A review by Gisela / gamr19@hotmail.com

What a wild night. After a life-altering experience (a good one), my emotions and feelings during this show were especially acute. I don't really even know where to start...I guess the beginning would be the most appropriate...

SR-71 dished out an incredible beginning to this magical evening, kicking it all of with Politically Incorrect, followed by a solid 45 minute show, 15 minutes longer than the usual opening...all because it was a sort of homecoming for this "new" group. The DC area is no stranger to this band, filled with more energy and enthusiasm than your average 4 year old, as they hail from Baltimore. To some, this was the SR-71 with guest Bon Jovi show, as some radio stations in the area promoted the show. Not an all bad idea (but certainly illegal to hard-core Bon Jovi fans). But SR-71 actually seemed to enjoy opening for Bon Jovi, appreciating the diversity in audience as well as watching some of the most experienced performers do their thing...but I digress.

Their frontman, Mitch Allan, with his hair in his eyes, wooed the crowd out of their seats, saying that he was begin disappointed by the lackluster greeting they were getting. That was enough to get even old dads out of their seats to cheer on this local band. The band played on, with some of thei recent hits, and some relatively unknown tunes off their album. They even dedicated a song to their fathers, some of whom were in the audience, saying that, In honor of Mother's Day, they would like to thank their fathers for not having the attitude portrayed in their hit "Right Now". And at that moment, the thousands in attendance seconded that vote, not daring to think what would have been...Guitarist Mark Beauchemin enchanted the audience by taking off his shirt and climbing on top of a speaker. Bassist Jeff Reid seemed enthralled with the task at hand.

Towards the close of the show, the band, with their new drummer, forced everyone out of their seats once again, explaining that they were taping the show...and no one would want to be caught sitting in their seats on the tape! Yeah, no kidding! Of course some audience members, this author included, wondered how anyone could sit through the set, as the band never dropped their energy-level. Many in the crowd will undoubtedly look forward to seeing them again in a few short weeks at the local HFStival.

Then, after a short intermission, which really seemed like an eternity to many members of the audience, Bon Jovi opened with their newest single, One Wild Night. A resounding welcome came from the audience as frontman Jon Bon Jovi wiggled his butt, and guitarist Richie Sambora wooed the crowd with his amazing guitar playing.

Bon Jovi played a good mix of old and new, including classics like Living on a Prayer and You Give Love a Bad Name and songs off their new Crush CD like Just Older and Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen from Mars. The audience sang and clapped along to songs such as Lay Your Hands on Me and Keep the Faith. And were taken back to the late 80s for a few minutes as they all belted out I'll be there for you. And of course everyone thought they were in a Western for Bon Jovi's Blaze of Glory...watching the snippets of the movie Young Guns II on the large screen.

But the hard-core fans all teared up as Blood on Blood, a story of brotherhood, remembering the "simple" days when nothing mattered but being related. But not one person in the house would trade this show for a few minutes of those times...Bon Jovi has re-captured everyone's hearts, or at least those that may have been lost (note that to many, no recapturing was needed, we were there all along).

Other songs that took fans back a few years included Born to be my Baby and Someday I'll be Saturday Night, featuring an incredible acoustic beginning.

Yet I don't think there was a single soul in their seats for the hit It's My Life...an anthem that everyone has adopted as their own. There is no doubt that drummer Tico Torres kept everyone on their feet...he himself was kept on his toes by Jon, but the drummer had no problem keeping up, and even inching ahead!

Some of the lucky concert-goers were invited on stage, at the side pits, to enjoy a close up look of the band in action. Dave Bryan and Hugh McDonald never gave their audiences a dull moment...they were all smiles and antics. One young woman turned her back on the stage (and to her friends in disbelief) after Jon sang a few lines of In These Arms to her, only to be tapped on the shoulder by the singer himself who wanted to give her more....that will be a moment she will never forget!

But no one felt left out that night as the audience was invited to sing the first stanza to Wanted Dead or Alive, followed by Richie Sambora for the second verse, and the singer from SR-71 for the rest...those were a few powerful moments, as the audience witnessed the wonder of an up and coming singer who sang Jon Bon Jovi's words to a Bon Jovi audience, while the legend was playing guitar right next to him...the audience took it all in, loving every minute of it, and personally witnessing the depth and magnitude of Jon Bon Jovi's giving.

Looking around at the crowd, it wasn't just the women who were enjoying themselves, the men were seen dancing and clapping their hands as well. But then who could resist...when the stage is so full of energy and the large video screens add visual stimuli, it was as if they whole show needed to be slowed down a hundred times so that you could take in anything and everything. No such luck. The band played on, and in what seemed like 20 minutes, more than 2 1/2 hours has passed by in "Jonny's Church of Rock n Roll" and the audience just wanted more.

(Note: not all songs performed that evening are mentioned in this review)

back to tour information page