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March 11, 2006
Bon Jovi gives fans what they want
Sambora has some moves of his own, those of a gum-chewing guitar god. Clad early on in his uniform of gaucho-style hat, long coat and large cross around the neck, the 46-year-old Sambora crafted some nice leads on such songs as 釘orn to Be My Baby� and 的'll Sleep When I'm Dead.�
Sambora knows his way around finger-blurring speed leads, and while some might contend that many of his solos sound similar, the screaming fans in Glendale certainly wouldn't be counted among those critics.
Sambora brought the house down when he took center stage to sing the early hit, 的'll Be There for You.� He sang and played with such passion that it's hard to imagine he's been performing the song since 1988.
Bon Jovi gives fans what they wantNew Jersey's Bon Jovi may be considered irrelevant in hip music circles, but the 23-year-old band still delivers the goods, as far as its true believers are concerned.
More than 16,000 devotees, many of them women age 30 to 50, packed Glendale Arena on Thursday to watch singer Jon Bon Jovi, guitarist Richie Sambora and their bandmates play the safe, straight-ahead rock they've been scoring hits with for decades.
The fans got what they came for, as Bon Jovi delivered more than 2-1/2 hours of anthems such as 的t's My Life,� 鏑ivin' on a Prayer� and the new 展ho Says You Can't Go Home.�
The seemingly ageless Jon Bon Jovi (he's 44) is the main attraction with this band, and the singer did his best to interact with half the fans in the house.
He opened the show playing an acoustic guitar on a mini-stage at the far end of the arena as his band played the new 鏑ast Man Standing,� a middle-of-the-road tribute to veteran rockers. After the tune, he made his way up one side of the floor to the stage, pressing flesh all the way.
He later popped up amid stunned fans seated on one side of the arena to do an acoustic version of 釘laze of Glory,� from the 1990 film 添oung Guns II,� as well as a quiet version of the ballad 釘ed of Roses.� As he wound down the second song, he moved down the aisle and shook hands with starstruck fans in a moment that seemed quasi-religious.
And late in the show, Bon Jovi did another half-lap around the arena floor to reach even more of his constituents. If this guy ever goes into politics (he probably could win a Senate seat in New Jersey), he's got the moves down.
Sambora has some moves of his own, those of a gum-chewing guitar god. Clad early on in his uniform of gaucho-style hat, long coat and large cross around the neck, the 46-year-old Sambora crafted some nice leads on such songs as 釘orn to Be My Baby� and 的'll Sleep When I'm Dead.�
Sambora knows his way around finger-blurring speed leads, and while some might contend that many of his solos sound similar, the screaming fans in Glendale certainly wouldn't be counted among those critics.
Sambora brought the house down when he took center stage to sing the early hit, 的'll Be There for You.� He sang and played with such passion that it's hard to imagine he's been performing the song since 1988.
The band, anchored by rock-solid drummer Tico Torres, seemed to enjoy playing such old-school hits as 迭unaway,� 添ou Give Love a Bad Name� and a tasty, funkified version of 釘ad Medicine.�
展hat can I tell you? After 22 years, it's the same kid with the same chip on his shoulder - not that I'm getting any older,� Bon Jovi said as 迭unaway� wound down.
The band sampled its new album, 滴ave a Nice Day,� which doesn't push any envelopes and isn't too offensive, unless you're a follower of President Bush. (The title track, with its reference to 鍍he broken home of hopes and dreams� was written after Bush won re-election over Jon Bon Jovi's candidate, Sen. John Kerry.)
At 10:15 p.m., more than 90 minutes after his band had started, Bon Jovi looked at fans in the front row and said, 的'm just getting warmed up, man.�
And while some listeners might have thought Bon Jovi's hits were starting to blend together as the group continued for another hour, the arena stayed 95 percent filled with fans who wanted to savor every last moment.
Larry Rodgers
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 10, 2006 12:00 AM
Posted by riesambo at March 11, 2006 07:03 PM