Ricardo's Review

We planned where we going to eat, park etc beforehand so it was just a case of driving there. Set off about 2pm and there was a nervous anticipation as to whether my car (or the Flying Turd as it is affectionately known) would make it. Anyway we did and parked up outside Frankie and Benny’s, not far from the Lowry bridge. Had something to eat and drink and then set of for the ground. On route, I nearly beheaded a skater who crashed into my mum and suffered verbal abuse from a bunch of louts singing ‘This Ain’t A Love Song’. Gates opened at about 5.05pm. We went to out seats and then I decided to have a look at the merchandise…..only I couldn’t. They made fabulous provisions for us mere peasants in the stands, having one merchandise stand on the pitch which we, of course, weren’t allowed on to. Anyway, some steward ushered me on to the pitch and back and I managed to get a t-shirt for my mum and myself.

Sat back down and Live were about to start. They weren’t too bad but the sound was quite poor, especially for the first few songs. Who was the fella in the pink shirt? He was crazy!

Anyway, we waited for the band. They appeared at almost bang on 8pm and the crowd went (moderately) wild. Same block of songs at the beginning. I was actually expecting Wild In The Streets but it didn’t come. That song always seems to get the guys fired up. Nice acoustic ending on The Distance from Jon but not many around me were singing along. Nothing else of great note in the first section…..pretty bog-standard.

Richie was on fire all night. The faces and solos were equally as good, although I thought his lead breaks were lost in the mix somewhat. Anyway, that’s all by-the-by; he was on fire. Notably, The Distance, Keep The Faith and I’ll Be There For You, he was on top from for. He got a massive reception for IBTFY: I don’t think many of the crowd knew to expect it but they lapped it up. (it was my mother’s favourite performance of the night and she’d also like to add that Richie is much better looking than Jon). Jon seemed up for it aswell tonight. He kept feeding off the crowd, especially after his improv. on Saturday Night. Dave’s singing was good on In These Arms. I didn’t think he was going to sing for a moment, but then he began. Rocking All Over The World really got the crowd going and Dave was really into his solo.

They came back after for the encore and Jon said that we were going to be so lucky and the Hyde Park gig wouldn’t be half as good as ours. He said they were going to play something they hadn’t done before and began Lola. It was a nice treat and the crowd seemed to appreciate it. I was expecting something good to come next after Jon’s little talk. Captain Crash came next which was taken well but was yet again fairly standard. When Bad Medicine came next, I gave up all hope. Standard version straight into Shout and I knew that was it. But wait! Jon’s talking about Jonny’s church and the faithful. It couldn’t be could it?! No. It was a nice way to introduce the band but the crowd really wanted more.

On the way home my dad farted and my mum commented that she bet Jon Bon Jovi didn’t fart in front of his wife. My dad replied that with his money, she’d let him sit on her face while he was doing it.

All in all, not bad, but nothing particularly stunning about it.

I was actually expecting Lay Your Hands on Me after Lola.... Don't know why, when Richie took to the front of the stage, which made Captain Crash even more soul crushing

oh well.... maybe saturday /will/ be different....
ill go back to the realms of the cry corner now, as i wont be there......
from what ive heard however, this being my first time to bon jovi, thigs will probably be better next time, and .'. ill be more impressed than i already was..... would have been nice to hear some different songs.... but.... hey im okay with it

oh well.... maybe saturday /will/ be different....
ill go back to the realms of the cry corner now, as i wont be there......
from what ive heard however, this being my first time to bon jovi, thigs will probably be better next time, and .'. ill be more impressed than i already was..... would have been nice to hear some different songs.... but.... hey im okay with it

I really hope you do get somethign special for Hyde Park, for the sake of all those people who have paid a hell of a lot of money to make a special effort to get to that show, even though I can't go myself . But I'm just thinking now that it'll be the same set list, with maybe the first encore different. Maybe that one song will be special, and they may do something like Never say goodby acoustic to finish, but after all the expectation of Old Trafford being something special coming to nothing, I woudln't be suprised if Hyde Park is a little disapointing setlist wise.

well, HP is slated to be 2h45mins...which is round an extra 20mins from manchester to put blood on blood etc in there

I thought the curfew for Manchester was 10:30? same for Wolverhampton. Wolves they were off at 10:10, so finished early. That's a guess at the curfew, it could have been as late as 11, I think Springsteen went over 10:30, and that's more residencial, he was off closer to 10:45 I think.

it all depends wot time they kick off...if they are prompt we should get at least 2h30mins

I don't want to put on a downer or anything, and you should go expecting it to be good... BUT

I said at Wolverhampton when the band went into Bad Medicine to Tom "that's it, all over now", he said somethign like "it's going to be a short set, but not THAT short". Unfortunatly I was right.