I think from this tour onwards they need to be considered as a completely different band.

Almost half band members are new, as well as Jon himself said that this was a rebirth - i think he wasn't considering the current format as a continuation of the previous one. So in a way, i personally consider it unfair to continue comparing the Bon Jovi of now to that of the past.


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I'm not sure I'd give it 75%. I think there were a lot of songs that were almost duets. Especially among these classic songs, which I assume is where the comparisons are being made. And that's if you're just talking actual harmonies or backing vocals.

There were also a lot of times when either Richie or David or Bobby doubled Jon's part to lend strength to it in a less noticeable way. David's good but he can't cover Richie's harmony AND at the same time cover Jon's weak spots, plus add his own harmonies.

With reference to RDK's list, while I don't disagree with number 2 at all, the guitar isn't where Richie's absence is most noticeable to me, at least in this particular song (and assuming Phil-x can hear the count-in...)

The backing vocals on Blood on Blood and BTBMB have sounded like a cover band in every video I've seen from this tour. And in the first show, a bad cover band. That's because nobody can deliver those backup vocals like Richie did.

That's not to say that this current lineup isn't good. I enjoyed the promo shows, primarily because with the band doing only new songs, it was easy to forget the impact Richie had on the stage. But when they had to start doing the classic songs, it was just as easy to see the gap created by his absence - vocally, instrumentally and, imo, psychologically for Jon.

I think the only way that would happen would be if they stopped doing the songs popularized by the "previous" band. And that's not going to happen.

I also think that the comparisons will decrease over time - but not any time soon, I'm afraid.

Good point. When it was just the promo shows they sounded great because there was never anything to compare it to. You couldn't say "Bobby sang the backups on Rollercoaster" better or "Richie's solo on Knockout blows Phil's out of the water" because it was all new material by a new lineup. They're in a tricky spot because they can't do much else. They can't drop the classics, and they can't just go be a new band.

Frankly, these types of posts make me think that you are a child wearing Jon goggles who throws around confetti when Crash is played.

If you don't want to live with criticism and diferent opinions about Bon Jovi just delete your account. Posts like this do nothing for this board. Instead of engaging in a constructive discussion, you simply come across as a child in denial who's just been told there is no easter bunny.

Most definitely Matt. I understand the purist attitude when you (general sense) came to love the band based on the original line up.

That reminds me of this XDDD

Devil:


LYHOM:


Labor Of Love:

That's the day when you'll need to retire.

It's normal, it will happen to all of us. The day my age is putting a weight on my productivity it's the day when I 'll need to retire.

Is this the case you're trying to represent here to defend Jon?

Besides, I don't think his problem is related to aging. I think his problems are more in his immense ego that he can't rest his voice for two years and do a real treatment, or if it's the case even Surgery and for not taking care of his voice. This is what happens when you go full CEO thing and you forget to take care of your biggest assets.

The line "it's good to be aaaliiiiiiive" (2:25) sounded just like me throwing up during my last hangover :rolleyes:

Not really!!! Why? Because he's not as good as he used to be when he was in his 20's and 30's? It's not all complete garbage either. Vocals aside, it's all still very good... Plus, I don't mind the way he sings the new songs... It's still a great show and I'm still entertained...

Your post has a lot of gray areas. It's too black and white... To say, "The day my age is putting a weight on my productivity it's the day when I 'll need to retire"... Well that depends on what you do... and it depends on how much it's affecting you...

If you're doing surgery, then yes I would agree... If you're an athlete and can still win games but not putting up the same numbers as you did in your prime, I say keep going...

:-D :-D :-D
Good one, bro!

Sorry I didn't post last night, but we made a 3.5 hour drive back home from Dallas and it was late. Hopefully my tweets came in useful. I went into a lot of detail about the OKC show and since the shows were so similar, I'll spare you all the details. Again, it was a good show.

Our tickets last night were in section 116, row P... not bad seats. BUT, here's a cool story. I have a bon jovi friend I met a few years back online. Come to find out, she's from Dallas, so we try to say hi every time we are at the same show. Last night she gave my wife and me a big surprise. Her 8th row seats got upgraded to the 2nd row. She then gave us her 5th row tickets. Needless to say she has made our Christmas card list. Anyone with suggestions of something nice I can do for a fellow Bon jovi fan, would be greatly appreciated. Okay back to the show.

With the absence of screens, it really is a different show up close. It was nice you could see what the band was doing. My opinion is a Bon Jovi show is not a Bon Jovi show without Richie, but with that said, Phil sure is a hell of a lot of fun to watch. Tico was a machine... I don't think he broke a sweat last night.
I don't know if Jon's voice was massively stronger last night or there really is some of that "being there and sitting close vudu" going on but with only a couple exceptions, Jon sounded night and day different from OKC. It was crazy. Who Says and HAND were still dreadful, but other's sounded great. Maybe a little bit of both - he was stronger and vudu. He moved around the same amount (He did not jump off stage during bad medicine) and told the same stories. It was pretty much the same show as OKC, just without BWC and with Labor of Love. I'm glad we got some sort of change, but it wasn't a big crowd pleaser... I really wanted Ghost.

Alright, I went to the Dallas show last night. I haven't really been around this board much over the past few years. Last show was the Chicago show in October 2013, and was originally only planning on going to the (now-postponed) Denver show next month. However, I was in Dallas on a business trip and was able to grab a last minute ticket under face value. I actually got to see Twenty One Pilots at the arena the night before, and despite sitting in the same section both nights (section 111, lower bowl in the back half of the arena), I had wildly different experiences. The Twenty One Pilots show was amazing - full of energy, crowd hanging on every second, huge production, huge everything.

This show was just okay. It was the least fun I've ever had at a Bon Jovi concert out of the 6 I've been to, and without a doubt the worst crowd I've been in. I don't think I need to say anything that you all probably don't already feel, but these guys aged a lot in a few years. The last few tours I didn't worry so much about Jon's voice or the setlist, but this time I really had to. I was disappointed at the no-frills staging and very little video screens. I have to say, respect for Jon playing so many songs off the new album, but maybe I would have preferred to see that move on the last couple albums, not this one. Sure, at least I know all the songs that were played...the crowd clearly did not. I swear I was the only person standing up in my section for 75% of the night and definitely the only one dancing around or moving. Nobody looked like they wanted to be there. I get not everyone is going to know the deep cuts, but I'm sorry, I just can't get over not knowing even the mid-singles and set regulars at this point, if you're going to pay that much for a ticket to see Bon Jovi. So many people around me just sitting down, checking Facebook, talking, texting, basically doing anything but paying attention to the show.

Again, I know this behavior is not unusual at shows in the US. I've just always been able to tune it out and have a good time. But last night, just so much was off about the whole concert experience. Labor of Love was just a slap in the face at that point. I actually even like Because We Can.

I'm kind of okay that the Denver show has been postponed and I probably won't be able to go now. I'm just not sure this time around if I'd want to do it again. (And I see a lot of multiple shows of a lot of different artists).

I disagree with you Rdkopper, countless times he sounded a pile of garbage and it's not from a year ago. I tried to find the files of a direct record of his microphone line from 2003 I I couldn't. That kind of thing really saddens me, because he's basically struggling for a almost two decades and what he has done to correct it? He's a singer, I buy tickets and his albums for the songs, not to see a middle aged man jumping like crazy on a stage.

How do you know he hasn't done anything to try to improve? Totally disagree with the notion he doesn't care.


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Because he still smokes and he still sound like a pile of garbage?

If he, in fact, did a proper treatment, and he's still sounding like this, then it's the end of the line for him.

And maybe I don't want to believe in that and I keep telling this to myself, like a way out.

Do we know that for sure? I'm not trying to be snarky, I'm seriously not sure.

None of us really know how hard Jon works on his voice behind closed doors. He might be killing himself trying to get his voice in some sort of shape. Equally, he might not be. We just don't know.

Personally, I can't imagine it's down to poor preparation. It must be humiliating for him knowing how weak he sounds - not just from a fan perspective (granted, some don't notice or care) but also from a professional stand point - he's on stage with some of the finest musicians out there. It must be demoralising knowing you're the weak link.

I've said it before, I think he looks sad up on stage. I genuinely believe he enjoys the camaraderie and fan interactions, and he still believes in his songs. But not having Richie there and his vocal decline has taken something from him.

Just an opinion, not a criticism.


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He doesn't smoke... and I can't see someone with Jon's work ethic and determination, not take care of his voice... If the dude works out everyday to keep up his physical appearance, he's not letting his interior go either... I just think mother nature caught up with him and he's just not capable anymore... There is only so high one can go naturally and Jon can't hit it anymore...

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This is how to age with dignity as far as I'm concerned. Original key and no tricks to disguise anything:

https://youtu.be/KRcrv8uG7Y8

Seeing Jon struggling with songs he could nail 5 years ago is sad and the best analogy is seeing a loved one with dementia. People want the "old Jon" but he's beyond the point of no return


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There are few exceptions and Steven is one of them but if you go in the other direction, there are plenty more that suffer the same fate or even worse than Jon...

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I'm with you as far as I know hasn't been any evidence that he is still smoking.

He reportedly quit smoking just before The Circle tour and there's been no indication that he's been smoking since then, unless you know something we don't.

Just be happy he's not Meat Loaf...

My grandmother had dementia for years. My mother actually has dementia now and I find that "analogy" insensitive and just ignorant. My mother is doing well for a dementia patient and she babbles incoherently, lives in a fantasy world, wears the same clothes every day, needs help bathing, is hostile to everyone, is childish, and can't be left alone. And, I repeat, she's still in the good phase of the disease.

No, your favorite rock star not performing like he did years ago does not compare.

On the bright side of life, my mother tells me about Elvis concerts she never attended and even how I went with her despite the fact that I was a baby when he died. She also told me about going to a Bon Jovi concert and Jon pulling her onstage. I always thought that would be my idle babbling when I got old.

Becky, I'm so sorry about your mama. Mine went through the same thing. I can completely emphasize.

I agree with you Becky, this assessment is insensitive and especially ignorant. Sorry you have to deal with this, it has to be so painful.

I'm really sorry to hear that. I'm sure no offence was intended though. But you are quite right. The two things are not comparable.


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Meat Loaf makes Jon sound like Steve Perry.


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My grandad too had dementia and died in 2005. No there was no offence intended in what I said. However I think the point has been missed here.

Jon, once a formidable front man, top of his game has aged into a complete shadow of his former self and is unrecognisable and it's sad. Call it a bad analogy but it's how I feel. And this is an opinion forum!


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You are very much entitled to that opinion though I think you are digging Jon's grave a bit early. His voice may be shot but he's still out there fighting. As someone said, the chances to see them are dwindling so I for one will not look at these shows and compare them to the past but appreciate that they are still going. Am I too easy, yes, but I've also followed them since the beginning. I know music and sports shouldn't be compared but there's a loyalty there that doesn't go away just because they may not be "winning" if that makes any sense.


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I agree... I'll know for sure once I attend my shows in a few weeks... but based on what I've seen, it still looks like a good time...

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When is your first show? My next one is Columbus on March 18th.

I'm simple... Philly and then MSG the following week... I've seen them a few times outside the tri-state area and it's just not the same for me....

Wow!!! You're all over!!!

I get what you're saying entirely about the sports analogy.


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Well we all knew that.

Soundboard Labor of Love:

Sooooooo slow. Both LOL and GBTM have lost so much by being played at a snails pace on the tour. It, and Jon, sounded fine at the Palladium at normal speed. I can only assume Jon can't cope with it, but they both lose a hell of a lot.