It's a combination of both... I like how you stated the following and it really does sum it up perfectly "in person you get lost in the show and unless you're really looking for it, you don't notice it."

Lot's of videos on this user's channel:

Hose & Knockout:

Good find, added all his videos to the setlist in the first post.

Sounding pretty good, setlist as expected with a 1st show. It's what little changes they make for tonight that should be fun. Hopefully.

Did Jon mention anything about having been ill?


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Not at all. He did say that Phil has answered the bat phone when they needed him and he's been happier ever since.... And some of the ladies around me looked really annoyed at the comment.

He says that at every show.

Why would he mention it in Toronto? They were not affected. He will probably say something in New York this weekend.

Why not?? Maybe because people in Toronto knew he was ill and were concerned. It was his first concert back and he never misses.


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How did Jon sound? About average for 2017 standards or below, given the illness?

Sorry for asking this, but won't be able to listen to any videos until tomorrow.

As far as I've watched, the same as previously on this tour, excluding Philly perhaps.

Here's Phil singing Wanted https://www.facebook.com/PhilXFanClu...6097195118810/

And he absolutely rocked the verse and the solo


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Though he still plays the solo different than Richie, but I think he's free to do that. The only solo that Phil plays differently that bothers me is the prayer solo, where he playes some notes too fast for my taste. Difficult to explain, but Richie used to play that slower/more like in one tempo, whereas Phil speeds up one part of it...

Wow yeah that was the best wanted solo ive seen outside of Richie.

But its kinda sad listening to the vocal comparison of phil and jon. Phils voice is significantly stronger and packs way more punch.

Made it back home in one piece!
I actually drove back after the show and got in at about 5 am. Plus it was raining and visibility was crap. Aaaaaanyways....
It was my GF's first show, and she thought it was amazing. She seemed surprised by how much energy Jon has, so I guess to a newcomer, they can still impress.

Cons:
-My whole section sat down for three quarters of the show (and I was at the lower level).
- Jon's voice did get weaker as the show went on, but maybe that was because they were playing older songs.
- who says and WWBTF sound bad, but that's not new.
- Other than the new album, I got 0 songs I hadn't heard before. boooooo.
-kicking back into bad medicine a 2nd time after the ''one more time'' was a bit much.
- no acapella intro to prayer
- something was missing with wanted, not sure what. Him singing maybe? The chemistry with the backing vocals?

Pros:
- Sounded way better than expected and Jon did move around more.
- Got a full show, even if he had the whole bronchitis issues previously.
- Roller coaster went over very well.
- for some reason I thought they were closing the set with BM, so when they played KTF, I was happy.
- they didn't drop the storytelling part, even if they fell flat on the crowd and the boat building story was kind of random.
- NYD was great and very energetic. The drum and bass just punches right at you.
- Although I was hoping for something somewhat rare as an encore opener, I was happy they did RYH and not some other snoozefest.
- although my girlfriend would have liked at least 1 screen, I liked having to watch the band directly. Usually, with screens, you end up seeing jon gripping his mic stand for the whole show as they rarely show him moving while he isn't singing.

sidenote, Jon did spit alot....and I was far and could still see it lol. The opening act was also good. Short songs, catchy choruses.

Overall, good show, not ranked amongst my best, but I think part of that has to do with a very dull crowd compared to other BJ shows I'Ve been to (I'm also dull and just stand there, taking it all in, so I didn't really help much).

ditto! I was taken aback how well it sounded :D

I saw someone reply that he says this at every show but I thought the "....and he's been happier ever since." was new. Normally I recall the we didn't know if it was 1 show or 10 that even David used in a recent interview. I'm sure being Phil's hometown he wanted to let him shine.

Question? Why was Phil moved to Jon's left this tour?

I don't remember his saying "happier ever since" at Birmingham or Memphis.

Maybe he sees John Shanks more as his 'right-hand man'?

Obviously Phil X has helped out and such but Shanks has 'helped' JBJ since 2005.

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More like "been destroying Bon Jovi since 2005" ;)

Maybe so Phi can be Phil and not stand in Richie's symbolic shadow.

Wow. Is Jon always that bad in Wanted?

More or less, yup.

I know, but I ain't telling! :p

Jon's not playing acoustic while Phil changes to electric??


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