BWC as an audible is pathetic.

I was thinking maybe them playing Runaway was an indication that it'll be one of the songs played at the HOF induction, but if it wasn't even an audible then maybe I'm wrong.

I'm going to keep this short. There really is not much to say.

Vocals: What I always say - Yes, horrible but a lot gets hidden so they are not as cringe worthy. I'm convinced that he still has somewhat of a voice though. His range is definitely lowered but he sounded great on Amen. I'm also not totally convinced that its a breathing issue either as most people suggest. Fast songs with a lot of words are his enemy so I get why people suggest it. But his speech is off too so maybe there is more to it... His "Is There A Doctor In The House" sounded mumbled. I really can't figure out whats going on.
Overall, it's tough to sing along to certain songs when Jon puts awkward pauses in the wrong spots.

All in all, his voice doesn't seem to bother most casual fans at all.

Performance: Good and Bad - The energy was there and Jon was all over. When he did Amen & BOR in the audience, I was literally right there so that was a cool moment.

However, it's all so rehearsed and staged. From his "Good Evening Newark NJ" down to every smile. When he takes pictures he's got Bill Clinton's smile and when he performs, he's got that big Hillary Clinton smile. Nothing really seems natural. Besides that, I think he performed well.

The only other thing I really didn't like was Jon leaving the stage and not jamming with the band during KTF. I get that he's getting ready for his audience performances (Amen & BOR) but it's not the same without Jon rocking out.

Setlist: ****ing Horrible - There is no reason to go from Whole Lotta Leavin to Lost Highway. I'm not saying Jon's gotta fill it with more hits but come on!!! The guys got an enormous catalog. Jon opens with 2 new songs which no one knows but diehards, however it works because they are openers. Bad Name obviously gets everyone going but then the next 6 songs or so just kills the crowd.

The place was packed but the audience was dead. All those big crowd pleaser cheers were not there. When Jon says 'It's great to be home in New Jersey" and 2 people clap, that's a concern. The only time I really saw people into the show was during LOAP. Besides the "get your hands up" during Sleep which goes back to that staged moment I referenced above and a few other things, the crowd just wasn't there. When I saw Queen there last year, I thought the same thing so maybe there is a huge difference between a NY and NJ audience.

Overall, I had a great time and it was a good show. Jon's getting older, I'm getting older. When I used to go to shows, I felt like a sixth member of the band. That fulfillment is no longer there. Hard to explain. Maybe I'm just board. Maybe 35 years of the same thing and now there is a watered down version of it is throwing me off. I'm looking forward to tonight because I love concerts and I love going out but if something came up and I couldn't go, I probably wouldn't be upset either.

Decent honest review Rdkopper. I can especially relate to your last paragraph.

I think Jon isn't one of those that can talk or sing at a very fast speed. San Diego 1989 for example. He also cups his mic which makes it sound thin, hollow, etc (TYFLM 2018 for example)

My review: I had a blast. I’ve seen this band well over 100 times so my expectation of being “wow’d” by the band is very low simply out of how many times I’ve seen them. That said, was the show worth the price of my $125 ticket (middle of the floor, center, seat bought in fanclub presale) most definitely. Am I goin again tonight and expect to see the same set sans maybe one song...YEP. I love having that fraternity/sorority kind of thing when reuniting with folks I have met over the years because of the band.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Actually, he could do that a few years ago:

And Sand Diego '89 has been around at the wrong (too slow) speed for years.

If I was a sound mixer, I'd have punched him in the face a few times by now for cupping the mic all the time. He makes it much harder to make him sound good and as a pro, he should more than know about it.

I haven't seen him cupping the mic at all before 2013 - 14. I wish he knew that he shouldn't cup it.

Little correction on that one, before this tour Jon sang the lead vocals in Sydney on December 18, 2010 for the last time.

Jon sang Lay Your Hands On Me in Munich 2011 and you guys were both there! Shame on you :p

Did it at least once at The O2 and at HRC 2011, that was confusing me too unless it means 2017 or just in the states.

I was at the show last night. The sound was terrible, but I don't think it was the band's fault. Maybe just a bad venue to see rock music.

I could barely hear the words to the vocals and had to listen hard to hear the guitar solos.

The guitar player was amazing, so not having Sambora was somewhat forgiven but again, hard to hear the solos. I was in the 2nd row of Section D, so everything should have been really loud.

The Set List wasn't great, but considering they are promoting an album, not terrible. I wish they had played I'll Be There for you, and Always, but they played a bunch of songs from their 2 popular periods.

Also, no opening act (that I saw), which is strange.

I got tickets for like $115 6 hours before the show. If I had waited until 2 hours before showtime, there were tickets on the floor for like $72.

In and out was really easy. Parking was cheap and easy and getting in and out of the building was easy. Compare that to Guns and Roses, getting in was a pain in the ass and getting out of the building itself took a whole hour.

Crowd was older and civil, and that was also good for this particular night. Assumed I'd see more people in their 20s and early 30s. Mostly 40+.

Not a huge Bon Jovi fan, but I like them and know all of their popular songs. For me, it was worth it.

If they did another show where they only played their hits, and Sambora was back, and the sound was better, would consider going again. But that's probably way too much to ask.

There was an opening act, maybe because they were horrible you blacked it out? :)

This sums it up.
It’s ok for new fans and casuals but if you followed the band through their prime this version of the band is horrible to listen and watch.

I take it you got a pair of Bon Jovi rose tinted glasses with your tickets?

APP Review

https://www.app.com/story/entertainm...iew/493547002/

They were pretty bad - and as is usual with opening acts the sound was horrendous. We were having drinks at the bar during their set so we were pretty close. Also they only played for about 20 minutes which was fine by me.

Several people mention the sound and not being able to hear. Because I have gone to this venue over the years - and I was at all 10 opening nights in 2007 - I am very familiar with it. The short story is the the building's sound sucks and it has since it opened. A bit longer investigation will allow that there are a few locations in the venue that the sound isn't too bad. Mostly that is all the way down at the other end of the arena opposite the stage. Anything else on the sides or very close to the front all you hear is a wall of sound.

So last night I could have blamed the band and said that they had Jon turned down so low you could hardly hear him. But I had trouble hearing Phil too. I am chalking this one up to the lousy venue and I will hope that Mohegan Sun and MSG sound better. Both of them have good sound. If they don't sound better - then I guess I will have to blame the band - or at least the front of house mixing engineer.

I have to agree with this review - reports of his voice being gone are highly exaggerated. He sounded far better than he did on the last tour. One quibble that I do have is that there were a few places where he sang flat - really, obviously flat. I am wondering if it has more to do with his hearing that with his voice. Most times though, he sounded very much like his old self - minus the very high notes.

Ha ha Steve maybe but all the critical stuff which I could certainly rehash is already mentioned. I am far too busy in my professional and personal life so my time is at a premium. If I came away not enjoying the shows, I wouldn’t go.

The sound at Pru is bad depending on where you are. I was in Section C and it was low at times but I not as bad as other parts of the arena can be.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

The same user (Jim Powers) that posted the video of Runaway on YouTube has most of the songs in good quality on there. For today’s standards, Jon seemed to sound decent. Looks like an enjoyable show.

I’m guessing the setlists stay super safe until after the R&R Hall of Fame. Hopefully he cuts loose a little bit after that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I wouldn't say 'horrible' because I still think that Bon Jovi in 2018 with this current lineup does it better than most...

Sent from my HTCD160LVW using Tapatalk

No one travels extensively and pays high prices for tickets and hotels to repeat a bad experience. No one has to apologize for liking what they like.

Not sure what you mean by "does it", but if I had to come up with the list of acts that sound worse compared to recorded versions of songs than Bon Jovi, that list would be quite short.

Puts on a great show... Jon is still great frontman (vocals aside)...

Sent from my HTCD160LVW using Tapatalk

What did your husband think of the show?

I agree, I'd love to see RD's list of bands that do it worse than Bon Jovi to be honest...

My own list, as far as singers with shitty live voices worse than Jon's that I've seen personally (and ill stick to those that are relatively old bands):

1. Van Halen w/ David Lee Roth
2. KISS
3. The Eagles
4. Motley Crue
5. Poison
6. Ozzy Osbourne/Black Sabbath
7. Meatloaf

And those are just off the top of my head - all artists that I've seen that have just had absolute trash vocals, worse than what has happened to Jon.

Prayer from Prudential Center night 1. It's not the whole song though, it's only the " woah-oh-oh" sing-along part with the audience. I still can't find a video of the whole performance.

The Eagles were the best live rock show I've ever seen, doing much harder music than Bon Jovi, which just shows how subjective this is...

I’ve always wondered about Jon’s hearing. Why he’s not deaf by now with all of the hours he’s had with loud music. Heck I think my hearing has been affected and I just attend the concerts.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Especially how he didn't use hearing protection during the 80's and 90's (He very rarely used them in the 90's but more as an IEM I think.).
I have heard that it's less loud on a concert stage than the front row.

Pretty much the same that I did. Jon sounded better than the last tour but not as good as 2010 and 2011. It was a decent show with an audience that was only OK. I expect the New York audience at MSG to be better. The people in our section sat down for most of the show - which always surprises me. I was expecting to be asked to sit too but I'm glad that didn't happen.

An honest review
 

I was at the show Saturday and have been a fan since the late 80’s. Jon’s voice is a shadow of what it once was, but it was still an enjoyable night out. Here is the local review:


http://www.nj.com/entertainment/musi...epage-featured

So according to the reviewer if you say anything negative about Jon's voice you get struck off the review list for all future shows? It's not really a review is it if you only give passes to people that you know are going to say good things. :rolleyes:

The guy is clearly a fan, and was mostly complementary about the band and he seems to have been penalised for telling it like it is when it comes to the vocals.

I saw the review/rant in Twitter. What a bunch of spoiled brats really

Love the review, it's honest