Half way Thru the Tour....what do you think???

I wonder what "Sympathy" would sound like live?
That's one of my favs of the box set.

Depends if Jon can still pull off the sneering vocals. Apart from that, I don't reckon it'd be too hard for him to sing, and would probably come off quite well live

I feel the same as many here do. Overall the Newark shows were not as good as they could have been - with the exception of nights 3 and 9. And those were stellar.

For some reason, starting in February, Jon's voice seemed to improve dramatically and as said. The Stand Up for a Cure show was a pleasure just to hear Jon almost sound like himself again (excepting the very high end of course).

It doesn't take too much effort to make even a mediocre setlist transform into something special if you play a rarity or two for us die hards. The Philadelphia night 2 setlist wasn't that great but they opened with a cover that I liked and had never heard them play before (Glad All Over) - and when I heard the first chords of Blood Money I really got a rush. Then to top it off - I got to hear Hallelujah again after blowing the recording of the only time it was played in Newark.

I felt the same on night 9 in Newark whan Jon sang IBTFY for the first time in years instead of Richie.

So - as many have said - it's a mixed bag. It could be better but I do see an effort to add some rare content. I just wish they would completely rethink the entire setlist that has been played practically forever.

Which songs did they play?

Yes, exactly. Well put.

Encore: Night 9 Newark

02 I'll Be There For You <---- This was the real surprise with Jon singing
03 Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
04 Wanted Dead Or Alive
05 Keep The Faith

Did you not download my recording on dime Emil?

Yep, that's a nice encore.

Haha, I haven't got all the Pru-shows yet. But I'm on it. You're an angel by the way.

Definitely thinking about it for sure.

I"m twelve shows in this tour and and for me it's gotten better as it's gone along. The band is just really, really good this tour, having Richie better seems to have jump started them all. Jon sounds better as time goes on which is strange, usually on tour he struggles more with his voice as it goes on but instead it seems to get stronger. I don't know what he's doing but I don't think I've seen him be in this good a mood consistently out on tour in ....well forever. They all seem to be enjoying themselves and appreciating what they are doing more this tour and for me anyway its translating into better shows overall.

Setlists have been alright in my book particularly lately, where Jon is throwing in some different stuff. I like 4th of July so I was happy to hear it in Minneapolis and Blood money was better the second time around than it was in Philly.

Damned was really good, at least i think it was. To be honest, it's the first time I've ever heard it live so it took a minute for me to figure out what it was, and when I did I was so dumbfounded it was getting played at all that I was in a bit of a daze the whole song. I really hope someone there taped it and it makes utube, I'd like to see and hear it and see if it was as good as I think it was.

The bulk of my arena shows are coming up, starting with Denver so I'll have a better idea of how it really all was in a month.

I will se 2 shows this summer so I really hope for two kind of different setlist. I will be at the hamburg show and the helsinki show. I hope for a few different gems.

The European shows will most likely be different to he US shows..it is a different market and Jon knows this...I personally think we got a great setlist in Croke Pk...I figured I would be able to predict most of the songs after watching the setlists on the tour but I was surprised on several occasions which is always good...The whole band seemed to be on top form that day which is probably as much to do with where they were playing because Jon has said Ireland is his favourite place to play...

Theres alot of talk about the casual fan but you also gotta remember the casual concert goer...the people who will go to see any artist they have the slightest interest in...I am one of those people and I have gone to see artists that I have barely listened to an album or only heard them on the radio...how many album cuts do you think these people know,I would imagine not alot...they might have one or two albums at most...I've gone to Bon Jovi concerts with people who don't own an album or only on or two of their albums...they need to cater to these people aswell so they need to play well known album cuts...

It's been stated several times that Jon puts together a setlist a few minutes before a show...maybe if a little more thought was put into it and a little more input from the band,it might ressult in a better setlist...