acoustic/Bruce Springsteen cover] / Wanted Dead or Alive
9. Livin' on a Prayer

Being my hometown, not to mention the final Soundwave to be held in Perth (It'll be an "east coast only" festival from 2015) and possibly the only chance I'll ever get to see Richie do a solo gig, I decided to head up to Joondalup. Unfortunately I didn't get the video everyone wants (i.e. Paranoid) -- I think I was too stunned! Plus I was staying for the whole day/night so I needed my phone battery to last.

I had an awesome time and really enjoyed Richie's set, which was like a big jam session, but I've heard mixed reviews from various people that I can certainly understand. I don't think No Surrender was rehearsed -- Richie was mumbling his way through all the words -- and it's only because it's one of my favourite Springsteen songs that I recognised it when it started.

Two friends of mine also saw Richie's set. One thought he was "shit" and "off his f***ing tree". The other described the show as "passionate dirty blues guitar sex" and reckons it was the best version ever of Lay Your Hands on Me and Wanted. All agreed that Orianthi was brilliant. I'd give the performance a 7/10 but I would love to see Richie at one of his own headlining gigs, rather than the lunchtime slot at a festival that's not really his genre.

Meanwhile, this is the set list for Richie's Soundwave gig in Melbourne on February 28, which I'd been looking for:

Melbourne, VIC, Australia - Flemington Racecourse - February 28, 2014

1. Burn That Candle Down
2. Nowadays
3. Lay Your Hands On Me
4. Every Road Leads Home to You
5. Don't Change [INXS cover]
6. Wanted Dead or Alive
7. Voodoo Child [Jimi Hendrix Experience cover]
8. Livin' on a Prayer

Did you catch Richie at any of the Soundwaves in Australia? What did you think of his performance?

Richie Sambora Melbourne set list 27/2/14 + Purple Rain ft Corey Glover & Orianthi

Richie Sambora played a sold-out charity show for the Starlight Foundation at The Espy in Melbourne on February 27. Corey Glover from Living Colour, who's also on the bill for the Soundwave festivals, joined the band on stage for Purple Rain.

Were you at the show?

Melbourne, VIC, Australia - Esplanade Hotel - February 27, 2014

1. Burn that Candle Down
   
2. Every Road Leads Home to You
   
3. Taking a Chance on the Wind
   
4. I'll Be There For You
   
5. Nowadays
   
6. You Don't Wanna Know [Orianthi song] - Ori vox
   
7. Wanted Dead or Alive
   
8. Voodoo Child [Jimi Hendrix Experience cover]
   
9. Stranger In This Town
   
10. Sugar Daddy
    
11. Lay Your Hands On Me
    
12. Seven Years Gone
    
13. Livin' on a Prayer
    
    
    
    encore:
    
14. Don't Change [INXS cover]
    
15. It's My Life
    
16. These Days
    
17. Purple Rain [Prince cover] - Corey Glover vox
    

Richie Sambora & Corey Glover - Purple Rain (Melbourne) - amazing pipes!
I'm still waiting for Richie's set list for Soundwave in Melbourne on February 28. Anyone got a copy of it?

Richie Sambora adds Melbourne sidewave + interviews

A last-minute show has been added to Richie Sambora's Australian tour. He and his band, including Orianthi, will perform at The Espy in Melbourne this Thursday, February 27. All profits will be donated to the Starlight Children's Foundation. Tickets are on sale now from Oztix.

Richie's other previously-announced sidewave is tomorrow, February 26 at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney. Tickets are available from Ticketek.

Richie and Orianthi began this morning on TODAY, before crossing over to The Morning Show.

Richie Sambora Orianthi Interview Today Show Australia


TODAY: Richie Sambora performs 'Seven Years Gone'


Richie Sambora Interview on The Morning Show


They'll be streaming live from Music Feeds today at 5pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time.

Phil X joins the "brotherhood" + Bon Jovi Melbourne videos

At last night's end-of-year crew party, Phil X and photographer David Bergman both received the Slippery When Wet medallion, which is awarded to people who serve two Bon Jovi world tours. I think you usually have to be on the whole tour to get the medallion, but it's safe to say Phil has gone above and beyond what was expected of a fill-in, first in May 2011 and now for almost all of 2013.



Meanwhile, here are some videos I captured from Melbourne. I thought someone on the floor might have a better version of these but if they've uploaded them, I haven't stumbled across them yet. These ones are from the second night (December 8).

Bon Jovi - Diamond Ring (live) - Melbourne 2013 night 2 #thefinal7


Bon Jovi - Dry County (live) - Melbourne 2013 night 2 #thefinal7


Bon Jovi - These Days (live) - Melbourne 2013 night 2 #thefinal7


Bon Jovi - AC/DC, Rolling Stones, Surfaris live medley - Melbourne 2013 night 2 #thefinal7 - Start Me Up, Wipe Out, You Shook Me All Night Long (Phil X on lead vocals), and the end of I'll Sleep When I'm Dead


I also got That's What the Water Made Me and the full I'll Sleep When I'm Dead medley (featuring Jumpin' Jack Flash, Great Balls of Fire sung by David Bryan, and Run Run Rudolph) from the first night (December 7).

Bon Jovi's YouTube channel also uploaded a pro-shot video of "Lost Highway" from the first night.

Lost Highway - Melbourne, AU - December 7, 2013

Bon Jovi Melbourne set list 8/12/13 + Review #thefinal7

Bon Jovi returned for night 2 in Melbourne and let's just say, as a diehard fan you'd be pretty annoyed if you went to the first show and skipped the second, but luckily for me I saw both... Were you there?

Melbourne, Vic, Australia - Etihad Stadium - December 8, 2013

1. That's What the Water Made Me
2. You Give Love a Bad Name
3. Raise Your Hands
4. Lost Highway
5. Whole Lot of Leavin'
6. It's My Life
7. Because We Can
8. What About Now
9. We Got It Going On
10. Keep the Faith
11. Amen
12. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night - acoustic
13. Diamond Ring
14. (You Want To) Make a Memory
15. Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen from Mars
16. Born to Be My Baby
17. We Weren't Born to Follow
18. Who Says You Can't Go Home
19. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
    / Start Me Up - Rolling Stones cover
    / Wipe Out - The Surfaris cover
    / You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC cover (Phil X vox)
20. Bad Medicine
    / Shout! - Isley Brothers cover
encore:
21. Dry County
22. Wanted Dead or Alive
23. Have a Nice Day
24. I Love This Town
25. These Days
26. Livin' on a Prayer

First things first: I finally got Dry County and These Days live!

When I arrived at the venue, I didn't know what sort of show to expect but started to get really excited when I heard Diamond Ring being soundchecked. A few songs into the show, Jon promised there would be a lot of different stuff for night 2, and while the first 10 songs were identical, hints of change came in the acoustic/semi-acoustic set on the circle platform, which hadn't been utilised the previous night. Most people in the stands sat down and waited for a big hit during this part of this show -- A few sang along to Saturday Night -- but I was delighted to get Diamond Ring.

Maybe only a handful of the crowd knew what was coming when David Bryan played the first chord of Dry County, but I was so happy I wanted to cry. And to get These Days as well... I was, perhaps greedily hoping for Always, the return of Bed of Roses, maybe even Never Say Goodbye but I knew it was highly unlikely. And I've managed to forgive Jon for throwing I Love This Town into the show. :P

I have videos of Diamond Ring, Dry County, These Days, and the Sleep medley but it might take a while to upload. I was also back in the stands, so there might be people on the floor who have better videos.

Some of my criticisms of night 1 still stand, including Jon's voice, the overrepresentation of Lost Highway, and the lulls that come with certain songs they keep playing. But I thought in terms of performance the show was great, with Jon seeming to find an extra gear in the energy department.

AC/DC went down a treat as soon as Phil started that opening riff. They really should play this at all the remaining Australian dates. There are five more to go. I've got one more show personally -- my hometown gig at Perth Arena...

Meanwhile, I don't know if someone had a word to Kid Rock or not but he changed most of his set from the first night. Telstra Road to Discovery winner Jesse Teinaki opened the show.

Bon Jovi Melbourne set list 7/12/13 + Review

Bon Jovi began their Australian tour last night for the first of two shows in Melbourne, and I was there. Were you in the crowd too? I'll share my thoughts on the show below, but here's what they played:

Melbourne, Vic, Australia - Etihad Stadium - December 7, 2013

1. That's What the Water Made Me
2. You Give Love a Bad Name
3. Raise Your Hands
4. Lost Highway
5. Whole Lot of Leavin'
6. It's My Life
7. Because We Can
8. What About Now
9. We Got It Going On
10. Keep the Faith
11. (You Want To) Make a Memory
12. Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen from Mars
13. Born to Be My Baby
14. We Weren't Born to Follow
15. Who Says You Can't Go Home
16. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
    / Jumpin' Jack Flash - Rolling Stones cover
    / Great Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis cover (David Bryan vox)
    / Run Run Rudolph - Chuck Berry cover
17. Bad Medicine
    / Shout! - Isley Brothers cover
encore:
18. In These Arms - David Bryan vox on 2nd verse
19. Runaway
20. Wanted Dead or Alive
21. Have a Nice Day
22. Livin' on a Prayer

As you can see, especially if you've been following the set lists on this tour, there were no surprises (unless you count the Christmas song, but it is December now). Jon has been below his best vocally for much of the tour, and was again tonight... I don't know how much casual fans picked up on it, but Jon's voice cracked a few times, squeaked very noticeably during Faith, and he compensated by changing the timing of songs, speaking instead of singing in parts, sometimes skipping whole lines for the band or crowd to sing. Dave and Bobby in particular, and Phil to a lesser extent, really saved his arse.

Jon's nose was really red and I know I personally have been struggling with allergies in Melbourne the past couple of days so that could be a factor, since the stuff you take for hay fever etc tends to dry up your vocal cords, which obviously isn't good for a singer. But it doesn't change the unfortunate fact that his voice has been off all year. He also wore a jacket for the whole show, which surprised me given he's performing in an Australian summer.

I was further back than I have been for Bon Jovi before and from this perspective, there were very noticeable ebbs and flows. The girl next to me spent most of the night texting and I saw her update her Facebook status to something like "Basically every Bon Jovi song after 1999 is a pile of shit with wank juices" -- Given I love a lot of stuff from 2000 onwards, I disagree with the sentiment but they are picking the wrong songs, especially if they're not even going to mix anything up anymore. You really don't need all those Lost Highway songs. I love Memory, but it doesn't belong in that spot after everyone has got back on their feet for Faith, but at least it was a single that a few people seem to know... Whole Lot of Leavin' is just an energy sapper. So is Born to Follow, which certainly shouldn't follow Baby -- the choruses are almost identical. If you're going to play a song from The Circle, make it something good like Thorn In My Side or Love's the Only Rule (but I guess Jon's not going to change things when there are only a handful of shows left). And no one knows Because We Can! Stop trying to turn it into a singalong... It hasn't worked at any other show. While we're on that topic, Who Says wasn't a hit outside of North America and Jon should try to remember that.

From the Sleep medley to the end, the energy was right up and it's a shame they can't keep things at that level for the whole show.

Despite my comments, I actually had a really good time. I wasn't expecting any surprises, which is the way to go this tour. It was nice to have Bon Jovi as my first event at Etihad Stadium. I also got to hear David sing live for the first time.

Kid Rock was the main support act in his first ever Australian tour. I could take or leave his music but he is one entertaining mofo. Can't help but love his energy. Angie McMahon was opened after winning the Telstra Road to Discovery competition and she was lovely, but I do feel for support acts.

Anyway, I'm back at Etihad tonight for Round 2 so hopefully Jon took care of himself last night and fingers crossed for a good show.

Bon Jovi arrives in Australia

Bon Jovi has touched down in Australia ahead of their two concerts at Etihad Stadium this weekend. Jon spoke to the media about longevity, Prince William, and the role of Phil X.

Bon Jovi back in Melbourne



I'm currently in Melbourne too, having decided to make the trip across the country for these shows.

Videos from Melbourne

As you would know if you've been following the tour, or this blog, or if you were there, Bon Jovi played two nights in Melbourne on December 10 and December 11. I promised some videos, so here we go. :)

Diamond Ring, December 11 - Some people find this song a snoozefest, but I never get bored of "Diamond Ring". Jon and Richie sound great on it. Though I will say I appreciate it a lot more now than I did the first time I listened to it. Bon Jovi played it both nights in Melbourne; this video is from the second night.


Always (partial), December 11 - The start of the song is missing, but it's a pretty good video. They should always play this. I've said it a few times and I'll say it again because... well, c'mon, it's your biggest worldwide hit, guys!


Love's the Only Rule (partial), December 10 - I was hoping someone would capture the whole song; it's been far too long. Should have been a single. Anyway, this video documents the part of the song where Jon enters the crowd and everyone tries to cop a feel. ;)


Have a Nice Day (December 11) - After being played every show on the Have a Nice Day and Lost Highway tours, this has actually become a little bit of a "rarity" on The Circle tour. I personally prefer it to "It's My Life" but I guess they can't really not play "It's My Life"... although they can apparently drop "Always" for five years!


Check out Hath's Circle Tour blog for more videos from Rod Laver Arena and Etihad Stadium.

Also, leave a comment below if you find videos of "Love's the Only Rule", "Thorn in my Side", "Dry County", "Last Man Standing" and "Superman Tonight" from Rod Laver (December 10).

Another Melbourne review + JBJ on Extra

Here's another review of Bon Jovi's December 11 show at Etihad Stadium, by Undercover's Paul Cashmere. I have to admit, I wasn't expecting to see this, not even on Undercover:

I’d live to hear something from Richie Sambora’s solo album ‘Stranger In This Town’ just once. ‘Ballad Of Youth’ would be a great inclusion in their set. Richie’s one and only starring role last night was taking lead vocal on ‘Lay Your Hands On Me.

Read the full review here. There's also video of an interview with Tico Torres from the Lost Highway tour there.

Also, here's an interview that Jon did last month. He says the usual stuff about the Greatest Hits, his career, sexiness, and amusingly urges the interviewer (I think it's Renee Bargh but I'm not sure) who has recently moved from Sydney to Los Angeles to "GO BACK! Get outta here! Save yourself!" :P


Videos from Melbourne in my next post. :)

Reviews from Melbourne

Andrew Murfett's review of Bon Jovi's December 10 show at Rod Laver Arena for Fairfax Media is mostly positive but has a thick air of condescension to it:

ONE of the most amusing books this holiday season is Things Bogans Like. Like the blog of the same name, it deftly details the likes and cultural touchstones of a significant number of Australians.

Last night at Rod Laver Arena, a good number of the 16,000 in attendance could safely be described as either the book's targets or target market. And based on the hysteria Jon Bon Jovi and his bandmates from New Jersey generated, that was just fine.

(A bogan, for the unitiated, is the Aussie or New Zealand equivalent of "white trash".) Read the rest of the review here.

Meanwhile, in the Herald Sun, Nui Te Koha said of December 11's Etihad Stadium show:

[T]here were subtle differences in the way Bon Jovi's Circle show unfolded at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night compared to their performance at Rod Laver Arena on Friday.

Then there was the obvious contrast - last night was the full-scale stadium experience, with massive video screens and enough production bells and whistles to justify a world tour schedule of 130 shows in 30 countries.

"That was like a club gig compared to this," Bon Jovi said last night. "This is going to be better."

And how.

There was no claw stage. Instead, Bon Jovi grips its believers with sweaty, back to basics rock, and upbeat anthems about better days.

Read the full article here.

Melbourne 2 set list

During the live webcast (which actually went for almost 45 minutes and cut off midway through "Runaway"), Jon promised that Bon Jovi's second night in Melbourne would be even better than the first. I'm curious to see what people who attended both shows thought. On paper, December 10 at Rod Laver Arena had more treats for the diehards but at the end of the day it's still about the performance and atmosphere more than anything.

There didn't seem to be a PBP tonight, so thanks to Despina76 for the set. Some very interesting song placements!

Melbourne, Australia - Etihad Stadium - December 11, 2010
Blood on Blood
We Weren't Born to Follow
You Give Love a bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
Lost Highway
Whole Lot of Leavin'
When We Were Beautiful
Runaway
It's My Life
No Apologies
We Got It Goin' On
Keep the Faith
Bad Medicine / Roadhouse Blues [The Doors cover] / Shout! [Isley Brothers cover]
Lay Your Hands on Me [Richie Sambora on lead vocals]
(You Want to) Make a Memory
Diamond Ring
I'll Be There For You
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead / Start Me Up [Rolling Stones cover]
Raise Your Hands
Have a Nice Day
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Livin' on a Prayer

ENCORE:
Always
Wanted Dead or Alive
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night

Check Hath's Circle Tour blog for video and media links in due course.

Melbourne 1 set list

No "Always" or "Bed of Roses", but Bon Jovi's first show in Melbourne has to be the best set of the Asian/Australasian leg so far. Some real gems for the diehards, and The Circle album finally got some decent representation again on the tour that bears its name.

Melbourne, Australia - Rod Laver Arena - December 10, 2010
Last Man Standing
You Give Love a Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
We Weren't Born to Follow
In These Arms
Superman Tonight
When We Were Beautiful
It's My Life
No Apologies
We Got It Goin' On
Keep the Faith
Bad Medicine / Oh, Pretty Woman [Roy Orbison cover] / Shout! [Isley Brothers cover]
Lay Your Hands on Me [Richie Sambora on lead vocals]
What Do You Got?
Diamond Ring
I'll Be There For You
Something for the Pain [acoustic]
Work for the Working Man
Thorn In My Side
Have a Nice Day
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Love's the Only Rule

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

Check Hath's Circle Tour blog for videos and links as they come. Bon Jovi play Melbourne again tomorrow, this time at Etihad Stadium, with a live webcast for the first half hour.

Live webcast from Melbourne on December 11

A press release has just come out today about a live webcast from Etihad Stadium:

Bon Jovi is having a LIVE webcast all the way from Etihad Stadium on Saturday December 11 – 8pm (EDST)

As an Australian exclusive, Bon Jovi in partnership with News Limited, MCM Media and Movideo will stream LIVE the first 30min of their Melbourne concert this Saturday December 11 from Etihad Stadium at 8pm (EDST). Through the websites below, fans all over Australia will be able to have a taste of a LIVE Bon Jovi concert in their own home.

Exclusive LIVE Bon Jovi Webcast
Saturday December 11 - 8pm (EDST)
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au
http://www.couriermail.com.au
http://www.heraldsun.com.au
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au
http://www.perthnow.com.au
News.com.au
http://www.take40.com
http://www.bonjovi.com

Read the rest here. The media release also names "No Apologies" as the new single "out now".

And for anyone who's wondering, I believe 8pm EDST is equivalent to GMT+11. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.