Jovitalk - Bon Jovi Fan Community - Purist's First Show of TC Tour

Well I just got in from the show, wolfed some food down and now sitting down with a glass of wine to get started on this. It's been a somewhat hectic night. I did not sleep well today following my graveyard shift, waking up after only 2 and a half hours and unable to go back to sleep... I'm not sure if it was cuz I had to get up to piss or because it was a bit like the night before Christmas in February. I completely missed Dashboard. Arriving, stopping to grab a T Shirt and then to the bathroom. While in there the shouts began as the house lights went down. I barely made it to my seat before the screens began to part.

The first thing that struck me as Blood On Blood began was that the sound was quite underwhelming. The bass was a distant thump rather than smacking you in chest. Forget about singing along....everyone will hear you. So I had to get past this as it really had nothing to do with the band or the performance. I'm betting the Pond (officially known as Honda Center) is to blame. Every show in memory there has been underwhelming sonically, that includes KISS and Metallica.

My seat was not that bad location wise... down close enough to not excuse the low sound with a full view of the production, off to the side just off the floor same distance back as the soundboard. Something about the place just kills it. This was my first time actually hearing Blood On Blood done live in person..at least in this arrangement for sure. I may have heard the acoustic opening arrangement, but frankly I've listened to way too many recorded shows to keep it sorted mentally.

The stage is actually pretty ****ing cool! It's possible that the "Robot Arms" Richie referred to are part of the Stadium stage-set...as we are talking about different stages here designed to scale. It's also possible he referred to the technical aspects of the screens. Let me tell you..these screen work overtime throughout the show and are quite surprisingly durable. They are constantly on the move to keep the stage shifting and a shitload of work went into it. I've always admired this aspect of concerts and wouldn't have minded going that route myself.

Let me address the body of the first set. It's not going to change much for this part of the tour. I have no doubt they do have evolving plans, so really.... you all really need to pace yourselves and not get down on them over it. Those of you going to Meadowlands, I will say right now that I have zero regret that I am going to all three. In fact after tonight, I am relieved that I am going to all three. Tonight was a warm up and definitely validation that I am on the right track.

I was very satisfied with the setlist. A bit personally prophetic. Whole Lot of Leavin' is a relatively recent discovery so it's inclusion as the audible for that slot in the show was welcome. As for the rest of the album's representation... Lost Highway was a bit of a highlight. I missed the tour, so I enjoyed getting to hear it in person. I thought the lighting progression and screens were very complimentary as well... it follows the sunset and sunrise cycle-thing, a bit epic looking.

People....I'm going to tell you now, We Got It Going on isn't going anywhere, just accept that now and you'll save yourself the endless, and ultimately pointless, bitching. First, the audience response was at it's highest up to that point. Something about it dynamically works. The place seemed to be jumping. Second...the staging is pretty elaborately designed for the song. I honestly can't say I hated it. Oh, and this is when the screens start doing double duty as staggered platforms for Jon to climb up like stairs. I honestly enjoyed it, and I declared the song as shit.

So for those who may be having issues with the dictation of the stage show on the setlist.. the flip side of that is Love Is The Only Rule and Thorn In My Side are not going anywhere at all and suggestions otherwise are quite ridiculous in reality. They both have elaborate stage designs worked out as well they are both performed passionately. To boot....Thorn In My Side actually had favorable response from the audience as a whole..all based on the performance rather than on the audience knowing it.

Bad Medicine w/ Doctor Doctor.... Oh thank you! You all know I hate Bad Medicine...though the band is able to perform it live with enough energy to win me over at times (Wembley 1995 for example.) The new arrangement with Doctor Doctor won me over. It's a highlight in the set rather than a "ho hum, again" moment. One of the coolest moments was when Richie, Jon, and Bobby got in formation during Doctor Doctor and proceeded to do the You Give Love a Bad Name-walk as it was done on the Jersey Syndicate tour. *edit - the walk was actually following Doctor Doctor on the lead back in to Bad Medicine.

Unfortunately, the sound being low wasn't the only issue...the people in my section were as well. My disgust level was elevated through-out. The girls in the seats next to me (I was on the end) kept getting up to leave and come back. One quite early in the set. The people in my section sat down often throughout, so the local energy was very low.

When Homebound Train started, most of the people around me sat down. I just shook my head and laughed. The floor remained standing as well as the pit so that was a relief. Looking around me though, I was almost an island standing alone. Just as they got the song going, I feel a tap on my back. I turn around and this woman asks me to sit down. I used the words "No! Sorry!" with terse finality in place of "Bitch, **** you." The song is a real highlight for the rest of the band, with Dave and Richie really getting a spotlight on their musicianship. They performed this song passionately and it was great to see. I only wish that the audience in my section did leave me as the lone supporter. I did not appreciate assholes trying make me the asshole for not joining them in sitting it out.

It was good to hear I'll Be There For You done by Jon after hearing Richie on the Bounce Tour. Where Richie owns Homebound Train, There For You is Jon's. So the two of them in this set put the balance right. I was quite surprised at how good Something For The Pain works acoustically. It does need to stay in the set and most likely will. It's the song that finally brings all four main band members out to the front, so it gives David a good excuse to switch to the accordion and come out. The girls who kept coming and going decided it was a good time to have a chat during the set. All I could think was maybe I really should have coughed up the 500 dollars and put myself in the pit where I should have been. I definitely didn't belong with the trash in my section.

Even though Jon said it, I was stunned and in disbelief when "Hey God" kicked in to when reality hit me I couldn't help but blurt aloud "OH MY GOD!" No pun intended. I said that if the band played Only Lonely or Hardest Part tonight, it would be like God talking to me. This was far more effective communication. It made the choice to go this show perfect....with zero regret for not going to the previous night.

Work for the Working Man has a visual production that puts the song in it's intended perspective. Frankly, if you are still hearing/picturing Village People after seeing it on the tour, you're a complete idiot. It gets you thinking about what they are getting at in the lyrics a bit beyond what is obvious.

As I said, Love's the Only Rule isn't going anywhere. It's more than obvious Jon loves the **** out of this song as do most people here. Give him some credit. He worked his ass off tonight to sweating profusely and put plenty of passion into his performance as did the rest of the band. Nobody was on auto-pilot. When they come back with Thorn In My Side, they earn that audience response.

Meadowlands will likely only take everything to the next level, delivering much more satisfying volume as well as appreciative and knowledgeable fans, unless I am being naive. I do think it will be exciting tour to watch and collect as long as people can pace themselves with the band. They will deliver over the course of the tour. I wouldn't be surprised if we start seeing debut and 7800 tracks appearing again later on in the tour in different regions, most certainly overseas.

Tonight will go down as the night I can say "Suck It" to you all since I got Hey God.