|
"Bon Jovi brings back its heyday without high hair"
In BonJovi's heyday, its success could be measured by the poofiness of its lead singer's hair, but not on Monday. Donning only modest bouffants and few of their fluffiest elements at a sold-out Target Center concert, Jon BonJovi and the boys successfully brought back the glory days of '80s arena-rock without regurgitating many of its excesses.
Anyone who thought the New Jersey band's career was as over as new episodes of "Knight Rider" would have been flabbergasted by the scene at this bona fide comeback show. Nearly 15,000 fans -- some old enough to have been weaned on the Doobie Brothers and others young enough to listen to the Backstreet Boys -- were on their feet for the concert's entire two hours. They gave BonJovi the kind of ecstatic response reserved for a few select acts -- and only one other '80s rock band, U2.
The concert had its hokey elements, of course. A montage of video clips at the beginning shamelessly plugged tour sponsor VH1 -- and offered insight into the great help the band had in reshaping its image this past year. Then there was the back-lit posed entrance by the band members, who walked out like World Wrestling Federation contenders gearing up for pile-drivers. Guitarist Richie Sambora also came out dressed ready for the mat, in wraparound sunglasses and tight multicolored pants that must have belonged to his ex-girlfriend Cher.
Despite the we-will-rock-you set-up, the band stuck to a remarkably unpretentious stage show, letting its blue-collar inspirational hits do their own strutting. The fist-pumping anthems "One Wild Night" and "Raise Your Hands" proved perfect openers for the concert -- or for any sports-arena event, for that matter. "You Give Love a Bad Name," "Something To Believe In" and "Livin' on a Prayer" all came next, conjuring singalongs that gave that other Jersey band a run for its feel-good dollars.
---
Read the rest of the review at Minneapolis Star Tribune web site by following the link below...
Related URL: http://webserv3.startribune.com/stOnLine/cgi-bin/article?thisSlug=JOVI10&date=10-Jul-2001&word=jovi&word=bon
|
