Feelings about the tour...

Greedy bastards!!!
Just themselves, blah!!!













i'm kidding, I won't be able to see them on this tour so I don't really care.

I'll just jump back in here. This is the point; the band should not be playing just to satisfy themselves. I feel they play all the same songs etc because they just aren't committed to rehearsing and putting in some hard work anymore. How many times do you reckon they have rehearsed LOAP or Wanted or Bad Name or LYHOM in the last 15 years? Once? Twice? It's easier for them to keep doing them than relearn some other songs or find different ways to present the songs. If all you are doing to prepare for a tour is learn 8-10 songs you've recently recorded then it isn't too difficult at all now is it? As has been said, these guys are professional musicians and anyone would go stale playing the same stuff.

As for playing requests, I think this is a bit misleading. Playing Blood on Blood for someone isn't really going out on a limb to make a show special is it? It has been in the setlist consistently. Now if someone holds up a sign for, say, Tokyo Road and it gets played then that would be special. Obviously the band cannot control what signs are held up but we've all seen the signs for real rarities and they never ever get played. Easy to pick Blood on Blood or the like. And it isn't just about requests either. How many times have there been genuine off-the-cuff moments where you get a sense that the setlist has been changed and an audible called on stage because the band is in the "moment"? Not always easy to know I appreciate but I can't recall many. Good guys... at Wembley in 1995 was definitely one and I'm sure there have been plenty of others but it is obvious they just play straight off the setlist pretty much all the time... no matter what Jon might try and say on the Zurich DVD! Other bands use a setlist as a framework and vary from it each and every night! You have to be good to switch around like that, including the road crew and lighting etc, but it isn't that hard for a real band.

As for the complaining, I think people complain about the songs that have been murdered- some of the newer versions just don't work. But there are plenty that do... have you heard the acoustic version of Born To Be My Baby that kicks around?! No-one would complain about them doing it that way- SO much better than the TLFR version. You have to pick the right versions! No-one complained about the 2000 version of Runaway either. Awesome. And all songs can be updated. Think about the guitar driven version of Dancing In The Dark that Springsteen played on the Rising tour. He hadn't played that song regularly for 14 years (one of the tracks he is most recognised for I should add) and suddenly, mid-tour, pulled out a real guitar-driven version of the song. Mid-tour... so the band had been working while they were on the road. I don't remember Bon Jovi doing something like that in the middle of any of the recent tours... largely because I suspect they have settled into a comfortable place where they don't want to.

I can understand some of the responses to this thread but others surprise me. We are all fans or we wouldn't be here but the need to accept everything the band does is pretty surprising. But if I had paid to go to 14 shows on the same leg of a tour then I might feel the need to justify it being good too! 14 shows?! I agree entirely that shows can never be judged by setlist alone but it can be a major influence, particularly for those who see a lot of shows.

[QUOTE=Becky]
I think bootlegs contribute to fans boredom with setlists and I say that as someone with a vast collection. I also think bootlegs are one reason people think the band doesn't sound as good or Jon doesn't sound as good because when you're there in person, the sound is incredible. QUOTE]

totally hit the nail on the head Becky. im really looking forward to hearing how it all plays out this time around. i can see how its hard to get away from bad name 2nd song in cause it works really well but when uve listened to a million bootlegs its kinda like groundhog day.
own tour some gigs raise ur hands was 2nd song and i think it kicked ass right there really gets a buzz going i would love to see that happen again.

amen to that

I'll jump back in here as well. About the band playing for themselves there is another perspective to look at here. It's been said here that Jon and the band shouldn't play to just please themselves which I have trouble agreeing with because IMO they just don't do that. Maybe I'm just confused about what y'all mean so here's an example of what I think defines a band playing for themselves. Dave Mathews Band. I really like alot of DMB's recorded music, but when I go to see them live I am always disappointed because Dave and Co. have a habit of rambling off into an impromptu jam session, which would be fine (as they are all very talented musicians) if I was paying to watch a jam session. Don't get me wrong I love impromptu changes during a show but when a band takes off on a jam and it goes on so long that by the time they get back to the song they started I've forgotten what it was, or worse, no longer care, then IMO that band is playing to please themselves and are not there to perform for an audience.

I also think that the band needs to satisfy themselves to a certain extent, by that I mean they need to like the songs they are performing, they need to feel good about them. I have seen BJ when it was obvious that they were not into the songs that were being played, what I saw was a very well played, professional show, but watching paint dry would have been more fun.

As for requests, what big time band takes audience requests regularly??? I've seen U2, The Stones, Aerosmith and Springsteen in the last couple of years and never once did I see any of them read a sign and say "ok lets do it". I think it's irrelevant what the request is for, the fact is Jon does do it now and again.
Songs murdered??? See here is the thing that bugs me about this, if you haven't seen/heard it live how can you say it doesn't work??? You have a preconcieved notion that because these two songs (i'm speaking of always and bor) are labeled as the tlfr versions that they are going to suck because you didn't like these versions on record. The thing is these two songs inparticular are "sold" live mainly by Jons vocal performance of them. By that I mean not how strongly or loudly he sings them but by the feeling and emotion he puts into them. I've seen these live and have to say Jon did an excellent job of both of these songs at the shows I have seen so far. And the new version Of BOR is excellent IMO.

Are Bon Jovi the most adventerous sp? band live??? No they are not. I think there are a couple of reasons for this.
I have heard Bono say that he can't hit the high notes in his songs unless he gets lost in the music, that the famous "falsetto" just isn't there. I think that for Jon, there needs to be a "comfortable" flow to the main setlist and once he finds one out on tour, he is hesitant to mess with it. Almost always the impromtu changes, the taking of requests and audibles are put in in the encores.
I would think that these days with all the high tech equipment and elements that go into a live show, deciding after the 5th song that you are now going to play something not even in the setlist would be a nightmare for the crew running the show. I'm not saying it can't be done and maybe even should be once in awhile, but it involves more than just the band and I would think pissing off your crew and making them look bad might not be high on any smart bands list of things to do.

Another point I'd like to make, so many people these days seem to criticize that band for every little detail. Why do people go to a concert? The anwer is simple... You go because you like the band and the music, and even in some cases the lead singer. LOL But what fun or enjoyment is anyone getting when all they are doing is bitching and criticizing?

Ryan

Yea, really, 14 shows. And I'm telling you, there was something special about each one of them for me. Again, would I love to hear a rarity, like Toyko Road, Stick To Your Guns, etc. Again, YES, YES, YES!! But, as you can see, not getting them doesn't stop me from going again, and again, and again, lol!! You do have to admit getting I Wish Everyday Could Be Like Christmas at the NJ shows which had not been played in about 13 or so years was COOL!!

The only thing preventing me from going to just as many shows on the second leg of the US tour, is WORK!! I'm a tax CPA so my busy season has started. But, I'm planning on squeezing in 4 shows.

deb

Ok...Before I replied I wanted to read everybodies posts. Ill say this , since These Days Ive pretty much gone to EVERY tour and show on the books , Im only goin to say IM FORTUNATE enough to go for personal reasons and things thats came of good fortune in my life ( this isnt to brag its just to set up where Im goin)
Ive seen them pretty much do everything some covers ETC. Now I can see why you feel bootlegs ETC would get stale for you . I am one of those folks who really LOVES just having them..Yea ok not stellar best recording, but for me its very well nostalgic in terms .I LOVE to remeber for example , that I attended Paris in 95 when they opened for the stones ETC. I dont feel for me it kills it like a few of you .
I would LOVE them sure to pull out Tokyo Road , Wild Is Wind ETC . I loved when on the Bounce Tour we got some acoustics on those tours , where part of the show was just that, I love that kind of show , I guess IM really a well devoted fan. I will just jet set ..go and see them , and I count this as a fortunate thing . I feel I do nothing else ..and its my passion and if people fiond me wacked for doin it THATS OK . After these tours I return to normal and go onto my other passions ( which are art and photography) so its ok .

People do critizie way too much , and often the ones I fele whom do are not the " hardcore" fanbase. I like to call these people the " living on a prayerbad name crew" bacause it seems all they know are those 2 songs which irks me , if the band went into lets say " one last cig" or even " just older" these fans usally sit down.

I got to say ...I always sit in the first 5 rows Bar none so maybe I feel this way because IM NOT in the rafters . I always think ...ID love to hear a rarity but the band is gonan please the fans , and what the majority wants , and much as though ID LOVE to be withought those common songs , while I enjoy the it be nice for a change , ill never get wildflowers in concert , so I got to be happy and I will be .



"""I have seen BJ when it was obvious that they were not into the songs that were being played, what I saw was a very well played, professional show, but watching paint dry would have been more fun."""

Ive seen that 2 ..really..and I know like said they do it to do it for the people ..paint dryin would be better yup.




I too connect like a fan said ..obvously I wouldnt spend fly ship drive to go ..if I did not connect...Bon Jovi is MY BAND and will forever be...my family thinks Im wacked to go to Australia or Japan...but sorry I can do worse in my life..if this is MY ONLY vice so be it ..iM not hurting anybody ....

I was happy with a few surprises at a few shows ( caa ETC) but sure I know whats coming by now....in each setlist..do I care well SURE Id love my own setlist. I guess for me its on a higher level , I tried to explain it , if somebody can grasp how Im talking ( In person I talk better than I type) I hope so...Im trying not to sound idiot and if I do im sorry...
Ill continue to hit the road...blaze that trail and wanderlust to see them....Its just a dreamI had happen that came true..and I guess in a sense " I made it to the dance ma" like jon said 300 times and counting.....

I hope I made SOME sense