The Official April 7, 2018, Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, U.S.A. thread

I was at the show last night. The sound was terrible, but I don't think it was the band's fault. Maybe just a bad venue to see rock music.

I could barely hear the words to the vocals and had to listen hard to hear the guitar solos.

The guitar player was amazing, so not having Sambora was somewhat forgiven but again, hard to hear the solos. I was in the 2nd row of Section D, so everything should have been really loud.

The Set List wasn't great, but considering they are promoting an album, not terrible. I wish they had played I'll Be There for you, and Always, but they played a bunch of songs from their 2 popular periods.

Also, no opening act (that I saw), which is strange.

I got tickets for like $115 6 hours before the show. If I had waited until 2 hours before showtime, there were tickets on the floor for like $72.

In and out was really easy. Parking was cheap and easy and getting in and out of the building was easy. Compare that to Guns and Roses, getting in was a pain in the ass and getting out of the building itself took a whole hour.

Crowd was older and civil, and that was also good for this particular night. Assumed I'd see more people in their 20s and early 30s. Mostly 40+.

Not a huge Bon Jovi fan, but I like them and know all of their popular songs. For me, it was worth it.

If they did another show where they only played their hits, and Sambora was back, and the sound was better, would consider going again. But that's probably way too much to ask.

There was an opening act, maybe because they were horrible you blacked it out?

This sums it up.
It’s ok for new fans and casuals but if you followed the band through their prime this version of the band is horrible to listen and watch.

I take it you got a pair of Bon Jovi rose tinted glasses with your tickets?

APP Review

https://www.app.com/story/entertainm...iew/493547002/

They were pretty bad - and as is usual with opening acts the sound was horrendous. We were having drinks at the bar during their set so we were pretty close. Also they only played for about 20 minutes which was fine by me.

Several people mention the sound and not being able to hear. Because I have gone to this venue over the years - and I was at all 10 opening nights in 2007 - I am very familiar with it. The short story is the the building's sound sucks and it has since it opened. A bit longer investigation will allow that there are a few locations in the venue that the sound isn't too bad. Mostly that is all the way down at the other end of the arena opposite the stage. Anything else on the sides or very close to the front all you hear is a wall of sound.

So last night I could have blamed the band and said that they had Jon turned down so low you could hardly hear him. But I had trouble hearing Phil too. I am chalking this one up to the lousy venue and I will hope that Mohegan Sun and MSG sound better. Both of them have good sound. If they don't sound better - then I guess I will have to blame the band - or at least the front of house mixing engineer.

I have to agree with this review - reports of his voice being gone are highly exaggerated. He sounded far better than he did on the last tour. One quibble that I do have is that there were a few places where he sang flat - really, obviously flat. I am wondering if it has more to do with his hearing that with his voice. Most times though, he sounded very much like his old self - minus the very high notes.

Ha ha Steve maybe but all the critical stuff which I could certainly rehash is already mentioned. I am far too busy in my professional and personal life so my time is at a premium. If I came away not enjoying the shows, I wouldn’t go.

The sound at Pru is bad depending on where you are. I was in Section C and it was low at times but I not as bad as other parts of the arena can be.


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The same user (Jim Powers) that posted the video of Runaway on YouTube has most of the songs in good quality on there. For today’s standards, Jon seemed to sound decent. Looks like an enjoyable show.

I’m guessing the setlists stay super safe until after the R&R Hall of Fame. Hopefully he cuts loose a little bit after that.


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I wouldn't say 'horrible' because I still think that Bon Jovi in 2018 with this current lineup does it better than most...

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