[Bounce7800]

http://www.gigwise.com/news/108323/b...comeback-show?

Gigwise Review:

"Tickets, Tickets, anybody want tickets!?". shouts a tout outside the stunning white tall London Palladium theatre walls as people gather around for the first Bon Jovi gig in London for three years. "How much!?" I ask. "200 quid mate" he mumbles with a shifty glare in his eye.

There aren't many shows that would get this price, even on the black market and it's testament to the legacy the band have built since the early '80s that people are willing to [pay that much to get in. It's one of the biggest, highest selling bands in the world ever in a venue small enough for a new band to fill out. It's not a normal night in central London.

The excitement within the venue is equally thrilling as the hustle and bustle out on the venue steps, which are short stroll form Oxford Circus station. It's a seated affair but as soon as the band which include two drummers, two guitarist, a bassist, and the one and only Jon Bon Jovias a singer take to the stage hardly anyone returns to their seat. Women are swooning, with hearts in their eyes the women, who are mostly middlt aged, look onto their former teenage heartthrob as religious groups would look unto their lord. Rarely will you see such devotion at a rock group in a gig and it's thrilling to witness.

The show tonight, apart from those who got stung by the touts, was free as it was done by competition. It's different to the usual stadium show you'd get. The band are hear for a live playing of their new album . This House Is Not For Sale from start to finish and Bon Jovi is introducing every song with a story about the experiences in his life that led to each song. "WThis is like a family and friends gathering" he says at the start, explaining how he's about to lead the set. And he's as comfortably speaking to this theatre audience as he would be with close friends and as such it doesn't make it jarring in the slightest. The evening is more informative and it's great to get broader context of what the songs about leading to more of a connection and understanding between the audience and bands.

The tracks from the album are stunning in their diversity. The likes of 'Knockout' are arena rock bangers, whilst the quieter more introspective songs 'River of Love' are powerful in a more emotional way. Jon Bon Jovi is singing with so much sincerity. The heart of som songs have a ye olde folk mysteriousness to the melody and strucytre and if you stripped away the huge sounding band behind, you'd be left with something very tender.

The reason Bon Jovi's set has strong contrast is because it reflects the turmoil his life has gone through in nearly losing his record deal. "I couldn't look at the guitar for months" he said. The band were going to be dropped after being their most successful acts and Bon Jovi, said "I take great pride in having the same wife, same band, and same label for over thirty years." So he fought to keep it and they reached an agreement and are back putting out records on Universal "for the rest of their life."

Despite causing a lot of hardship it's doubtful the songs tonight would be as interesting or as poignant and Bon Jovi would sing with as much conviction than had everything been plain sailing while he was off tour over the past few years. "Out of great hardship comes great songs" , he said in a press conference with Jo Wiley last month.

The attention from the audience for a set built form an album they've never heard before - it's out 4 November - is impressive. It is a big ask from the band but with it being a strong album they've gotten away with it. Token couple of oldies come in the encore with 'Who Says You Can't go Home', and 'Bad Medicine'. The latter especially gets the room shaking and reminds why Bon Jovi are considered one of the greatest live bands the world has ever known.

Telegraph Review: 3 out of 5 stars

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/wha...n-than-conce/?

We all like a challenge, so here’s a new one: listen to Bon Jovi play 15 as-yet-unreleased songs back-to-back. Granted, it’s not quite like tackling the Northest Ridge of Everest, but this intimate London show by the New Jersey rockers was nevertheless something of an uphill climb.

Bon Jovi are about to release their 14th album, This House Is Not For Sale. The “Live Listening Party” at the Palladium – the band’s first UK show for more than three years – gave fans the chance to hear it played live in its entirety. It also provided a fascinating but self-indulgent snapshot of a band emerging from a midlife crisis and grappling with the technological changes ripping their industry apart.

Two big things have happened to Bon Jovi in recent years: guitarist Richie Sambora quit after 30-plus years and they got into an almighty spat with their record company, Mercury (since resolved). This House Is Not For Sale is singer Jon Bon Jovi’s confessional take on these. And, boy, does he ram his grievances home.

Svelte and grey-haired, his black shirt agape over toned torso, Bon Jovi took to the stage and joked that he was Bruce Forsyth on Sunday Night at the Palladium. It hinted at an irony that was sadly in short supply over the next 100 minutes. At times, this felt less like a concert and more like a therapy session for the 54-year-old.


The new songs came thick with symbolism. The “house” in the album’s title track represents the band. It can’t be knocked down. Or sold. And the temple in The Devil’s in the Temple is a record company. The devil presumably represents record execs or technology, ironic given that the show was put on in conjunction with streaming service Tidal X.

Musically, the songs were vintage Bon Jovi, meaty slabs of radio-friendly rock with huge choruses: you don’t sell 130 million albums without knowing how to knock out a tune. With their use of noodly, almost bagpipey guitar riffs, many tracks sounded like latter-day Coldplay or, depending on how far you follow the musical chain back, early Eighties Scottish rockers Big Country. They were enjoyable and tightly played: Tico Torres, on drums, snarled away like an amused Robert De Niro, while Phil ‘X’ Xenidis was a fine replacement for Sambora.

But it was the subject matter and 35-odd minutes of lengthy monologues that grated. I’m afraid I had trouble caring about this millionaire rock star and his tricky few years. We all have our ups and downs, mate – now pipe down and play Livin’ on a Prayer.

Relief came in the form of 1988’s Bad Medicine during the encore. And Bon Jovi thanked the crowd for sticking with him. Interspersed with hits during the forthcoming tour, these songs will be fine. Taken as one, they required stamina.