"Bed of Roses". This was shot from in front of the main stage, so you see a lot of Phil X and David Bryan rather than Jon, who's out in the crowd for most of the song:
If you'd like to share any videos from Toronto, feel free to link to them in the comments.
Bon Jovi performed the second of two consecutive shows in Toronto on their This House Is Not For Sale Tour, and here's what was played:
Toronto, ON, Canada - Air Canada Centre - 11 April 2017
This House Is Not For Sale
Knockout
You Give Love a Bad Name
Lost Highway
Whole Lot of Leavin'
Roller Coaster
We Weren't Born to Follow
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
We Got It Going On
Who Says You Can't Go Home
It's My Life
We Don't Run
God Bless This Mess
Scars on This Guitar
New Year's Day
Lay Your Hands On Me
Born to Be My Baby
Have a Nice Day
Bad Medicine
Keep the Faith
Encore:
Always
Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen from Mars
Wanted Dead or Alive [Phil X vox on 2nd verse]
Livin' on a Prayer
The main set was identical to that of the first night (I kind of thought they'd at least swap "New Year's Day" out for "The Devil's in the Temple", which used to be in that slot. Maybe I'm overly optimistic!). But we did get "Always" and "Captain Crash" for the third and second time this tour respectively -- they replaced "Raise Your Hands" in the encore. Phil sang the second verse of "Wanted" again, presumably because he's originally from Toronto, but he does sound good... Dare I say a lot stronger than Jon does these days. 😞 (However, I've said on various forums that the Lost Highway Tour proved Jon could get back to sounding awesome after a period of deterioration in his voice, so I'm hopeful that he could return to that level again.)
Videos from Toronto, Night #2
In my opinion, this is the best "Always" of the tour thus far:
After a few days off due to bronchitis, Bon Jovi resumed their This House Is Not For Sale Tour with the first of two consecutive nights in Toronto, the only Canadian (and indeed non-US) shows of this leg. Here's what was played:
Set list: Toronto, ON, Canada - Air Canada Centre - 10 April 2017
The Toronto Star recently published an article about the guitar Phil X played during Wanted Dead or Alive in Toronto on November 2. The custom-designed guitar had been given to The Guitar World by the family of a young woman named Kara who died suddenly in September:
Enter rock star Phil Xenidis, known as Phil X, who recently replaced Richie Sambora as the guitarist with Bon Jovi.
Xenidis, a Mississauga native and friend of [The Guitar World store owner Jim] Toris, saw the post about Kara. “All I saw was this young girl with a huge smile holding up the guitar she just got,” he says. “And it put a big smile on my face.”
He read about her death and how the family wanted people to play her guitar and “I just texted my buddy Jim on the spot to say ‘I’d love to play Kara’s guitar when we play the Air Canada Centre with Bon Jovi,’” he says.
The gesture was beyond what anyone had imagined, Toris says, adding “he blew my mind away when he explained how he wanted to be part of it.”
Xenidis didn’t want to make a fuss. “I didn’t even tell Jon (Bon Jovi),” he says. “I didn’t tell anybody. For me it was more of a personal touch, something I wanted to do for the family.”
Bon Jovi's second of two consecutive Toronto shows (and fourth for the tour) eventually brought some changes from the night before. It also marked Bon Jovi's 17th show at the Air Canada Centre, a record for any band performing there, and was commemorated with the unveiling of a banner at the arena and induction into the new ACC wall of fame.
Were you at the show?
Toronto, ON, Canada - Air Canada Centre - November 2, 2013
That's What the Water Made Me
You Give Love a Bad Name
Raise Your Hands
Lost Highway
Whole Lot of Leavin'
It's My Life
Because We Can
What About Now
We Got It Going On
Keep the Faith
Amen
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night - acoustic
Diamond Ring
Fire - acoustic, Bruce Springsteen cover
(You Want To) Make a Memory
Born to Be My Baby
We Weren't Born to Follow
Who Says You Can't Home
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
Bad Medicine
/ Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison cover
David Bryan sang Great Balls of Fire when the Bon Jovi tour resumed for the first of two consecutive nights in Toronto. Were you at this show?
Toronto, ON, Canada - Air Canada Centre - November 1, 2013
That's What The Water Made Me
You Give Love A Bad Name
Raise Your Hands
Lost Highway
Whole Lot Of Leavin'
It's My Life
Because We Can
What About Now
We Got It Goin' On
Keep The Faith
Amen
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night - acoustic
Diamond Ring
(You Want To) Make A Memory
Born To Be My Baby
We Weren't Born To Follow
Who Says You Can't Go Home
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
/ Great Balls Of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis cover (David Bryan vox)
/ Jumpin' Jack Flash - Rolling Stones cover
/ Takin' Care Of Business - Bachman Turner Overdrive cover
Bon Jovi's first of two nights in Toronto didn't really produce any surprises if you've been following the set lists on this tour, although it's nice to see Wild is the Wind being played so often. But... early days yet.
Toronto, ON, Canada - Air Canada Centre - February 17, 2013
Richie Sambora has cancelled his remaining October concerts (New York City, Philadelphia and Toronto) due to laryngitis. The following statement was posted on his website:
NYC, Philly, and Toronto Shows Cancelled
October 17, 2012
At doctor’s orders, Richie’s shows in New York City, Philadelphia and Toronto over the next week are currently cancelled. All tickets can be refunded at point of purchase.
Richie unfortunately had to cancel these performances due to direction from his doctors that he go on full vocal rest, as he is suffering from a case of laryngitis following a couple months of promotion for his recently released solo album Aftermath of the Lowdown, which included a run of sold-out shows in Europe. He is incredibly disappointed to not be able to perform for his fans this month.
“I was really looking forward to getting out there and playing my new record for people.” Sambora said. “Unfortunately, things come up in life that you cannot control. I hope my fans will understand. I’ll definitely make it up to them and look forward to seeing them soon.”
Keep checking back in for updates on rescheduled shows.
Not sure at this stage whether or not the shows in California in November will go ahead.
It was a peculiar morning for me... I'd had an inexplicably sleepless night before getting up an hour earlier than I needed to with a sudden urge to check my social networks... which is when I found out about this.
Hope Richie gets well soon (I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt and assuming he is sick; however, there has been speculation that poor ticket sales are the real reason and that the Sambora camp is trying to save face). I'm pretty bummed for his fans too, many of whom were travelling to these gigs. There have been reports that the shows will be rescheduled for early 2013, but with a new Bon Jovi album and tour due then, I have my doubts. Even Bon Jovi had to cancel their Perth show in 1995 and didn't make it back again until 2008. But... fingers crossed.
A few choice videos from Bon Jovi's first of two shows in Toronto (February 14, 2011). Bit of a Valentine's Day theme. ;)
Thank You For Loving Me
Not one of their massive ballads in terms of sales and popularity, but it does make sense to play it on Valentine's Day given it's actually about loving someone you're currently with, as opposed to all their 90s ballads. :P I have to admit, this would not feature in my request list, but I wouldn't pass up the chance to hear it live either. It was a pleasant surprise and sounds pretty good.
Superman Tonight (acoustic)
Wow. Just. Wow. Absolutely gorgeous arrangement and emotional delivery. I'm a big fan of The Circle but I think this version tops the one on the album.
My Funny Valentine
Some nice inclusions for Bon Jovi's second night in Toronto, but I'd say this is one of the times when the first show of a multiple-show city was actually better. Way too many Lost Highway songs, of which only two could be reasonably called hits or semi-hits, yet you have whole albums of great songs thrown out to the kerb (or curb, if you're American or prefer the American spelling).
Cool to see "I'd Die For You" (though apparently not everyone is thrilled about Bobby Bandiera playing the solo) and "Dry County" in, and "The More Things Change" getting a few plays. Apparently someone threw a bottle at Jon just before "What Do You Got" but it didn't seem to dampen the concert.
Anyone at this show?
Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Air Canada Centre - February 15, 2011
Last Man Standing
You Give Love a Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
We Weren't Born to Follow
Lost Highway
Whole Lot of Leavin'
When We Were Beautiful
It's My Life
I'd Die For You
We Got It Goin' On
Bad Medicine / Hot Legs [Rod Stewart cover]
Lay Your Hands on Me [Richie Sambora on lead vocals]
What Do You Got?
Diamond Ring
I'll Be There For You
Who Says You Can't Go Home
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
Have a Nice Day
Keep the Faith
ENCORE:
Dry County
Wanted Dead or Alive
I Love This Town
The More Things Change
Livin' on a Prayer
Bon Jovi's Valentine's Day show in Toronto netted a few unexpected songs... most notably "Thank You For Loving Me" for, I think, the first time in 10 years. Then again, Toronto usually gets some pretty good sets.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Air Canada Center - February 14, 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
The More Things Change
It's My Life
Runaway
We Got It Goin' On
Oh, Pretty Woman [Roy Orbison cover]
Bad Medicine / Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor) [Robert Palmer cover]
Lay Your Hands on Me [Richie Sambora on lead vocals]
My Funny Valentine [Rodgers & Hart show tune]
Bed of Roses
Superman Tonight [acoustic]
I'll Be There For You
Who Says You Can't Go Home
No Apologies
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
Keep the Faith
ENCORE:
Thank You For Loving Me
Wanted Dead or Alive
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
Just Older
Livin' on a Prayer
DAMNED - An animated performance with some cool ad libs (and some almost Sambora-like "sex faces" from Jon :P).
And again (The picture comes into focus about a minute in)...
TURN THE PAGE - Obviously if you'd told me before this show that there'd be a Bob Seger cover, I'd have expected "Old Time Rock 'n' Roll" but this is kind of cool too. The cover is pretty close to the original.
Another video of "Turn the Page"... sounds brilliant...
A couple of videos from two of Bon Jovi's recent shows in Canada.
ALWAYS (Toronto: July 20, 2010) - The band apparently surprised Jon with this at the start of the encore, and there's just a hint of stinkeye in the Richie Sambora direction about three minutes in. Nevertheless, Jon seems happy enough by the end of Richie's solo.
WHEN WE WERE BEAUTIFUL (Winnipeg: July 17, 2010) - I quite like the placement of this song further down the set. It's more intimate that way.
And in case we were getting a little ballad-heavy...
Bon Jovi's second Toronto show..... "Damned"! 'Nuff said.
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA - ROGERS CENTRE - JULY 21, 2010
Happy Now
We Weren't Born to Follow
You Give Love a Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen from Mars
In These Arms
Lost Highway
When We Were Beautiful
It's My Life
We Got It Goin' On
Damned
Bad Medicine / Oh, Pretty Woman [Roy Orbison cover] / Shout! [Isley Brothers cover]
Lay Your Hands on Me [Richie Sambora on lead vocals]
Turn the Page [Bob Seger cover]
(You Want to) Make a Memory
I'll Be There For You
Runaway
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Keep the Faith
ENCORE:
Hallelujah [Leonard Cohen cover]
Wanted Dead or Alive
I Love This Town
Livin' on a Prayer
Visit the BJCT blog for multimedia links as they become available.
Oh, what that million-watt smile can get away with.
Jon Bon Jovi exercised his considerable charm over the predominantly female crowd Tuesday night at the Rogers Centre for the first of two shows, and truth be told, all he had to do was flash his pearly whites and the partisan crowd was putty in his hands.
From what I've heard about this show, the band apparently played "Always" at the start of the encore without Jon's consent which ought to make for some interesting viewing.
Nice to see "Love's the Only Rule", "Always" and "Something for the Pain" back in... Hopefully Bon Jovi's second night in Toronto will be bigger and better! :)
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA - ROGERS CENTRE - JULY 20, 2010
Blood on Blood
We Weren't Born to Follow
You Give Love a Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
Lost Highway
Runaway
It's My Life
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
We Got It Goin' On
Bad Medicine / Old Time Rock & Roll [Bob Seger cover/feat. Kid Rock]
Love's the Only Rule
Lay Your Hands on Me [Richie Sambora on lead vocals]
Bed of Roses
I'll Be There For You
Something for the Pain [acoustic]
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night [acoustic]
In These Arms
Work for the Working Man
Have a Nice Day
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Keep the Faith
ENCORE:
Always
Wanted Dead or Alive
Livin' on a Prayer
Check out the BJCT blog for video links as they become available.
Bon Jovi delivered a few (pleasant) shocks on the Lost Highway tour, particularly from midway through the second North American leg. One of these surprises was at the Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota on March 19, 2008. On the second of two nights in St Paul, wedged between LH tour regulars "Whole Lot of Leavin'" and "We Got It Goin' On" was.... "Damned".
This is the best embeddable video I could find but it's such a funky song and such a rarity that I had to revisit it. Richie Sambora's guitar work is awesome, and you can see Jon and Dave Bryan in the background getting into the song.
Click here for another partial (but much closer/clearer) video.
Prior to St Paul, Bon Jovi had last played "Damned" in Toronto, Canada in 2003. Here is that performance (with "If Loving You Is Wrong" intro).
I think Jon's voice handles the chorus a lot better in 2008. In 2003 he's sort of screeching and seems slightly out of breath. But which version do you prefer?
Anyone who follows the shows would know that Bon Jovi's resident guitar god Richie Sambora gets to take lead vocals on a song each night. There were a few exceptions: Richie got two songs at a couple of shows of the final leg of the Lost Highway tour, and there was one show during the second leg where he didn't sing lead at all.
That was March 13, 2008, at the Air Canada Center in Toronto, when the night belonged to David Bryan. It was Dave who got to sing "In These Arms" in its entirety, while Jon ducked backstage. Richie fans may have been disappointed (and the fact that touring musician Bobby Bandiera performed the guitar solo again instead of Richie probably didn't help to appease them) but there's no denying Bon Jovi's keyboard player can hold a note. Dave's mic appeared to be turned down (his voice is very low in the mix at the start of the song) but nevertheless, a magic memory for this blog. Check out the video.
David also recorded a beautiful version of "In These Arms" for his Lunar Eclipse solo album, which I had to get imported but it was worth it (although I do have to disclose that I'm a pianist myself so if you're looking for distorted guitar riffs and such, it's not the album for you).
Anyway, I mentioned that this particular night in Toronto belonged to Dave... Well, earlier in the show he'd also cranked out the accordion for a very rare performance of "Miss Fourth of July". This was only the second time the song had been played live, and first time on an actual tour.
