Hi guys,

It gives me great pleasure to finally post my review. It has taken alot of time. It is very in depth and incorporates alot of things, not only the actual show. I have put my heart and soul into this. I hope you guys like it. There may be spelling errors but i have left it...its all on paper....dont wanna spend any more time because ill be forever.
It would be greatly appreciated if you guys could read every word (i know its a long review). That would mean alot.
Thanks and enjoy (hopefully lol)

BON JOVI- LOST HIGHWAY TOUR 2008

Acer Arena, Sydney, Australia
(Section H Premium)- 21st January 2008


After being blown away by my first Bon Jovi concert in Melbourne, I couldn’t imagine how Sydney could get any better. In fact, Melbourne felt like a blur. It went so quickly. So, my second (and third) Bon Jovi concert would be witnessed in my home town (city), Sydney Australia. My excitement levels skyrocketed since the Melbourne concert. I had goose bumps leading into the second concert because I knew that it was the first Sydney concert in 12 years and that all my friends would be there as well, so the expectation levels were high. I had promoted this event since the band decided to make the trip down under, so I was excited for my friends as much as I was excited for myself. Something deep down told me that that Sydney would be special.

Monday morning arrived and I had to go to work. I planned to leave early at 2.00pm so it could give me enough time to prepare for the concert. I caught a train home from the city, had a brief nap, and then commenced preparations. I bought a cardboard to produce a sign requesting DRY COUNTY and ALWAYS (Original). I guess I felt I had a duty to do everything in my power to make my request known. It was perhaps my only ever chance to do so. Nonetheless, I felt proud of what I was doing. I left home at 5.00pm and headed to Sydney Olympic Park.


I arrived at the venue at about 6.30pm, whereby I got something to eat (Subway) and then went to the Acer Arena. It was an overcast day with little sunshine. I didn’t mind. I actually preferred that instead of 40 degree heat. Prior to entering the arena, I saw my good mate from school Greg and his sister. He was excited about the whole concert. He said that all that would make him happy was if they played Keep the Faith. I told him there was a good chance they would play it. It was quite a surreal feeling preparing to see them for the second time in two days. As this had been a long awaited event, I wasn’t sure how to react exactly. I guess it was just a matter of soaking up the atmosphere and experience.

Everybody that I spoke to was asking me how the Melbourne concert was and all I could reply with was hallelujah/magic. I said it was breathtaking. I couldn’t imagine how it could be topped.

Whilst I was waiting for my friends near the merchandise section, a girl approached me and commented on my request sign and said that her boyfriend had planned to do exactly the same thing for the second Sydney concert and request Dry County and Always. At that point, I knew I wasn’t alone in my quest. It was funny and she wanted a picture with me. I mentioned to her that these two song requests are long shots and would be a miracle if they were played. She asked me whether they played ‘Always’ in Melbourne and responded no with sadness. She asked me if they played ‘Bed of roses’ and my response was identical to the first.

It was 8.00pm and the concert fast approached. I ended up meeting with my friends Steve and Irene, and my sister, Mary. They were so excited. We were making predictions about the setlist, talking about the past and just waiting to experience it all. Steve was a drummer in a rock band and recalled how the first time he saw Bon Jovi was back in 1987 during the Slippery When Wet tour. He said that it was that specific concert that made him wanting to purse the dream of becoming a professional drummer some day and to be like Tico and play in a rock band. He said that till this day, he had never given up on that dream. That was quite moving and I could relate to every word he said.

As I was walked to my door, I heard on the load speaker that bon jovi were about to commence. It was 8.25pm and the rush was building, soon to explode. I quickly ran inside to my seat. I greeted the guys next to me who were from Newcastle. I also greeted the guys behind me who wanted a picture of me and my request sign as well. I assured them I wouldn’t hold it up for the whole night (as I didn’t want to impede their view).

As I waited on the edge of my seat for the boys to come out, I soaked up the buzz and hype that the Sydney crowd exhibited, and really felt at home. The Acer Arena was the perfect setting for a great live show, as opposed to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, which was a somewhat strange venue.

With the anticipation levels building by the second, the lights went out and the crowd’s response reached maximum level with the knowledge the boys were ready to take centre stage. Then, that moment came. Each band member took their place, and Jon made an entrance to that of a legendary rocking roll star. Like Melbourne, the boys opened with the cover GLAD ALL OVER and I think it was a fitting song to open the show with because I truly believed the band were glad all over to be in Australia. The sound and atmosphere was much better than Melbourne and right then and there, the line ‘Tonight is going to be special’ filled the capacity in my mind.

And finally, after 12 years, Bon Jovi kicked off the LOST HIGHWAY journey in Sydney Australia with the title track. Jon looked fresh and ready to go and it was just a matter of time before seeing what was to be unleashed. I felt the song reflects on where the band is at currently in their career, and after my initial criticism of the new album (due to making the mistake of rigorously comparing it to their old stuff), I had grown to appreciate and like it, and I guess that’s the effect that Bon Jovi has. It’s impossible not to love them. The best part of the song was when Jon charismatically sung: “Oh patron saint of lonely souls, tell this boy which way to go, guide the car, you got the keys, farewell to mediocrity, kicking off the cruise-control and turning up the radio, got just enough religion and a half tank of gas come on, let’s gooooooo” and the “let’s gooooooo” line echoed throughout the entire arena.

As Lost Highway concluded, Jon revved the crowd up with more come ons than the Australian cricket team’s marketing song ‘come on Aussie come on come on’. That was special and at that point, the crowd was at Jon’s mercy. Jon responded to the crowd’s cheers by declaring “Strap in baby, we’re going all the way around tonight” and then ripped into YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME with “Shot through the heart and your to blame, you give love a bad name”. Just witnessing the start of this song and the crowd’s reaction brought shivers down my spine. It was like fireworks being set off. It was incredible. Not one person in the arena was seated, as this song brought the best out of the young and old. Truly a classic!!! It felt like I was watching them in their prime years in the 1980’s. Jon worked the crowd so well and it’s only when you’re actually there that you are able to feel what it is like to be a Bon Jovi worshipper.

Richie’s guitar paved the way for RAISE YOUR HANDS, a song which kept the 1980’s rocking roll momentum going and ran deep into the band’s Slippery When Wet era. It was definitely an explosive song that ensured everyone was part of ‘Jovi’s church of rocking roll’. I sung my lungs out to it. The best part was when Jon sang “Raise your hands, when you want to let it go. Raise your hands and you want to let a feeling show. Raise your hands from New York to Chicago. Raise your hands. From New Jersey to Tokyo, ohhhhhh wohhhhhh Raise your hands” with 18,000 hands responding instantly. Awesome!!! True rocking roll!!!