August 18, 2017: Bon Jovi Endicott, NY

That´s a case of a "made true selfprophecy" and that´s a whiting biting tail, which solution consists of turning the vice cycle into a virtuous one. There he needs a psycologist and a speech therapist working together with him.
In fact, it´s very likely that has already started, and for better it should, because I´d assume it´s a long therapy...

Listening to Bed Of Roses as I type this - holy crap what a shoutfest!

I seriously think Jon might be the most clueless singer in popular music. It's like he purposely does it on purpose so that he would ruin as soon as possible.

And These Days is so slow and uninspiring... This band is a parody.

Actually, I think he's working with a speech therapist as well, because he hasn't pronounced the lyrics on IBTFY and BOR this clearly in quite a number of years. For example, now the verse "I wasn't there when you were happy, I wasn't there when you were down" is pronounced properly again, instead of "haa wahonee wee uuwee aabee, honeewee UUUUUWEEDAAAAAN..." like in 2008-11. On the other hand, Jon over-pronounces the chorus of BOR: "Ay wanna layyee you down on a bed of roses, for tonight I'd sleep on a bed of naa-ha-hails...". He sings/shouts it in key much better than I thought he'd ever do again, though.

As a conclusion, Jon still sounds very rough in general, but he seems to be getting better step by step and will probably sound somewhat tolerable in South America, at least in terms of note accuracy. Although I don't believe his voice will ever be pleasant listening in the literal sense again (meaning that the high-pitched songs will probably always be shout fests from now on), at least he finally seems to be able to stay in key for the most part.

For example, this version of Always (from Sydney '13) has Jon singing terribly out of tune throughout the song, being completely unable to hit any of the high notes - actually, it sounds worryingly similar to my karaoke performance of the song last June, when I f***ed it up like a pro:

https://youtu.be/bfG5EsfAJ2c

On the other hand, the latest rendition of the song (night #2 in Toronto last April), while still quite choppy, has Jon singing mostly in key and, in fact, hitting some surprisingly strong notes (e.g. "if you told me to die FOR you..."). He only gets somewhat pitchy at the end of the last chorus ("I'll be there 'til the stars don't SHINE..."):

https://youtu.be/LrRyzZ_paEs

Jon slowly regaining his note accuracy is, at least for me, a sign of him taking vocal lessons again. He no longer sings embarrassingly out of key like he did in late '13. Nowadays, the biggest problem is his tone. He's no longer nasal or whiny like he used to be in the (more recent) past, but his voice is so thin, so very thin... On occasion, it becomes a bit stronger for a moment or two, but even then, it sounds weird - like he was pushing his voice out through a plastic tube or something. Check out the way he sings the word "alive" at 3:30 here:

https://youtu.be/EZW6qvf_0hg?t=3m30s (Wanted from LA/Inglewood last March)

Instead of pronouncing it like he's done earlier (going by him having a good or bad night, "allaeeve" or "hallaeeve"), Jon squeezes it out in an extremely forced, strange-sounding tone ("al-lyiiiive"). His vocal coach probably hasn't taught him to do so, right?

So far in this topic, it has all been about his voice. Where are the days people were complaining about setlists?

As I can see, the - THIS HOUSE IS NOT FOR SALE Tour - is over cause except for THINFS and Knockout, all songs of the 'new' record are left out and it is back to the hits.

Jon is such a weird guy and this happens with every record. They are so proud about their new record and they are going to play it live every night etc etc... but clearly, with a few months between the first leg of the tour ( what seems to be the only real leg this tour will get ) they safely locked the THINFS record away and are playing the hits. Cool for the casual concert goers, boring for those who see the band every tour or multiple concerts.


Nice to see These days on the set, but other than that...
And too bad they played it at such a slow pace.


Come on Jon - You've seen what U2 (your peers ) brought to Soldier Field. Knowing you, you must want to be better and prove to the world Bon Jovi is in the A league.

Why walk on stage in those jeans you wore all day long. Why play on a stage that has the look and feel of something it is used every year for the annual golf club party.

Jon - where the ' we are the biggest band of the world - attitude?


Stones, U2, Metallica ... they are all laughing at this Jon.
Even Bruce puts more 'show' in his shows

overall I really like the performance. Good length for the setlist without fillers, helps them to give a better and more powerful performance. I'd love to see bon jovi as long as tico plays, great drummer, I enjoy hearing him so much. I hope they will tour europe next summer

As some pointed out, this is probably to ready them for South America. He should bring his A game, and I think he knows this cuz Aerosmith and Guns will be there, playing next few nights after them. He knows he will be compared and the name of his band will be on the line.

Seems like in Sao Paulo, they are sold out. So hope it gives him the mindset to do great.

Wow, he actually sang the "like Frankie said I DID it my way" like he used to do prior to October '13 (without cutting the high note short like he's always done since then). I really believe he's getting his vocal confidence back, but unfortunately, his voice still has a long way to go overall, even though it's improving all the time.

This show was not part of the tour and was expected to be a shortened, greatest hits type show.

Taking a show like this for example and leaving out the fact that Jon sounds like shit. What exactly is Bon Jovi offering their ticket buyers these days ? I don't think I have ever seen a worse and more uninspired front man then Jon these days. I can even find a more inspired front man at the local pub on a Friday night.
What is the purpose of buying expensive tickets when 90 % of the concert Jon is standing with his eyes closed with both his hands on the mic just to manage to stay somewhat in key. It sound like shit, Jon who is 95 % of the reason why people buy ticket for the show isn't even trying to entertain the audience anymore and on top of that Richie Sambora is nowhere to be seen. What is there really left to offer? Going to a karaoke bar singing LOAP are better spent money.

That's why I respect Paul Staley in Kiss. He sounds even worse than Jon vocally but the guy still gives his everything on stage every night committed to at least give the audience his blood, sweat and tears. And that guy is even 10 years older than Jon.

Man, I miss Bon Jovi. Because what they are offering on stage right now is so far from the Bon Jovi I know it can get.

I disagree with those that have said that this is an improvement over the last leg. There were a lot of better performances, and I get that this is a one off show and Jon's voice is probably not warmed up but, it shouldn't need to take a few shows for a singer to be listenable, it should be that way from day 1. I also disagree that he's giving his all, there's ways to give a fun and energetic performance and give the audience their money's worth even if your voice isn't that great anymore. He's doing none of that, audience love the songs and he's relying on that and the memories attached to them for crowd reaction. Based on what I've seen of this band, I don't think I could ever risk attending a one off show.