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Originally Posted by bonjovi90
I somehow left this show with an empty feeling like I’ve never had after a Bon Jovi concert. In Dusseldorf 2011, I was disappointed, but gutted at the same time because it was down to them having been moody. This time around – the great thing was: both Jon and the band were giving their all. Can’t deny that, he was trying really hard. At the same time – the sad thing was: Jon and the band were actually giving their all. I don’t think that, at this point in time, they have more in them and I honestly feel it may have been their last visit to Europe. Jon’s fallen into the habit of putting on his “public smile” each time he flounders a note. That’s why he’s smiling that much. He was energetic on stage and working the crowd, but at the same time it felt like he was dialing it in. Tico is really on the edge of being able to pull off such a demanding show (he had no break with Amen like on most other occasions) and there have been a few blips here and there, but this guy still is my hero for fighting like a troop behind his drum kit. Dave was as solid as he’s always been, as were Phil and Hugh. Can’t say much about Shanks or Bradley since they just didn’t really stick out in a good or bad way. I definitely think they’re all having a good time with each other, playing these big crowds and touring Europe, but also don’t think their hearts are really in it anymore. Can’t blame them when the band leader talked about “it’s just a day job!” as far back as early 2013.
Albeit all this bitching, it wasn’t a bad concert. It was a solid rock concert. During the last few years, I’ve gone to bands like KISS and the Scorpions. Music that I grew up with and where I said that I wanted to see these bands once in my life before they retired. The shows were all good and I left saying “it was nice to have experienced it once, but I wouldn’t need to do it again” and it just applied this time around again. But Bon Jovi concerts used to be THE difference to me from so many other rock acts out there. Maybe I had just always been extremely lucky in picking my shows, but I loved the fact that it was all unexpected – for better or for worse. That one rare track here and there, that one thing you didn’t see coming, but it took you away to certain memories. That was what made it so exciting. It could also be that I simply can’t stand too much predictability.
After all the bad reviews over the years and the partly shocking videos, I wanted to see and judge it by myself. Their music has supported me on many occasions through troublesome times, so I didn’t feel like I needed to stop supporting them immediately because Jon’s struggling. But then again, their support in my life wasn’t nearly as expensive as the other way around.
Everyone has different reasons why they love the band. Some are already happy when Jon’s smiling and supposedly enjoying himself. All good, nothing wrong with that. I became a fan at the age of 14 because I loved the energy, that sharpness their live shows had, the way Jon would sing a song and take certain lines/verses to a different level by his gift of being able to phrase things and melodies in a way that I think no one else could (in my book). Then there was Richie and that feeling when their voices melted together was something you can’t even describe. Plus that feeling when I listened to him playing his guitar, these subtle nuances he had in there were just what made it so special. On this concert, it was all about the big choruses (at least from where I was standing) and these were fun to sing with so many people, no doubt about that. Yet what made it all once the center of life for me (albeit Jon’s still undoubtedly good frontman characteristics), it’s gone.
But I guess I’ve realized that my personal taste and what the band is doing by now (also in terms of studio outputs) just isn’t on the same page anymore. Not bitter about it, these were terrific 15 years and some of their music will always hold a special place in my life and I’ll certainly keep track of what may come in the future. Maybe something might pull me back in, you never know. I’ve found bands where I just see exactly what once made me become a fan of Bon Jovi and I’m happy to move on to new adventures and music. When I walked out of the stadium in Cologne 6 years ago, I said “if it all ended tonight, it’s been a perfect ride”. It may not have been that perfect high note like back then, but Munich certainly still was a good bookmark to close that chapter.
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Most of what you say here is how I feel about it. Thank you for your sincere review. I wish I would disagree, but I don't.