We're back! After a five-and-a-half month break, Bon Jovi resumed their This House Is Not For Sale Tour. And they did it in Moscow, which they last visited back in 1989 for the Moscow Music Peace Festival in the then-Soviet Union, an event organised by then-manager Doc McGhee. Needless to say, plenty has changed in the last 30 years, but here's what was played at Bon Jovi's most recent trip to Moscow:
Moscow, Russia - Luzhniki Stadium - June 1, 2019 set list
This House Is Not For Sale
Raise Your Hands
You Give Love a Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
Whole Lot of Leavin'
Lost Highway
Runaway
We Weren't Born to Follow
Have a Nice Day
Keep the Faith
Amen
Bed of Roses
It's My Life
We Don't Run
These Days
Lay Your Hands on Me
God Bless This Mess
Blood on Blood
We Got It Goin' On
Bad Medicine
Encore:
In These Arms
Wanted Dead or Alive
Livin' on a Prayer
Videos from Moscow
You can block out 2.5 hours and watch the full show:
But if you're pressed for time at the moment, here are a few shorter videos.
Way before Phil X was in Bon Jovi, he was making music as the lead singer and guitarist of Phil X & The Drills. And he still is. 🙂 They recently released a new EP, Stupid Good Lookings, Vol. 1.
It features Daniel Spree on bass and backing vocals, as well as a bunch of notable guest drummers: Taylor Hawkins, Abe Laboriel Jr, Glen Sobel, Randy Cooke, Brent Fitz, and Matt Chamberlain.
You can get Stupid Good Lookings, Vol. 1 on iTunes, Amazon, or Google Play. CD and vinyl versions are set to be available soon.
What do you think of the new EP? Obviously it's different to anything Phil is likely to do with Bon Jovi, but we've always known that. 😉 I'm enjoying it at the moment.
Every now and then, Jon Bon Jovi comes out of the social media woodwork. This time it was to plug the new single from Phil X & The Drills, "Something to Say".
During Bon Jovi rehearsals, Jon (with Phil by his side, John Shanks videobombing, and Everett Bradley in the background) posted a video on Instagram:
I'm a little biased since they're from my hometown but I'm a big fan of West Aussie Bon Jovi tribute band Slippery When Wet (not to be confused with their namesake in the US). I saw them for the umpteenth time here in Perth over the weekend. Here's a little snippet of the crowd at that gig during "Always", as filmed by their guitarist.
As you may have noticed, Bon Jovi didn't come to Perth on their This House Is Not For Sale Tour. Once I'd got over my indignation, I saw an opportunity to visit Sydney for a week, spend some time with family and friends, and go to their concert at ANZ Stadium on December 8.
The day before the concert, Jon Bon Jovi, David Bryan, and Tico Torres were doing a Runaway Tours Q&A, but Phil X was doing a free meet and greet at Guitar Factory Parramatta, so I decided to go meet him.
I'm always a bit apprehensive about meeting people I idolise or admire (in case they turn out to be jerks or otherwise disappointing) but Phil was super chill and so nice to everyone. When it was my turn, he asked me my name and introduced himself.
I had brought my print of a painting of Phil by artist Jag Lall, and gave it to Phil to sign (along with a gold marker so it would show up against the dark paint).
"Did you paint this?" Phil asked.
"My friend did it," I replied.
"That's awesome!" Phil said.
Phil autographed the print and got me to hold it up so he could take a picture of it on his phone. One of the staff members then offered to take a photo for me. "We should get the painting in it," Phil said. The staff member took a picture of Phil and me, with Phil holding up the signed print, and it quickly became my top Instagram post of the year.
Afterwards, Phil carefully put the print back in its protective cover for me (of his own accord, I didn't tell him to do it, lol). Two sisters waiting behind me borrowed my gold marker, and after Phil had signed their stuff, he handed the marker back to me and thanked me for coming. I thanked him and the staff before making my way back to the city where I was staying.
I know there are fans who have met the whole band, or met band members in more natural situations than this, but I'm just happy I had a positive encounter. The closest I'd gotten to the band before was meeting roadie Mike Rew in 2010, which was pretty cool, but this was better. (Sorry Mike.)
Phil has also released his own version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", and the video -- featuring Bon Jovi band members and crew -- was made on the Australian tour. It made me smile, so check it out if you haven't already!
