I read and enjoy all these jovitalk forums.
I listened to the YouTube feed of the stream from Madrid on my iPad with decent Sennheiser headphones and the sound mix is great, vocals are perfectly acceptable for a 50 year old rock singer. This band is tight.
Listening particularly to Phil X, I truly feel he does an outstanding job with this material owned by Bon Jovi. He improves with feel and confidence at every performance. He's engaging, and obviously the other band members are enjoying and feeding off his enthusiasm.
I would agree with comments I've read before that the voice box doesn't have enough bite, and this is easily determinable when you hear it deselected and the guitar cuts through at greater clarity. Obviously it will sound differently amongst players as no mouth/teeth are the same.
Look at the news vid of the band at Prague airport to see the tedious side of fame and touring. Having worked as a roadie for Nazareth in the glory days I can tell you there's very little glamour no matter how much people covet the thought of being on the tour!
Yes, they perform a similar show each night, both music and intro's, but that's theatre. It remains all about the performance.
Music is a language, a rhythm, it strikes a chord. There's no right or wrong, it's about emotion. Every view is valid, and heartfelt. I feel the love.
This is this years band, Richie taking time out will likely re-energise him, re-energise the band, re-energise the music.
My band, The Who, have by necessity changed lineup, often. Losing Moon and Entwistle, gaining Simon Philips, Kenney Jones, Rabbit Bundrick, Zak Starkey, Simon Townshend, Pino Palladino, John Corey and Steve White and others!
If Townshend went missing and Phil X stepped in, I would still go to every gig possible, because I love those songs and there is nothing like live music, nothing!
As Phil X proves in Milan last night
http://youtu.be/L_CxOepUvfw