This was the first time I left a Chicago concert feeling a little disappointed. I was wondering how the show would come off after Europe; I went to Summerfest which was the first US show after Europe on the OWN tour in 2001 and thought the band was off a little during that show. They seemed just a bit off in Chicago on friday...the first time I remember that happening here. Jon wasn't very talkative, but he interacted alot with the fans. He got out of sync at the end of Prayer, and Richie messed up the intro to BOR.

I disagree with Mary Beth about the crowd.....I thought that it was a good one. Sure, there were some lags but overall it was loud and excited. I heard people commenting that it was a very good show after it was over. (they must not have gone to the March show at the United Center )

I did enjoy it...after all it was Bon Jovi! The setlist wasn't at all surprising...they just seemed a bit too comfortable, not very imaginative.

At Alpine the next night, it was like a completely different band than the night before! They came out on fire and stayed that way. Jon was talkative and back in the touring mode. He made a racy comment right at the beginning that made my jaw drop They had a great time and the crowd was just as on fire as the band. The lawn at Alpine fits 33,000 and it was filled. Total attendance was probably over 40-45,000. When you have that many people there, all completely into the show, it is definitely an experience. They lingered on stage for a bit longer at the end...I was hoping for Never Say Goodbye but it wasn't to be this night. I haven't heard it since Chicago 2000 and was more than ready to hear it again!

I think that any first show of a tour is more the band getting their touring mode back on. The first show in Spain was not as good as the second, the first show of the US Bounce tour at State College was not one of their best. I look at it this way...I saw one good show and one GREAT show this weekend. It's nothing to be upset about.

***As a sidenote to Mary Beth...wasn't that hill at Alpine a killer?