Bon Jovi and Sugarland make beautiful music together- The Intersection of Good Old American Rock and Roll and Today's Country- Crossroad Review

Bon Jovi has been pursued by CMT for a Crossroads show for four years. Apparently various acts were offered but for whatever reason it was not right and the band declined. That is until Sugarland, the country music sensation of 2005, from Atlanta featuring dynamic frontwoman, Jennifer Nettles. Bon Jovi was ready to "go country" and do the show. Of course Bon Jovi have long time ties to Nashville as Jon pointed out during the taping- Always was recorded there and Billy Falcon, a key Bon Jovi co-writer lives there. Jon talked about how the songwriters in Nashville sit in a circle at The Bluebird Cafe and play their material and then criticize it and thus many country hits are born. So tonight was the night for Bon Jovi to record a Crossroads show. The band came out looking good. Richie looked very stunning as always ( I think I called him stunning in Las Vegas too but the man truly is nothing short of stunning- the essence of true rock greatness) and Jon looked great in black T shirt and jeans. Jon was in a fabulous mood and really was having a blast. Dave had on a robin's egg blue shirt and Tico, was well, the man at the kit and let's not forget Hughie! As for Sugarland, the band consists of Jennifer Nettles, Kristian Bush on mandolin, and Kristen Hall on guitar. The whole group looked like kids in a candy shop and Jennifer kept saying- this is Bon Jovi! You could tell how genuinely happy they all were to be there and the vibe in the room was just one of mutual respect and admiration and on Sugarland's part genuine awe. They started out with a rocking version of Prayer and it was evident from the start that Jennifer can rock with the best of them. The range of her voice is just incredible and she has an energetic stage presence that was a perfect match for Jon's energy. They then did a Sugarland song, Something More, than IML, Bad Name in TLFR style with Jennifer's bluesy harmonizing being most impressive. The real showstopper to that point was a Sugarland song, You Just Might Make Me Believe which was just beautiful with Jon and Jennifer singing right to each other. It was a very emotional song you could tell for Jennifer who seemed overwhelmed at the end. Jon joked about how they blended well together and everyone was calling them "Joniffer", a play on tabloid celebrity couple names. The rest of the evening featured HAND, Baby Girl, a Sugarland song, and then the duet, Who Says You Can't Go Home. I heard the song in Vegas but this time it really blew me away. First Jon practiced it acoustic and slowed down like that it actually reminded me of Dylan's Tambourine Man. Then the band kicked it and the country version just rocked! At this point both bands were joined by a pedal steel player and Lorenza Ponce on violin. The evening ended with Wanted Dead or Alive which was done all acoustic with an incredible interplay between Richie's acoustic guitar and Kristian's mandolin at the end- just awesome!! I was lucky enough to get a wrist band for up front and it was well worth the aching feet! The band members all signed some autographs and then it was done. Jon was particularly impressed that someone had made a smirky face sticker asking where they got it and when the gal said she made it he said, "Cool" My friends this has to be my top Bon Jovi event, maybe tied with Times Square. It was an evening of incredible music and camaraderie and I hope Bon Jovi fans now know today's country rocks!!!!




Val