I was surprised by the New York Times review. They loved the show. They are not known for being kind! I'm going tonight

Bon Jovi Gets Hometown 'Bounce' in N.J.
February 11, 2003
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 2:39 p.m. ET

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- When you think music and New
Jersey, one name comes quickly to mind: Bruce Springsteen.

Yet few people inside or outside New Jersey are making
better music or rocking out more these days than local boys
Bon Jovi. The only 80s hair band to not only survive but
thrive in the new millennium, Bon Jovi showed a continuing
maturity and veteran stage presence as they brought their
``Bounce'' tour to Continental Airlines Arena on Monday.

The show, the second stop on the tour, opened with three
huge satellite dishes rotating onstage as the band -- lead
singer Jon Bon Jovi, guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist
David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres and bassist Hugh McDonald,
rose from beneath the floor on a hydraulic platform, bathed
in flashing blue, red and purple lights. The spotlight then
grabbed Sambora, clad in a floor-length red Sgt. Pepper
jacket as he ripped into the opening chords of ``Bounce,''
with 18,000 fans roaring in response.

Jon Bon Jovi, clad in tight-fitting black leather pants and
shirt, did his own one-legged bounce during the
shout-it-out chorus, his famous mop of hair flopping up and
down to the beat. The satellite dishes rotated downward and
became three circular video screens where huge images of
the band were shown.

Then it was on to ``You Give Love A Bad Name,'' with Jon
and Richie stalking the front of the stage during the
famous guitar riff just like they did in the memorable 1986
video. Jon slapped hands, high-fived fans and got generally
pawed by adoring females on the side of the stage during
``Livin' On A Prayer.''

``Undivided,'' the ode to 9/11 and the best track on
``Bounce,'' began mournfully with Bryan playing a funereal
dirge on the synthesizer before the band tore into the
aggressive, defiant tribute to America coming together
after the terrorist attacks. Jon Bon Jovi lives in
Middletown, N.J., which lost 37 residents in the World
Trade Center attack. He flashed visible anger as he snarled
out the lyrics, ``That was our mothers, those were our
children, that was our fathers, that was each of us.''

Later, he assumed his familiar role as romantic crooner on
``My Funny Valentine,'' eyes shut tight, cooing in his
lowest register as the girls shrieked like they used to for
Sinatra in a different era.

The band was tight and energetic throughout the 24-song
show, which lasted more than 2 1/2 hours, and was anchored
by Torres' no-frills drumming and McDonald's booming bass
lines. Sambora took over lead vocals from Jon on ``I'll Be
There For You,'' and Bryan ably filled in on the high
harmonies, breathing new life into an old chestnut from the
1989 ``New Jersey'' tour.