Official July 12, 2013 -> Soldier Field, Chicago, IL, USA thread

Gabriel Shoes · #**121** 07-14-2013, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheseDaysEra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A34SPRSNakQ

seriously, how does he keep from literally shitting himself ? do you think he wears diapers just in case ? I'll always ask the same question but man, if he's so self-aware of his performance and vocal range, why on earth does he insist on playing certain songs in certain keys ? it's pitiful to listen to this.

Totally sounds like a bad karaoke singer.

Wrath Mania · #**122** 07-14-2013, 08:18 PM

Anyone else notice the big wad of spit that falls out of his mouth at 2:01? What's up with that? Is that something normal for singers or is it a sign of how ****ed up this song had become for him?

Always performances have pretty much summed up this tour for me. It was a song that Jon had managed to reclaim in 08 to great success, which for the most part continued into the Circle tour. Arguably he was singing Always then better than he ever did, including 95/96. The general feeling was hed never be able to sing it again after the Bounce tour, so it was a real joy to be provrn wrong. But Now he keeps peddling it out, desperate to prove he can still sing it, but he clearly can't. It sounds like he's desperately trying to keep up with the song, and failing.

WildBilly · #**123** 07-14-2013, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheseDaysEra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A34SPRSNakQ

seriously, how does he keep from literally shitting himself ? do you think he wears diapers just in case ? I'll always ask the same question but man, if he's so self-aware of his performance and vocal range, why on earth does he insist on playing certain songs in certain keys ? it's pitiful to listen to this.

It's a belting song! The guitar solos are immense and I've loved hearing Phil X's new take on them.

It's been a huge struggle for Jon for some time time though which is a real shame. Not only can he not do it justice vocally any more but he makes it look so difficult. I know we shouldn't really be comparing them to a time gone by but I watch this (http://youtu.be/xp-tKEm70oI) and think "Wow!", I watch the 2013 video and just cringe. Sad times.

KeepTheFaith2211 · #**124** 07-14-2013, 09:55 PM

Well I was expecting much worse. It's bad yes but it's not unlistenable.

However, if there is one thing Jon really needs to sort out, it's pronunciation. As the thread in the general section of this performance proves, he tries to get away with just singing a noise rather than a word.

RichardP · #**125** 07-15-2013, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josie2013

Hey Everyone! So I was at the show last night and this is what I thought:

Pro's
Stage is awesome.
Venue is great. I saw Bon Jovi there is 2010. The weather was perfect, which is a miracle in and of itself for Chicago.
Jon's voice was good. He struggled on some songs, most noticeably Always, but it didn't sound as bad as early on the tour. He sounded quite good on some others.
It wasn't just the JBJ and Friends show. David and Tico were heavily featured on the jumbo screens as well.
The setlist was pretty good. Sadly, nothing from These Days but I finally got to see In These Arms live.

Con's
No Richie. This is the first show I've seen without him (I've also seen them in 2008 and 2011 at the United Center and at the Allstate Arena over 10 years ago). It just isn't the same without him. It was so strange to see Phil X do the intro to LOAP and Bobby doing Richie's solos. Richie definately has a huge stage presence and the interaction between him and Jon leaves a hole. Can't help but compare this show to 2010 and 2010 was phenomenal (performance, vocals, etc).

Merchandise was ridiculous. $45 was the cheapest shirt and $55 for a tank top! Also, the shirts either had the Bon Jovi heart/dagger, some kind of flag/army theme or just Jon's face! Only one had Jon and Richie! One even had Jon posing with JBJ on there!

The audience had a lot more middle aged, suburban soccer moms. Not sure if it is Richie's absence, the album or the excessive touring keeping some away. I couldn't believe how many people didn't know KTF. So many go just to hear LOAP, IML and Bad Name. People were leaving after Bad Medicine and then many after Prayer. It is a 60,000 seat place so in the big picture it wasn't that many people leaving but I have never seen that happen before.

Interesting Notes
Jon tried to sing the chorus to BWC but no knew the words.
I swear, and my friend does as well, that he was crying during Make a Memory (because he was thinking of Richie!).
Before Wanted, he made a comment about the crazy technology world we live in and how everything he says is recorded and then proceeded to say "thank you for 30 years of friendship, support and patience". I say he was giving a shout out to Richie! Ha ha.

My Takeaways
Jon is a great front man and Bon Jovi is a great live band. When Jon is on stage he doesn't come across as the ignorant jerk that he does in interviews. Maybe because he isn't trying to be something he is not.... If he and Richie work out the differences and the band gets back to making good music, they can get back to the top and stay there. The talent is there and I do think they can produce more hits. I don't think they are on top any longer as the last times they have played Chicago they always had back to back sold out shows. But if Richie doesn't come back or they keep coming out with mediocre at best records, they will slowly but surely continue to lose fans.

Don't yell at me for this super long post!

Good review, we'd agree with most of it. My wife and I have seen them about a dozen times before but always in Europe until this show, here are some of our thoughts;

The merchandising is ridiculously expensive Stateside, $55 for a T-shirt (I'm XXL so subject to a $10 supplement!) if they actually had them; $35 at home, no surcharge for XXL.

We saw them at Villa Park before we came over and the set list wasn't that different, although we did get Dry County at Villa Park, which was greeted with the usual cheers from those who know and blank looks from the vast majority. Soldier Field is a far better stadium than any we've seen them at over here. Agree with all the comments that it should be played more often, interestingly if there are any Elton John fans on here then you'll know that that Funeral for a Friend (Love Lies Bleeding) is of similar length & standing in his repertoire, and gets much the same fan reaction. But we don't see much of a European/North American divide on set lists.

Audience was much louder Stateside than at home, we enjoyed the crowd reaction much more than some of the ones at home; thanks to those around us in Block 330 and the band for a great final night to our holiday.

The Phil X question; we'd obviously rather see Richie, but if it's no Richie or no Bon Jovi then sorry Richie, Phil X does a damn good job & it won't stop us from coming back again.

We'd (or maybe I'd) prefer more off of These Days and Young Guns, we don't mind Runaway, but if we never hear Captain Crash again it will be too soon.

The 30 year speech; anyone else think it sounded like a retirement speech?

Bill23 · #**126** 07-15-2013, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ezearis

Always sounds so bad that he needs to drop it this tour and put This Ain't A Love Song on its place.

You are crazy. Always is such a great song and live its epic. Jon isn't 28 anymore...the voice isn't what it once was, get over it. Live, outdoors, 50000 people...it was awesome. If you want vocal perfection listen to the album. Always live is better than no Always at all.

Gabriel Shoes · #**127** 07-15-2013, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill23

You are crazy. Always is such a great song and live its epic. Jon isn't 28 anymore...the voice isn't what it once was, get over it. Live, outdoors, 50000 people...it was awesome. If you want vocal perfection listen to the album. Always live is better than no Always at all.

You are insane.

rightsideofwrong · #**128** 07-15-2013, 01:59 AM

Bill is probably one of the more sane and reasonable people here. He's right. It's NO surprise Jon struggles with always so I'm not sure why some of you act like its this new thing, but Jon also knows people want to hear it, and when you are there live and however many thousand people are singing along it doesn't sound too terrible. Always live > no always live. And if Jon didnt come back out and play it 90% would have ranted off about how even more awful the setlist is and how Jon doesn't care. He knows he sounds like crap singing always, but he puts himself through the embarrassment because people want it. He's not trying to prove anything. Take your meds people.

jessycardy · #**129** 07-15-2013, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rightsideofwrong

Bill is probably one of the more sane and reasonable people here. He's right. It's NO surprise Jon struggles with always so I'm not sure why some of you act like its this new thing, but Jon also knows people want to hear it, and when you are there live and however many thousand people are singing along it doesn't sound too terrible. Always live > no always live. And if Jon didnt come back out and play it 90% would have ranted off about how even more awful the setlist is and how Jon doesn't care. He knows he sounds like crap singing always, but he puts himself through the embarrassment because people want it. He's not trying to prove anything. Take your meds people.

I wholeheartedly agree with this. Plus, it doesn't always sound bad.

Gabriel Shoes · #**130** 07-15-2013, 02:20 AM

At least you all know that he sounds bad, but you still wanna hear it. There's other people that insists he's not struggling.

But IMO Jon should get a vocal coach for the whole tour, for me as a karaoke singer, I know he's not singing. I wonder what professionals think about it.

Official July 12, 2013 -> Soldier Field, Chicago, IL, USA thread

Tour Discussion