Bon Jovi proves old is still new on stage by delivering hit after hit |
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Long Beach Press-Telegram article
Sure, I could be a pompous jerk about the crowd-delighting meat-and-potatoes performance Bon Jovi served up Friday night at Honda Center, the first of two shows at the Anaheim arena, with a Staples Center replay set for tonight.
When presented with a guy whose every third tune restates his gotta-live-my-life theme, or a guitarist whose recent riffs blatantly recycle his older ones, or a group quick to cash in on unexpected country-crossover success (and why not?) - well, potshots come naturally. Hitting the side of a barn with a football from 10 yards out would be harder than pointing out a dozen examples of Bon Jovi's vapidity.
But chiding this bunch for what they aren't - for what they've never really been, really - is as blockheaded as comparing Bon Jovi to Bruce Springsteen, Jon's Jersey forebear who played this same venue Monday and Tuesday.
True, they both maintain workingman appeal, no matter how titanic their reputations become; even when they're at their most glam, Jon and right-hand man Richie Sambora still come off like down-to-earth dudes happy to let you buy them a beer.
Whereas Springsteen aims to move your mind as much as your heart or soul, Bon Jovi is plenty content to just get people out of their seats, smiling and cheering.
Good times in the sum-sum-summertime, even if it's still spring - that's the goal.
And what's wrong with that?
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