Dawn's all mattering review O2 8th June

Dawn's all mattering review O2 8th June

Im going to start by saying WOOOOO HOOOOOOO last night was amazing, the time of my life

Many thanks for your support guys , emails, ims and calls, you guys are the best, will try to answer questions here.

The tube to O2 at 6.15pm was packed with fellow jovi's , it was hot and squashed , tip stand near a vent which is just inside the doors.

Arrived at O2 at 6.30pm , its huge, many already there , queuing to get food/merchandise. Brochure are £20 , didn't buy one... cheapest t shirt was £30 - £70 didn't buy anything, wait for ebay , got my eye on a nice pink tee.

Went through the inner doors, once you are past this point you cant go back out. Both bags were searched , but not to thoroughly. Tip if you are bringing bottle water then put it in your pocket with a top around your waist they wont notice it , put sweets in jacket pocket.

Decided to go and see the seats first ... it was confusing which staircase to take for the upper tier 421 row A. At the bottom of two sets of stairs stood the best security guard in the world... He was a big guy. I asked which way to the upper tier , he looked at my tickets and said "have you ever been here before, your seats are up in the Gods ? " We answered we've never been to O2 . He asked if I had been a fan for a long time I said yes 20+ years .... he asked if I wanted an upgrade.. my daughter said " could we look at the seats first !!!!! " she didn't want us to be on the lower tier but at the back. She said we have never seen Bon Jovi live.... He was rifling through a pack of tickets must have been about 50 saying I will find you really good ones..... he handed two over and said "you will be 2 ft from BJ when they walk on the circle ".

I held the tickets and saw it was the front row on the floor and we both just burst into tears.... I put my arm on the security man's shoulder and said "I cant tell you what this means to me....and just kept saying thank you so much" I think he got it ! I then with tears said I still dont know which way to go and he laugh and pointed that way....

We decided to go and look at the seats , as if we needed proof this was actually happening to us for real... with tear stained faces,( must have looked a right picture) went through and showed the next security guard the tickets , he pointed to the front.... we just sat there in our seats looking stunned watching the VIP packages on stage touching Tico drum kit and looking around the stage.... they didn't look that impressed.

There was a message flashing around the O2 , send BJ a message call this number. Presumably this is to make requests.

We decided to go back to the inner fast food places and try and compose ourselves.. the fast food places are the best idea , we got scampi and chips £7.50, there were side dishes u could choose cheaper from fish and chips place... there is no where to sit in this area, they have standing bars to eat at on the side.... Right opposite is a glass wall, we sat on our jackets on the floor , that was the best scampi I have ever eaten in my life ! Text Mo to tell him about the tickets and not PBP. Mo rang so we had a good chat....your a lovely guy Mo By the time we finished eating everyone had joined us on the floor ! We could hear the warm up act...

Tip ladies.... if the queue to the ladies toilet is to long use the disabled toilets where the men's toilets are or use the toilets at the back of the floor, they were empty.

Went back to the seats... which were at the end of front row.. only two people next to us who were wearing earplugs ! There were still a couple of empty seats just behind us. The pit in front didn't seem that full either.

Showtime..... we were told only the front row could stand at the barrier so we moved forward...it was so surreal.... security are tight on this as people behind us tried to join the barrier and they were told to get back to their seats which I thought was unfair as there was room for another row .

Saw Bobby come on first, then David, he was smiling a lot and winked a couple of times. The screen lifted... there was Jon , Richie and Hugh , it was amazing being so close, like being in a BJ video....

1. Last Man Standing - wouldn't chose as opener, many didn't know the words. I love this song, it rocked.
2. We Werent Born To Follow - this went down really well. Everyone is standing in the whole arena
3. You Give Love A Bad Name - great - still in shock...Im standing here and Jon is singing this feet from me.
4. Just Older - My daughter poked me shouting your just older mum ! Thanks , so is the band but they are not showing it....
5. Born To Be My Baby - crazy.....love this song.. the band have so much energy.
6. Lost Highway - this didn't go down to well, people started moving about to get drinks !.
7. Superman - JBJ said before singing it " single on the album the circle wasnt exactly a hit here in england , I have to thank the record company for nothing" OUCH Security stopped me rec
8. Captain Crash & The Beauty Queen From Mars - went down really well , looked round to 20,000 sea of arms waving from side to side.... awesome.
9. We Got it Going On - ok I cringed, but JTers are right, this song works live. JBJ was up singing to the seats behind the stage....
10. Bad Medicine ~ Hot Legs- the boys are on fire......
11. It's my Life- crowd loved it, not one of mine....but who cares....
12. Lay Your Hands On Me (Richie Sambora on lead vocals) Brilliant job RS

This gave time for Jon to go under the stage I knew he was arriving the big guns in the black suits arrived and went into the circle (pit) Jon was bent over 2 ft from me so he could get under the circle bit of the stage. Pit went mad as he walked through and up the steps to stand on the circle. At this point, I noticed two spaces 5 ft to the centre, I grab Rach and dragged her there... further from the security and nearer to Jon.

13. (You Want To) Make A Memory - wonderful
14. Bed Of Roses - I cant believe it.... more dreams coming true.
15. Diamond Ring - RS joins JBJ on circle stage. ok this is the pinnacle .. wow
16. Something For The Pain (acoustic) Rach fav , Im not that keen, personal choice but still sounded good.
17. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night (acoustic) - really, no really all in one night...
18. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead - it looks that way... they are rocking.
19. Runaway - ok I screamed..... the crowd loved it.
20. Work For The Working Man - the crowd didn't love it.... screens were cool though.
21. Who Says You Cant Go Home- ok Rach is happy the crowd got into it to
22. Keep The Faith - bring out the maracas Jonny boy Woo Hoo !!!!!!!!

Security were murmuring there had been a set change.

Encore 1:
23. Dry County - Ring Mo..... the crowd gasped when it started....Of course I know this was played as I asked for it on JT Circle video, Jon cant refuse A POLICEWOMAN ! I tell you I had tears in my eyes. JBJ cringed at the end trying to reach the notes.

24. Wanted Dead Or Alive - what can I say it was just great...

It was 11 pm... I knew it wasn't finished LOAP hadnt been on yet... damn it I had to leave otherwise I would miss the last train home I thought they had to finish at 11pm ... I shook the security guard hand and we started the long walk back... just made it to the back of the floor and there is was ..........

Encore 2:
25. Always - just stood and starred... security moved me from the gang way, there was quite a few of us on our way out just standing starring back , I climbed the steps and starting the rush for the tube its 11.10 damn it, but you dont leave the building when always is being sung !

There were people about but it wasn't the masses just yet... could hear LOAP starting.. and I started the run

26. Livin' On A Prayer
Made it to the tube , 2 mins to go.... made it to Stratford, majority were going into London so my tube wasn't packed. Other jovi's where on the tube talking about the show and the highlight being DC and Always.

Off the tube.... more running.... made with 3 mins to go , last train home , phew...

In general .... I was shocked that security were being so strict about recording and stopping people, they were telling people behind me A3 on the floor and also in the 1st tier 111/112, think Yvonne was in this area , I tried to look for you but couldnt spot you , thanks for text

Marta, Jon didn't make any fish faces when he sings, he seems to be using a different tech , which is interesting and much better.

Russ, His voice was amazing , the best. Whatever he is doing it is working , you will have an amazing time on 19th

The only thing I missed hearing was Happy Now... in general the guys looked amazing, fit and well... Richie played great and sang well. Jon vocal was brilliant. David looked so happy especially when Jon talked about the award David will receive this weekend.... it was fun taking part in the recording for it and watching Jon do his speech then we all cheered , we had to do it twice to make sure we got it right ! Can our fellow US JTers tell us when the show is on please ? Hope someone will put it on u tube.
Tico is the man and also looked happy , loved his waistcoat. Huge was , just huge as usual Bobby kept doing this shocked expression every now and then, but never smiles

Ive taken lots of pics, I kept shouting to my daughter take close up of Richie for Terri... . She took about 200 but some were blurry, will try and get pics/video up later they wont be Terri standard though !

I had the night of my life... thank you Bon Jovi , thank you Jters and most of all thank you God , you put me in the right place at the right time

To think I nearly didn't even make it to the show yesterday ! What a day. I'll never forget.

As did I To think that they're playing this 15 minutes from my home and I was in my room listening to it on the phone. Was too painful to take in.

Once again, Many Thanks for the call Dawn. I'll never forget it xXx

Thanks for the great review.

cant wait till the 19th myself now!!!!!!

It's nice to hear about the good things that happen in the world.

My first show in 93 - I was 14, i think. I had seats at the back of the floor and saw the security guards giving everyone who was sat behind the desk an upgrade: he led this big group down to the front block. It was actually the first show I ever went to on my own, so I couldn't help join the crowd!

Thank you Dawn for a great review. This fills me with such excitement. Its good to know his voice is on top form. Also good to know we can make it back in time for home. Going back to Hitchin so lots of trains at that time of night. Still think its amazing you got to be up front though how lucky is that? I will look closely at the prices of the T shirts before i pick one out. £70 is a bit steep. Did they have Kebabs as well as fish&chips?

I'm so glad you and your daughter had a great experience Dawn. Jon is sounding better than he has in years - it's nice you could enjoy that. And an upgrade like that - what a treat.

It just shows that good things do happen to nice people sometime!!!!

didnt see any kebab shops on O2 site there is a link to all fast food/restaurants and what they sell /prices etc....

Dawn

never written a gig review so thought it might be a bit boring for you to read. I know I always enjoy reading others.

thank you for your positive comments