A review by Beavoid

Well,

This was my first show in quite a while (since the festering turd that was the Soaring Eagle in Mt. Pleasant MI 2 years ago or so) and let me tell you that this show definitely rejuvenated my interest in the band again.

Firstly, the opening All American Rejects were superb. While their music isn't the greatest, they were hungry for performance and premiered their new song (so they said anyway) for the audience of incoming Bon Jovi fans in top form. Their guitarist made orgasming thrusts and pivots like Richie in the eighties and their lead singer ran into the audience and jumped on the chairs. It was great to watch, though the audience that had filtered in so far wasn't quite as into it as they could've been

Once Bon Jovi took the stage, the sound became deafening (this is my 3rd show here, and by far the loudest from the audience). It opened with Lost Highway which is a remarkably good opener for a show, despite its med-tempo. In fact, nearly every Lost Highway song not only sounded great live, but also went over well with the audience.

The first highlight of the show for me was Born to be my Baby, which sent lightning down my spine with its delivery. They band was really in top form here and after this song, I was hooked into the show.

When Jon gave over the mic to Richie for I'll be there for you, it was something I had seen twice before, so it wasn't a surprise, but I really enjoy his voice and his bluesy style, so it was definitely a welcome calm in the storm of rock. This was followed by These Days (also sung by Richie who admitted to a sinus infection beforehand) which was sung extremely well (the cold could only be noticed in the first lines of the song). I finally got to hear a These Days song live, and sung by Richie. While it wasn't a surprise on the tour for the Europeans, who always get the greatest set lists and performances, it was certainly amazing for my friends and I, having missed that concert era in favor of school. This would be the only night (so far) that These days was played in The States on the 2nd American leg of the tour, so I am definitely glad I went.

Now, I also finally got to hear Bed of Roses, and it was the electric one. Somehow, through 5 shows from the band this song (one of my favorites) has seemed to elude me; not tonight. It was during this song that I knew why I was a Bon Jovi fan. Jon's voice was truly spectacular (the best in my opinion since These Days tour bootlegs I have heard) and he hit all the notes from his platform mid-audience. It was superb. Both These Days and Bed of Roses got enormous roars from the crowd. The crowd and the band were on fire that night.

They opened hot and closed on fire, leaving the audience wanting more.

Now the negatives:
This is why I don't understand the lack of spontaneity in this set. Sure, it was the only night of the tour (that far in) that Bed of Roses had been played electrically, but that hardly seems spontaneous or surprising. The set list was pure vanilla from beginning to end; it was a carbon copy of previous nights in Europe and America. With an audience that adoring and with a band so on fire, this short (though powerfully performed) set list left every die-hard fan of the band a little embittered or sad. America continues to be belittled by the band who began here, and it is disheartening.

Just one surprise or rarity is all it would take to have left everyone in that deserving audience in awe. I have never been to a louder concert in my life and still the encore of Wanted and Prayer is all that was played while the curfew was cut off a half-hour early. It just isn't right at $135 a ticket (and these weren't even the good seats) to have the greatest fans most sorely debased by the band this way.

Also, the sound wasn't very good; harmonies during the Rejects were basically non-existent and the harmonies of Bon Jovi were muffled and much too quiet. On the same note, the violin solos (which I actually like) were definitely poorly mixed as well; if you're going to give the violin important notes, they have to be HEARD. It often looked like she was miming because she wasn't mic'd properly).

Still though, probably the 2nd or 3rd best show I have been to from the band, putting the Giants show of the Bounce tour and my first show ever in Detroit during the One Wild Night Tour above it, as they should be.

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