Walleris, your standards are interesting to know about. What do you think about Dortmund 1993 or London 1995? Not vocally but the performances and crowd, etc.

Dortmund 1993 - one of the top 5 shows from April 1993.
London 1995 - Night 2 was outstanding, night 3 dragged on the 2nd half due to his voice going out, bit still very good. However, there were some much better concerts in 1995 in terms of sheer performance.
Walleris, over to you :D

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Dammit I was at the 2010 Chi shows and I don't remember seeing the best performance of HAND ever... but sure enough. Those shows were magic. I had to fly across country to get Always and Dry County for the first time. totally worth it.

I understand your post, but what exactly do you mean with this? his guitar work or moves/hair/etc.?

Both. The head banging was so out of place and the guitar was too heavy for the songs I guess. When they did the intros to BOR and Wanted I was thinking “he’s doing it wrong”. In those cases it wasn’t necessary too much guitar but he just wasn’t playing it right. And by right I mean the way Richie did it. [emoji6]


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Both. Exaclty what I thought.

While I understand the preference, this just doesn't make sense to me. Richie used more gain than Phil ever has, hence the songs sounded heavier with Richie playing them. What I really miss about Richie (apart from the vocal harmonies) is the little things he did when he played the songs, like in Bad Name, when he played the chorus and he picked the strings as he strummed the chords, that added so much texture to the song. He did that on a lot of songs and I guess I just got used to hearing them that way that I almost humm his parts whenever I hear them lol ....

agree with the original post

Phil isn't the perfect fit/replacement

Richie adds that blues influence through his playing and harmonies also. It is very organic hearing Bon Jovi with Richie. Phil is a completely different player so ultimately this changes the dynamic and something is lost.

spot on. its in the detail and DNA of Richies playing that is missing. Phil is a brilliant guitarist but he just doesn't have the soul that Richie provides to those songs.

totally agree...Richie's guitar playing had some special qualities that add sth special to most songs...bed of roses...the lick before the last chorus...phil hasnt once nailed it...the make a memory solo...richies approach is far better imo...these days...richies chops make the song better...
Richie nowdays maybe isnt that great technically but his playing has a mojo, bluesy laid back timing and phrasing that made it unique and special.
its unfair for phil but Richie is part of Bj phil x even if he does a good job is more a cover band member technically skilled but missing certain qualities to take the songs higher. it looks like a replacement and not a new chapter