Bon Jovi Rocked Boston
 

Bon Jovi's simple formula still works

01:00 AM EDT on Friday, July 28, 2006

BY RICK MASSIMO
Journal Pop Music Writer


FOXBORO -- Twenty-four years after their first single, "Runaway," Bon Jovi is still filling stadiums (drawing 50,000 to Gillette Stadium here last night) while the bands who thought they wouldn't last are playing Joey's Tiki Hut in Waukeegan (at best) and the critics who thought they wouldn't last are on Social Security. How'd that happen?

Well, let us count the ways: a classic frontman in Jon Bon Jovi who has lost nothing from his radio-ready voice, crowd-rousing athleticism or telegenic looks; a lead guitarist, Richie Sambora, who makes for a classic second banana and plays the most sing-along-able solos since The Cars' Elliot Easton; a straight-down-the-middle drummer in Tico Torres; and a keyboardist, David Bryan who leads the still-spot-on background vocals (along with a hired-hand keyboardist and guitarist). Of course, two-plus hours of mid-tempo, melodically simple shout-along choruses don't hurt, as long as you can still deliver them, which Bon Jovi did. (Well, they lost a couple inches on the fastball of "Runaway," but who's counting?)

Mainly, though, it's because, their music has grown up with their audience, from Ground Zero of hair metal to the adult contemporary of much of their latest record, Have a Nice Day. The classics, of course, had their spotlight last night -- "You Give Love a Bad Name," "Bad Medicine" (which had an unfortunate bit of "Shout" transplanted into the middle of it), "Wanted Dead or Alive," "I'll Be There For You" (sung last night by Sambora) and more. But a sizable chunk of their set list came from their 21st-century albums, including "Just Older," "Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen From Mars" and the hit "It's My Life," all from 2000's Crush, as well as the title track from Have a Nice Day, the hit "Who Says You Can't Go Home" and "Wildflower," which according to Bon Jovi hadn't been played live before last night. While the sounds have changed, the basic Bon Jovi viewpoint has stayed the same: I'll be there for you. We've got something to believe in, even if we don't know where we stand. You and me, we're invincible together. I like the bed I'm sleeping in. We've got each other, and that's a lot. (The country success of "Who Says You Can't Go Home" isn't really all that surprising, in this context.) With a few exceptions ("Runaway," "You Give Love a Bad Name") it's about fidelity and love and all the verities, as comfortable as an old sweater. It's more about reinforcing the things we all know are true, and unabashedly of this world. The very greatest bands create their own world, and make it a place you'd like to live in (or at least visit), and Bon Jovi isn't there. But with all the other above-listed ingredients, plus the healthy percentage of newer material in last night's show, they won't be heading to the Tiki Hut anytime soon.

Nickelback preceded Bon Jovi by toggling between angst-laden power ballads and mid-tempo rock-by-default celebrations of that same angst. The desired effect seemed to be the abrasive beauty of Nirvana; the actual effect was more like the by-the-numbers grunge of Bush.

Singer-guitarist Chad Kroeger's gravelly bray is an acquired taste, a voice for which the onomatopoeic neologism "yarling" must have been concocted. It overpowered ballads such as "Photograph" and "Far Away" (although the guitars helped on that one) and weighed down the otherwise grooving set opener, "Animals".

rmassimo@projo.com

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Oy! Could somebody tell him he's right about everything except that Runaway came out 24 years ago? That would make Jon eligible for R&R Hall of Fame next year and you all know that just can't be true. Can it??

;-) 30 HOURS UNTIL GIANTS STADIUM ;-)

He wrote it originally in 1982 I think and it got played on local radio stations, ending up on a compilation of local artists, which is what got him noticed. Then he put Bon Jovi together, but it was 1984 before their first album was released, so 25 years on from that will be 2009, when they will be eligible.

You're right about your dates, but there was a John Bongiovi album released in '82 according to All Music, and then I look at the R&R Hall of Fame Inductee list and they have them there for possibly 2008. I think if you focus on the artist, Jon, and not the band, that next year is actually possible. Just my speculation and wishful thinking ;-)

hehehehehe

So what does that mean? Jon could be inducted without the band? :|

he aint good enough....................

There is an unofficial CD of demo tracks that Jon recorded at the Powerstation studios, it was released in around 2000 I think by his cousin or something who had the rights to the songs I think. That wouldn't count as far as I know, beside the fact that as a solo artist I doubt Jon will ever in his life be inducted, not with just a couple of studio albums to his name. The band have a good shot, but not Jon alone.

it was called jon bongiovi- the powerstation years i think not sure if anthony bon jovi released it

Here's the link for the "John Bongiovi" album I was referring to. Says released in 1981? I don't own it but you can listen to some of the songs here. Very raw, don't beat up Jonny. This must be when he got booed of the stage at his own High School. We all start somewhere ;-)

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p...0:echxlfke0cqp