BON JOVI FAN CENTRAL

home
bon jovi news
world tour
songs & albums
photo archives
fan community
downloads
dry county archives
bon jovi web guide
27 March 2003 - Buffalo, NY, USA Concert Review 11 May 2003

A review by chris / kissfan4ever3838@aol.com

What if one of your all time favorite bands haven’t came to your home town in 10 years but has finally decided to come back?

Well all the huge bon jovi fans in Buffalo got there wish granted on March 27th at the cities HSBC arena.

The bands most recent CD, bounce, sent them on a tour across the world to promote the new album. The last time they were here was at Darien Lake in 1993 to promote the then new album “these days”. More then 10 years and four albums later, they have came back to take over the sold out HSBC arena to show Buffalo that they still care!

They also showed that they care by brining Buffalo’s own, The Goo Goo Dolls! The Goo played about 45 min to an hour playing 10 songs. They opened with their ever-popular Dizzy which got the crowed going more then ever. They played many of there hits including Iris from the major motion picture film, city of angles, Slide, Broadway, and many others including some songs off of there new album gutter flower including the CD‘s first single “here is gone“. Bassist Robbie went shoeless for this show and sang a song from the new album. In between songs Lead singer and guitarist Johnny Reznick talked mostly about Buffalo and how this city kicks A** more then any city they ever been to. This was the Goos 3rd appearance at the arena and by far the best. After nine songs and about 45 minutes of great live music, they left the stage saying goodnight and thank you. After about 3 ˝ minutes they came back out to do an amazing rendition of “American girl” by Tom Petty and the heart breakers. When they finished the song they thanked Bon Jovi for bringing them on tour and to this wonderful city. They then thanked us for giving them so much support. They then left the stage for the night and promised us that they would be back soon with hopefully a new album. In the end, the Goo’s really got us pumped for who was about to come out next.

After about 45 minutes of waiting, the lights went black and a melody started playing. Within the smoke and darkness we saw figures moving around taking their places. After about 5 more minutes of waiting in the dark with the melody playing, the opening riff to their newest single Bounce started to be played by lead guitarist Ritchie Sambora. Then the lights went on and out on stage for the first time in buffalo in 10 years was Jon, Ritchie, Tico, Hugh, and David, BON JOVI!
About 1 min after the song started, the curtains dropped reveling four huge satellites representing the new album bounce, which the cover is satellites. They looked so realistic and amazingly cool. After bounce ended, with the guitars still ringing and the drums still pounding, Jon asked how we were doing and then he said those 15 words that the whole crowed said with him, “Shot through the heart and your to blame, baby you give love a bad name”, the rest of the band then kicked in with the song which got one of the greatest responses that night. During the song, the satellites rotated around reveling TV screens projecting the faces of the band. Music Videos were also shown throughout the night. After “You give Love A Bad name”, they went right into another song off of slippery when wet, “Wild in the streets”. The band then toned it down a bit to Jon singing accapella to “living on a prayer” with us filling in the blanks. Then David kicked in his keyboards and Ritchie on his ever so famous voice box and guitar as well as ticos drumming to the actual song. The crowed responded so well that after the song was over, Jon made us sing the chorus again which the crowed didn’t mind one bit. After that, Jon took the microphone to talk about their new album. “Oh, and by the way, im the other Jon” he joked. “We have a new album out, Its called bounce, its in stores now but I bet most of you people out there tonight already have it downloaded on your computer” he joked again. He then said that the next one was off of the new record and it was titled “everyday”. The song was already noticed due to it being the first single off of Bounce. During the song, green lasers shot across the whole arena reaching all the way to the 300 sections. After that he took a time out to talk about the September 11th tragedy and how we are in war. He then told us that the next one was about the tragedies and is on the new record as well. So they kicked in to it which is titled “Undivided”. There first single ever, “runaway”, was up next and everyone was surprised to hear it because they haven’t played it since the last time they were here in 1993. “Just older” was next which had the crowed singing along to more then half of the song. Next up was one of the biggest songs ever, “Wanted Dead or alive”. We were so worried that the show was almost over because they always played it at the end of the show. But they proved us wrong! Both Jon and Ritchie had guitars out for the song with Ritchie supporting a brand new double neck acoustic which he played the second neck, electric, for the solo part with Jon still strumming his acoustic. We all sang the first 40 seconds of the song and then Jon kicked in with us still singing along with him. “The distance” from the new album was played next which was surprisingly a lot better played live then on the album. The huge hit, “Its my Life”, the only song from their 2000 release “crush”, was played next which had the whole sold out arena on there feet. The love Anthem “bed of roses” off of “keep the faith” was played which had Jon pulling a random female from the crowed during Ritchie’s solo part and dancing with her. “Eat your heart out Justin Timberlake, I still got it” he screamed followed by a laugh. The new ballad “ Misunderstood” pulled the lighters out of everyone’s pocket to throw up in the air and sing along to. After that, Jon asked if we would mind if Ritchie sung a song. Jon then left the stage and Ritchie sung “ I’ll be there for you” off of Their 3rd album “New Jersey”. Jon came back out to rejoin the band and they kicked in to yet another new song, “Hook me up” which had a heavier twist to it. Jon then grabbed another acoustic and started playing “blaze of glory” from the “Young Guns II” soundtrack. That was yet another crowed pleaser. Then he asked if we were ready to leave and then said that the only way they would keep playing if we raised our hands and then kicked in to “Raise your hands” off of “Slippery when wet”. “Im never gonna sleep” he proclaimed after “raise your hands“ was done. “ I’ll sleep when im dead” he announced and then kicked into the song. After that he said that they were gonna do one more and they played “Born to be my baby” with the famous “na,na,na,na,na,na,na,na,na,na,na” beginning. “Goodnight we love you all” were the next words out of his mouth after the song finished. They then left the stage for about 5 minutes leaving the crowed on their feet and screaming “Bon Jovi, Bon Jovi, Bon Jovi”. Finally, A spot light appeared with Hugh, the bassist, playing the ever-popular intro to “keep the faith“. The rest of the band joined in with Jon not seen. About 5 seconds before his singing part, Jon jumped out from the back and started belting out the words. After “keep the faith”, Jon asked if we were tired and then said the famous words, “Is there a doctor in the house?” and one of the biggest songs “Bad Medicine” started playing. The whole sold out arena sang every single word. When the song finished, Jon kept on saying the word “Well”. Then the band kicked in to the famous football song “shout.” “You know you make me wanna shout” rang through the whole arena and is still in my head at this moment.
The bounce tour left me with sore arms and no voice for about three days and it was well more then worth it. Bon Jovi is more then just a band; they are entertainers and friends to every single person at their shows. As Jon said during the show “This is gonna be the greatest work out you have ever had” and he was absolutely right. Even without bombs or explosives, Bon Jovi proved that they still have it. Thank you Jon, Ritchie, Tico, Hugh, and David for all the great years, songs, and albums. But make sure next time when bon Jovi comes to your hometown, you go and experience the best concert or event you will ever witness.

back to tour information page

home news music info center tour photo archives fan community archives web guide
Design & site concept © 1995-2015 PWCR. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy.    Cookie Policy.