Got back from the show a little bit ago. This was my 8th Jovi show. I was out of town for the weekend, and didn't get to check the set from last night at Mohegan. Here are some thoughts.

- At first when I got to my seats, I couldn't believe how many empty seats there seemed to be. I thought maybe it was the prices of the lower level tickets. Not the case. When the band took the stage, the place was full, just like every other show I've seen in DC.

- Was very interested that they started with Bad Name. I had just got done telling my friend that every time I've seen them Bad Name was the 2nd song of the set. Then they kicked into it and made me look stupid. Love the song, but agree it could have been better even just a bit later. I still think one of the best openings was back on the HAND tour when they started with Last Man Standing with Jon back by the sound booth.

- This was my first time hearing most of the songs off of the upcoming album. It was interesting hearing them for the first time at a live show. I liked most of them. Will need to hear them again to really have my thoughts, but my favorite was What's Left Of Me.

- They need to change around the order. The pockets of new songs need to be broken up I think. I thought maybe for the shows until the album is released, they would play a few, but it would be more of the older songs, but this wasn't the case. I enjoy the concert more when I can sing along with the songs, so this was a little bit different, but it wasn't bad.

- Although it might not be a popular opinion, I was happy to hear Captain Crash. Was always one of my favorites off of Crush.

- Agree that it'd be nice to hear some more songs off of Bounce/HAND. There are spots they can use to improve the playlist.

- Is it just me, or would Prayer work better somewhere other than the closer?

- After the band ended, someone gave Jon a bouquet of roses, and he tossed them out to some women in the pit. It made me think that maybe they would play Bed of Roses (which I have yet to see in 8 shows...), but this did not occur.

- Jon announced he'd see us all in the summer, which makes me hope that he will play a stadium show. If this is announced, I'll be planning a tailgate right away for it.

- I had seats overlooking the stage onto the right (Bobby's side), and I thought they were pretty good seats. You are really close to the stage, and can see everything, and we had a screen as well. The only thing we missed was the moving video parts, I couldn't see the center, but it doesn't sound like I missed much. For the $29.50 level, they were worth it for sure.

- Can't wait to see them in Tampa on March 1.

And that balanced setlist has been the same for about 10 years now. At least Def Leppard plays all of their hits. But, just like Jon, Joe Elliott claims they aren't a nostalgia band. I think I'd rather Jon embrace the nostalgia and play more older songs then 90% of the set be post-2000. I like the post-2000 era, but I'd still like to hear more pre-2000s stuff. Or at least some better post-2000 stuff.

As a casual fan / lurker (this was only my second Bon Jovi concert), I enjoyed tonight's show. The pacing was uneven, though. It wasn't just the set list. Jon came out strong and the band looked really happy to be on stage. The chemistry was good between Jon & Ritchie. But then, in the middle, Jon looked worn out to me. Not physically, but mentally. Like singing the new songs was emotionally draining. I have watched Jon strut around enough to recognize that he was off - he looked a bit vulnerable. He thanked the crowd more than once. Maybe he felt bad that the new music wasn't holding the crowd's attention, I don't know. His voice was definitely not the best, but he looked like he was really trying and the rest of the band sounded great to me. After the slow middle, we fired back up toward the encore.

As far as the stage goes, it wasn't nearly as bad as I had feared, in terms of visibility. We were seated way off to one side, nosebleed, but we could look down on the whole stage most of the time and still see Jon & Ritchie all of the time, even when the mobile screens were up. I have no idea what the backdrop was supposed to look like, but I didn't feel like I missed much, not seeing it.

Wow. Just wow. Jon asking the crowd to "be patient"? TWICE? :confused:
Blew my mind. To be honest, playing so many new unreleased songs was plain stupid. Specially in USA, where the crowds are known to be zombies.

Remember Hawaii? When they went ahead and started trying out 2 old gems at a time? I remember that it was said here that he probably dropped them because all the zombies there just didn't react to it. That makes me think, if they didn't react to that uptempo AWESOMENESS that was Let it rock, Tokyo Road, Roulette, etc, what will happen with these unknown snorefests? Will he drop em altogether until album release? I know I would, or at least give them a twist.. The delivery of the new songs is so boring, they are so sleep inducing it's scary.

Also, Jon, please do us a favor, don't play Wild is the wind and then think you got us covered.

I know, I know, the setlist might be bored but are you actually asking them to play more hits?! The ones that were bitching about how some hits should be dropped to let place to some new songs or other songs? In The Circle Tour people asked for them to play more songs of that album, they're doing that but it seems that you want them out now. Really, what it takes to get you all happy?

The Circle's setlist were great and this might not be the best ones, but instead of bringing back the same songs they've played a thounsand times, I'd love to hear others. They dropped BTBMB, great! Now add Get Ready that sounded great on the Circle Tour, or some others songs. As they found out a great way to play this one, they can do the same with other songs.

Yeah, I'd love a tour without so many hits. I'm not saying "Drop Wanted, Prayer and It's My Life" because that's stupid, but there's a lot of others that can be dropped and that have been played on every single your since they were released. What I'm trying to say is that most of you are saying "drop the hits!" "WAIT NO JON, NOT THOSE HITS I LIKE THOSE!".

And also, Runaway is not a top 10 single as its been said before. And is, again, a song that's been played on every road. I love it and it sounds great live, but really, give it a rest.

And about the new songs, again, yes, this is a support tour for What About Now, not a greatest hits one, so it's great that they're playing new songs and a lot of them. It doesn't matter that the record isn't out yet, they are promoting the songs on the tour they've started to promote those songs.

There are a lot of hits that aren't being played even regularly. The thing with BJ is that we have the hits, the gems (mostly pre 2000 non hits/singles) and then the rest. By all means go ahead and play new songs, but then play hits and gems. Stop the Captains Crashes, the whole lot of leavings, all that shit.

I believe playing so many new unreleased songs is a mistake, considering how lame his vocals are. He's probably not even doing them justice, as stupid as that can sound.

I guess I'm just the kind of guy that doens't go to a concert to hear songs for the first time. At least not from a band where he knows all the ****ing catalog.

Also, I love Def Leppard, but those guys have been playing the goddamn same setlist since I have use of memory. They aren't exactly the best example to point out.

Oh no, Captain Crash directly after Who says? The best ten minutes to go to the toilet!

Drama queen... shut up!
This will be the typical opening for this tour in the first weeks. They will eventually alter this opning a little bit but not spectacularly. So as from 2morrow... stop wanking over this part. It is like it is!

I agree. Whole Lot Of Leaving needs to get out (though I've never heard it live and I'd like to), also Captain Crush, and Lost Highway too.

Also, what hits are being leaved behind? If we take a hit as a song that charted more than 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 they play regularly every single one but This Ain't A Love Song and Living In Sin.

And I don't think the vocals are that lame compared to the record, if you take the two singles that are out and compare them to the live versions, What About Now is exactly the same as the Stuttgart version and Because We Can is different but because of the lack of the chorus, not Jon's voice.

He might ruin gems and classic hits, but I don't think he's doing that with the new songs. We'll find out on March, 8.