Comparison 2003 - 2011

Muse shows are starting to become more visuals over performance with every tour. Be interested to see how it goes with the new tour but the effects are taking over the music. Even watching a clip of Metallica at Download, the laser show they had at one point looked awesome. But these things are difficult when you play in the summer and half the gig is in the daytime.

I like BJ's giant screens, and appreciate that they want the shows about the music, just think they could add a little bit to the spectacle which doesn;t detract from the performance. Stadium shows should have a wow factor and get people talking, and if they aren't going to play Springsteen-like sets then they need to add a little bit more visual excitement.

The 2003 satellites arena stage looked awesome at the time, wish they would have been able to incorporate that into the stadium set as it was rather uninspired, with loads of LEDs and black bags seemingly behind them.

Having seen Muse live over 20 times incl. on the Resistance tour i can honestly say the Resistance shows with all the props were awful, compared to their older shows with a basic stage and 3 guys rocking out... it doesnt make for good energy in the show having all the band stood still 10 ft high on a stick thin platform not able to move. They even have prompts on their setlists these days telling each band member where to stand for which song, when to 'knee slide' and when to speak to the audience so camera's know when to home in on each band members! doesnt make for a very spontaneous show if you plan on going to more than 1 show.

So i have no problem with Bon Jovi keeping things simple! also means they have more freedom with setlists if stage props arn't set up to be used around certain songs etc...

True, it's good to have some songs where they have complete freedom and not having to be restrained by the production requirements. Nevertheless, I would not hurt to bring out some breathtaking visual stunts in a couple of songs. If out of 25 songs they have 5 of 6 song that are really built around the show/visuals, they still have more than enough possibilities to be free and spontaneous during all 20 other songs.

But, that said, it's not like the use their freedom so much, aren't they?

The last few stage shows have been nothing short of a disgrace when you compare them to other competing rock acts. When I pay £80+ for a standing ticket I want something more than a glorified tent with lights. I don't necessarily think a big bombastic stage makes a show but it does contribute to it being a spectacular event worth the big price.

The Rolling Stones recent stage.



AC/DC



Muse



U2



Bon Jovi

I found it irritating how the band never used the circle catwalk except for during the acoustic set. If I were Jon I would've used that on damn near every song.

But that's just me, I guess.

I don't need a Bon Jovi Claw for the next tour, nor a version of the Bigger Bang stage, but it'd be nice to have SOMETHING cool other than the standard big screen behind the band and 2 little screens to either side.

Though I did think the Circle Tour stage was a step in the right direction.

Aloha !

I reckon Jon feels he should keep it special for people to be able to get closer to him than usual. Because, you know, the man is a very special and Godlike creature. So you build a giant catwalk and then you only use it for 3 songs. Give it time though, by the time other artists have retired a catwalk Bon Jovi will make good use of it and pretend they invented it.

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

At least in Oslo 2011 they had the small stage cause this "big" one didn't fit there. But when they played in the stadiums with running track they always had enough space for the big one... except south american leg...

and for me... i dont really care about how the stage is looking like. i rather have some big but simple stage than some small with some crazy turning screens. those stages are for madonna and U2, who cannot please the crowd with just the music... which should be the most essential part of the concert....

i actually liked most the stages from These Days- and Crush- tour. They were simple. I like that there is a roof on stage.... and nothing extra, some screens on the side and nice lights...

Good example is Bruce Springsteen. They have had almost exactly the same stage for as long as i can remember. Just screens on the side and lights. I saw them this year twice, once in Berlin and once in Helsinki, where they played 4h and 30min. Perfect rock show. No need for robot screens and laser lights. Some bands just need more extra to make them look good. Others can just come there on the stage and do what they do best.... and every single person in the crowd is happy.

I think Bon Jovi is now days thinking way too much about the "show" part in the concert. And for me it affects the whole gig. On circle tour they had for almost every song some personal video which was running on the screen during the song. That means that they were playing the songs always the same way. No extra solos or anything... And when they decided to play some "rare" song or something, there were some very poor light show which looked even more poor on the side of these personal videos for other songs... And when we add the fact that jon never even bothered to learn to remember the lyrics for these rare songs... he was always staring at the ground and reading the lyrics....

I look at the band so the stage doesn't bother me.

i know , i know...i dont like Coldplay's music either , but visually their shows are just wooow.....just look at the stage , fireworks , lasers , light and wristbands...


so dear Bon jovi stop using excuses and give us real show with the cool stage and fireworks....not this f@cin' giant screen that makes me feel like i'm in the big cinema...

hahaa do you really want something like that from Bon Jovi show?? C'mon, it still supposed to be a rock band, not some boy band. It ain't Take That. I would be embarassed to go to Bon Jovi show if it would look anything like that!