FANZEYEVIEW
Bon Jovi - O2 Arena London 8th June 2010
Bon Jovi are back to their spiritual home of London for a virtual month residency at the O2 Arena. This is all part of The Circle Tour in support of the same name titled cd that hit the stores last year. The band has come a long way since I first saw them in London in 1988/89 for the New Jersey tours.
They have had to withstand the media and music snobbery of their style of rock music, they are a success because they write bloody good songs about the lives we leadand are one of the best live bands I've seen . They are that good that tonight’s show even though about 20,000 people are in attendance it had the raucousness and atmosphere of a full football ground and the intimacy of your front room.
Before the tour a competition was set up by the band and management to find a support act for the first batch of O2 dates and the winner was Scotland's 'The Side' who are very good indeed, a four piece who kept the crowd entertained with their own brand of rock/indie music.
8.35pm house lights dimmed and the journey begins. At the front of the stage the large screen comes down in front to show the band members walking into view from The Circle promo film to mimic them behind waiting for action. The crowd by now, largely female voiced, screaming and shouting for their heroes to show themselves in the flesh. Screen up, lights on, time for action as Bon Jovi hit the stage for the second night of the London sit in with 'Last Man Standing' a strange choice to open with but it works as Jon and the boys, smiles beaming lap up the crowds applause and adulation.
The set tonight contains songs from all the bands history, next up being the relatively new 'We Weren't Born To Follow' now everyone was up on their feet and singing along, you can sense Jon feeding off the crowds energy as he moves about the stage like the Commander In Chief orchestrating the band with hand signals and head nods. The song also provides Richie a chance to release his first volley of guitarmanship. This guy is so underrated as a guitarist, blighted perhaps by the bands success once again the media being elitist in their collective ignorance of his talent.
If you have seen the Jovi before you know that in the first few songs you get a 'classic' it is usually and is tonight 'You Give Love A Bad Name' which almost took the roof off the place. The first crowd sing-along with Jon proved a great success and he then had a mischievous look in his eye knowing he had a crowd that was more than his match tonight.
'Just Older' takes the pace down a slight notch, a great song that is a more mature version of the great 'Blood On Blood' and has Jon and Richie sharing the mic for the first time together for the chorus. An old favourite of mine is next 'Born To Be My Baby' a wonderful song that to me is a rock classic, great drumming from Tico on this song.
'Lost Highway' and 'Superman Tonight' follow on fitting into the set with consumate ease and taking the tempo down slightly so we can get our collective breaths back. 'Captain Crash And The Beauty Queen From Mars' is a surprise inclusion having not heard in the set for a while, Jon on acoustic guitar more than I have ever seen him in this concert.
The rock 'n' roll tempo is increased again as we get a section of songs of that feel and crowd participation. 'We Got It Going On' is an enjoyable romp that starts this sequence followed by the gem that is 'Bad Medicine' from the opening chimes from David’s piano the crowd were going mad, clapping and cheering, the song takes a familiar twist into legend territory 3/4's in as it slots in a snip of Rod Stewarts 'Hot Legs' followed by the opening Lulu wails from 'Shout' before the song returns to its normal self.
Vocoder time, drum bass pedal kick ins, piano chords, its the familiar intro to 'Its My Life' sweat pouring from his body Jon bounces along to this song with the crowd joining in yet again almost drowning him out. After this song he takes a break, going off stage to let Richie into the spotlight for the brilliant 'Lay Your Hands On Me' and he carries it off very well indeed showing that he is a good vocalist in his own right.
The stage as the tour name suggests in the form of a circle, so Jon suddenly appears 50 feet further into the crowd with mike stand, to the joy of those near him to sing '(You Want To) Make A Memory'. Next up for me are two songs that I am proud to have in my music collection. Firstly, 'Bed Of Roses' which is just a brilliantly constructed song, this has Jon still into the audience and the rest of the band on the stage. Richie's guitar solo on this song is one of my favourites by a guitarist as it echoes around the arena. Then after Richie joins Jon at the front to sing the sublime 'Diamond Ring' from the ''These Days' cd, This song has the crowd captivated as the boys harmonising and acoustic guitar playing is marvelled.
Tico with percussion and David with accordion join them at the front for acoustic versions of 'Something For The Pain' and 'Someday I'll Be Saturday Night', they then scamper back round on the front of the stage circle to the main stage for 'I'll Sleep When I'm Dead' with its opening Stones like guitar riff.
Back to 1984 for the ever energetic 'Runaway' which still sounds as fresh as it did then. Nearly the end of the set and we have the Springsteenesque 'Work For The Working Man' with accompanying graphics from the ever mobile back and top stage screens. 'Who Says You Can't Go Home' slows the tempo down again slightly the crowd again joining in on the chorus to Jon's beckoning.
A bass line appears in our hearing and on recognition the crowd goes mad again for the fantastic 'Keep The Faith' on a Bon Jovi set list there are some songs that are always going to be there this is and should always be one of them. They even include a piece from the Stones' 'Sympathy For The Devil' which works well with the song. This song is the set closer and the boys have been on stage for just over 2 hours already.
Returning for the encore, Jon took time out to get the audiences help in a recording for the Tony Awards in USA on Sunday for David Bryan whose musical is up for 8 awards, if he wins the audience behind Jon going apeshit is us.
Probably the loudest cheer of the night comes on hearing the intro the fans favourite 'DryCounty' this song is a wee gem, the crowd singing every word in perfect time to Jon’s vocals. Richie dons the hat, double neck acoustic and its cowboy time at the O2. The national anthem 'Wanted Dead Or Alive' is played, the crowd once again doing their bit, you now realise just how many classic songs this band has written and they are not finished yet.
Offstage the band goes again and some people start walking out..........fools
They come back once again with Jon thanking everyone for a great night and wonderful hospitality at Round 2 of the tour. He then sings 'Always' which even now I don't know how he has the energy to sing a very strong song vocally, then its all time classic time as the opening bars are played for 'Livin' On A Prayer' a perfect finale to a great night out.
11.15pm after 2 hours and 40 mins the show ends and no one can complain about not getting their monies worth.
The set list is obviously going to be changed night to night but the classics will be there plus a few gems old and new. I was very happy with the songs I heard.
They have had to withstand the media and music snobbery of their style of rock music, they are a success because they write bloody good songs about the lives we leadand are one of the best live bands I've seen . They are that good that tonight’s show even though about 20,000 people are in attendance it had the raucousness and atmosphere of a full football ground and the intimacy of your front room.
Before the tour a competition was set up by the band and management to find a support act for the first batch of O2 dates and the winner was Scotland's 'The Side' who are very good indeed, a four piece who kept the crowd entertained with their own brand of rock/indie music.
8.35pm house lights dimmed and the journey begins. At the front of the stage the large screen comes down in front to show the band members walking into view from The Circle promo film to mimic them behind waiting for action. The crowd by now, largely female voiced, screaming and shouting for their heroes to show themselves in the flesh. Screen up, lights on, time for action as Bon Jovi hit the stage for the second night of the London sit in with 'Last Man Standing' a strange choice to open with but it works as Jon and the boys, smiles beaming lap up the crowds applause and adulation.
The set tonight contains songs from all the bands history, next up being the relatively new 'We Weren't Born To Follow' now everyone was up on their feet and singing along, you can sense Jon feeding off the crowds energy as he moves about the stage like the Commander In Chief orchestrating the band with hand signals and head nods. The song also provides Richie a chance to release his first volley of guitarmanship. This guy is so underrated as a guitarist, blighted perhaps by the bands success once again the media being elitist in their collective ignorance of his talent.
If you have seen the Jovi before you know that in the first few songs you get a 'classic' it is usually and is tonight 'You Give Love A Bad Name' which almost took the roof off the place. The first crowd sing-along with Jon proved a great success and he then had a mischievous look in his eye knowing he had a crowd that was more than his match tonight.
'Just Older' takes the pace down a slight notch, a great song that is a more mature version of the great 'Blood On Blood' and has Jon and Richie sharing the mic for the first time together for the chorus. An old favourite of mine is next 'Born To Be My Baby' a wonderful song that to me is a rock classic, great drumming from Tico on this song.
'Lost Highway' and 'Superman Tonight' follow on fitting into the set with consumate ease and taking the tempo down slightly so we can get our collective breaths back. 'Captain Crash And The Beauty Queen From Mars' is a surprise inclusion having not heard in the set for a while, Jon on acoustic guitar more than I have ever seen him in this concert.
The rock 'n' roll tempo is increased again as we get a section of songs of that feel and crowd participation. 'We Got It Going On' is an enjoyable romp that starts this sequence followed by the gem that is 'Bad Medicine' from the opening chimes from David’s piano the crowd were going mad, clapping and cheering, the song takes a familiar twist into legend territory 3/4's in as it slots in a snip of Rod Stewarts 'Hot Legs' followed by the opening Lulu wails from 'Shout' before the song returns to its normal self.
Vocoder time, drum bass pedal kick ins, piano chords, its the familiar intro to 'Its My Life' sweat pouring from his body Jon bounces along to this song with the crowd joining in yet again almost drowning him out. After this song he takes a break, going off stage to let Richie into the spotlight for the brilliant 'Lay Your Hands On Me' and he carries it off very well indeed showing that he is a good vocalist in his own right.
The stage as the tour name suggests in the form of a circle, so Jon suddenly appears 50 feet further into the crowd with mike stand, to the joy of those near him to sing '(You Want To) Make A Memory'. Next up for me are two songs that I am proud to have in my music collection. Firstly, 'Bed Of Roses' which is just a brilliantly constructed song, this has Jon still into the audience and the rest of the band on the stage. Richie's guitar solo on this song is one of my favourites by a guitarist as it echoes around the arena. Then after Richie joins Jon at the front to sing the sublime 'Diamond Ring' from the ''These Days' cd, This song has the crowd captivated as the boys harmonising and acoustic guitar playing is marvelled.
Tico with percussion and David with accordion join them at the front for acoustic versions of 'Something For The Pain' and 'Someday I'll Be Saturday Night', they then scamper back round on the front of the stage circle to the main stage for 'I'll Sleep When I'm Dead' with its opening Stones like guitar riff.
Back to 1984 for the ever energetic 'Runaway' which still sounds as fresh as it did then. Nearly the end of the set and we have the Springsteenesque 'Work For The Working Man' with accompanying graphics from the ever mobile back and top stage screens. 'Who Says You Can't Go Home' slows the tempo down again slightly the crowd again joining in on the chorus to Jon's beckoning.
A bass line appears in our hearing and on recognition the crowd goes mad again for the fantastic 'Keep The Faith' on a Bon Jovi set list there are some songs that are always going to be there this is and should always be one of them. They even include a piece from the Stones' 'Sympathy For The Devil' which works well with the song. This song is the set closer and the boys have been on stage for just over 2 hours already.
Returning for the encore, Jon took time out to get the audiences help in a recording for the Tony Awards in USA on Sunday for David Bryan whose musical is up for 8 awards, if he wins the audience behind Jon going apeshit is us.
Probably the loudest cheer of the night comes on hearing the intro the fans favourite 'DryCounty' this song is a wee gem, the crowd singing every word in perfect time to Jon’s vocals. Richie dons the hat, double neck acoustic and its cowboy time at the O2. The national anthem 'Wanted Dead Or Alive' is played, the crowd once again doing their bit, you now realise just how many classic songs this band has written and they are not finished yet.
Offstage the band goes again and some people start walking out..........fools
They come back once again with Jon thanking everyone for a great night and wonderful hospitality at Round 2 of the tour. He then sings 'Always' which even now I don't know how he has the energy to sing a very strong song vocally, then its all time classic time as the opening bars are played for 'Livin' On A Prayer' a perfect finale to a great night out.
11.15pm after 2 hours and 40 mins the show ends and no one can complain about not getting their monies worth.
The set list is obviously going to be changed night to night but the classics will be there plus a few gems old and new. I was very happy with the songs I heard.
Last Man Standing / We Weren't Born To Follow / You Give Love A Bad Name / Just Older / Born To Be My Baby / Lost Highway / Superman Tonight / Captain Crash And The Beauty Queen From Mars / We Got It Going On /Bad Medicine (Hot Legs) /Its My Life / Lay Your Hands On Me (Richie singing) / (You Want To) Make A Memory / Bed Of Roses / Diamond Ring / Something For The Pain (acoustic) / Someday I'll Be Saturday Night (acoustic) / I'll Sleep When I'm Dead / Runaway / Work For The Working Man / Who Says You Can't Go Home / Keep The Faith (Sympathy For The Devil)
Dry County / Wanted Dead Or Alive
Always / Livin' On A Prayer
Dry County / Wanted Dead Or Alive
Always / Livin' On A Prayer
