A review by Bernhard / b.koenig@aon.at

Well, first: for me it was the best show ever. But, like always, there are some critics which I'd like to explain ya before i start my "real" review:

First, the tour don't seem to be planned very well. In some articles you can find comments of the Band that Mark Fisher is designing the stage, that they're still designing the new one ... and then, after 4 years ... they'll go on tour with the same stage like 1996. On the other hand, special effects were missed - well, Jon said the music says all ... but i think, mainly for an open air, special effects like fireworks during the songs, make such an event really special. Or an important light show! Nothing to see. However ... what they want. But in no way a ticket price of 600 ATS (about US-$ 50, DM 90) isn't ok for a low-budget show like this. This was no good advertising for future Bon Jovi shows.

Okay ... so much to the surrounding of the gig. The music part is another story ... a BIG, GREAT and FUNNY story. The openers "Reamonn" allready make the audience screaming, jumping and clapping their hands ... the weather was hot - everything was ok for a big show. And when Richie, Tico, David and Hugh entered the stage 30 minutes earlier than planned the crowd just got wild. Then Jon entered and the noise level got higher than ever. It seems everybody likes to thank the band to come back to the A1 ring after 5 years - and then Prayer really started and everybody clapped their hands, jumped and screamed ... not only in the front rows ... as far as I was able to see just ... EVERYBODY. The crowd sang the lyrics of the first 3 songs so loud that you sometimes weren't able to hear Jon singing. Jon jumps, runs, dances all the time, runs from one side of the stage to the other ... i haven't seen him more alive on any BJ/JBJ-show I've seen before. The band was really lucky to have such an great audience - so they played more than 2:40 minutes ... finishing with THESE DAYS.
Well, new ideas were not found ... just some new cheering sentences (funny: "are YOU talking to ME?"). The medleys were the same since i know BJ (BAD MEDICINE / SHOUT). Old but good: the oh-yeas on "Sleep". Some critics to the musical part: it was a one-man-show of Jon, more than ever. Few and too short Richie-solos, Hugh was defensive like always, David was a little more in the viewpoint than in the earlier years but still to few really great moments. And the great, cool drum solo of tico was MUCH MUCH MUCH too short. Just a minute. The sound quality was also not the best. It seemed sometimes the speakers couldn't handle the very loud settet volume (well, as louder as better hehe, but not if the quality's getting down for this) - sometimes you can't hear Jon sing. Richie's guitar screamd sometimes ugly than played a melody. But ok - this is just a comment. It doesen't really matter. Also RUNAWAY accoustic wasn't my thing. Better they play I'd die for you.
Finally, the show was just great. The guys made a rock show i've never seen before. 2:40 FULL power - can't believe a 20 years old man is able to do this ... but the guys are able. Unbelievable!

Finally, a few notes: Jon said that it's really a pleasure to play on the A1 ring ... and he definitly will come back to this place. Also he tells a nice story about his movie career and how the guys come to his doorstep and told him: "Man, that's shit. Come on, we're going on the road again!". Nice support of Tico as the door-knocker during this story.

Can't wait to see them live again. I think EVERYBODY would have paid the double price for his tickets if they had known how great this show will be in advance.

So, Bon Jovi: See ya latest in 2 years!!!!! With new stage, new ideas, special effects ... and then you are really, really the DAMN BEST LIVE ACT IN THE WORLD.

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