A review by Björg / h-b@itn.is

It´s one year since I first went to Bon Jovi concert. I remember every moment and I always will. Bon Jovi has been my favorite band since I was 15 years old – that's 17 years – but back in these days going to a concert was never really something I thought of. I was quiet happy will my albums. That's probably because I life in Iceland so getting hold of a ticket wasn´t possible. I have always listen to a lot of music but Bon Jovi just had something that made me want to listen to them over and over again and they still do. I love Jons voice, he sings with such emotions and that puts a deeper meaning into the lyrics. I love how I can listen to their songs and always finding something new about it. I love the way they perform their songs. And mostly – their songs makes me feel good – and that's the feeling I want out of music! Over the years I have bought the albums and enjoyed the music and with the internet I began to realize how big this band really was. I saw reviews from the fans about the concerts and when they announced the Crush Tour I new I had to go. I have a nice in LA so I decided that me and my boyfriend where going to visit her and see Bon Jovi in a live concert. If it wasn't for the ticketmaster.com this wouldn't have been possible. After a 13 hour trip we where in LA and we had two weeks. What a greet weeks. And then the night came I had been waiting for. December 2 and the place where The Great Western Forum, Inglewood. I honestly can say that I didn't know what to expect. My hometown, Keflavík counts about 14.000 people, this place took 20.000 people – so this was adventure for us in every way. We came around 18.30, got our tickets, found our seats and just sat down and looked around. This place was huge and so many people and I was so nervous – this was really happening – I didn't like the opening act and was always on the clock, counting down. Finally, nine o´clock the stage was ready, someone announced them and the cartoon music with One Wild Night started. A picture came up on the screen showing them in a elevator and going up on the stage. It was very cool and when the door did open I have never in my life heard so much nose, it was unbelievable, the roof went off the house and they stood there smiling - what an adrenaline kick this was. And then the rock and roll started. One hit after another – One Wild Night, You Give Love a Bad Name, Captain Crash, Keep The Faith, Livin´On a Prayer, Born to be my Baby– everybody sang and danced, the sound and the screens where awesome. Next track where Runaway and they did it acoustic and it was incredible – what a voice Jon has. Then Blaze of Glory, It´s My Life, Someday I´ll be Saturday Night and Thank you for loving me. The performance of Blaze of Glory was excellent – before, not one of my favorites but now it is – and Thank you for loving me was so beautiful, I could have cried in the end. Then it was time for Lay Your Hands on Me. What a great life song, with that awesome beginning. After that song Jon told us stories and jokes for about a ten minutes and he made us feel so good, just like friends – it´s touching how much he gives from himself to his fans – it is so obvious that he loves his job! I know these men have done this thousands of times before but it really felt like the first time! This was followed by I´ll Sleep when I´m Dead, Bad Medicine(Shout) and I don't Wanna go Home. The time had gone by fast, 15 songs gone by and they said goodbye. Everybody were screaming and shouting, it was so hot in there – I was just melting down but still I hoped this would never end. After few minutes they came back and the first encore started with Next 100 Years – Excellent live song. Before next track they turned off the lights and the screens, the lights on the stages floor went red and the background were like little stars. Very beautiful and so much the right mood for this song, I´ll be There for You. This was definitely the highlight of the show and something I will never ever forget. Still I was stunned by Jons voice, I couldn't believe how good he was. As we all know, Bon Jovi song are very powerful and it takes a hell of a voice to sing them. The way they ended the song was awesome – with the “vow vow vow” – and everybody joined in. Then they said goodbye again but they came back sone and started the second encore with Just Older. A song that just makes you feel good. And makes you feel even better when you see your favorites artists perform it with such pleasure. Wanted Dead or Alive were next and it is so much better live then on an album. Then again they went away but the crowed just went crazy and we all screamed for them to come back and they did. For the third time they came back and made the greatest party ever go wild with Twist & Shout. Jon then begged us to led them go but we said no, he was having such a good time and you could see they were all so happy and pleased with the reaction. They promised us to do one more and the one they chose were Never Say Goodbye.What a song. Awesome performance. Just the perfect end of a perfect evening. Then we really knew they were saying goodbye and when I saw them walk away I realized I had experienced something unique. I have to admit that my boyfriend wasn't as big Bon Jovi fan as I but I didn't want to go alone so he came with me. I´m very pleased to tell that he had a very good time and today he quite often listens to Bon Jovi songs. Maybe because he now understands better the addiction he is always bringing me some Bon Jovi stuff and when I started talking about going again he was fine with it! So I went again and this time to The Giants Stadium, New Jersey. I went to the first one – July 27, this time with a girlfriend. We spent eight days in the Big Apple and loved it, but it is so sad to think about how everything have changes since then. This time the Bon Jovi concert was very different. I am not going to describe everything but I will tell you that it was huge's. We had a really good time – it was more about pure rock than in LA – and it was fantastic to see all this people singing their songs. Sometimes you couldn't hear Jons voice but that didn't bother me exept in Always and Bed of Roses. And the concert ended with very cool fireworks. I hope that someday I will go to the third concert – if I do I will choose a small one because I thought it was more intimate. I hope you have enjoyed reading this, it has been very nice thinking back. I want to thank the members of Bon Jovi for all the pleasure they have been giving me over the years. I am very proud of being a Bon Jovi fan.

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