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Concert Report: Bon Jovi thrills fans with a big show

Thursday, March 06, 2008

By Scott Mervis, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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Rebecca Droke / Post-Gazette

Jon Bon Jovi, right, introduces Richie Sambora during last night's sold out concert at Mellon Arena.

Jon Bon Jovi never needed the same caliber of song as elder arena-
rockers like Springsteen, Seger or Petty. He had that great hair and a
million dollar smile.

Twenty-five years into his career, he still does, as demonstrated
last night in the first of two shows he will play at the Mellon Arena
this month. Bon Jovi delivered all the thrills and excitement of an
arena spectacle while sparing everyone the burden of having to think
about a thing.

The purity of Bon Jovi is over-sized, unoriginal rock songs about
love and faith with sing-song choruses and time-tested licks from
Richie Sambora. They ran through two hours of hits, from the early
"Runaway" and "You Give Love a Bad Name" to faux-cowboys songs like
"Blaze of Glory" and "Wanted Dead or Alive," to recent breakthroughs
like "(You Want To) Make a Memory."

There was so much love flowing between Bon Jovi and his screaming,
singing fans, you had to assume that if he had time, he would have sat
down and bought each and every person a beer. That's the kind of guy he
is.

For the ballad "Bed of Roses", he was on a small stage in the crowd,
and if he wasn't singing to the few nearby fans with genuine love, then
he's a better actor than anyone gave him credit for being. It was about
as touching as concert shtick can get.

Bon Jovi doesn't reach for the high notes like he once did, but he
was in strong voice and his energy never lagged, from the opening of
"Lost Highway" to the finale of "I Love This Town." Adding to the party
vibe, he even tossed bits of "Shout" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash" into the
middle of the set.

Opening the show was Chris Daughtry of "American Idol" fame. People
like to slag on the Idols, but Daughtry is an authentic take-off of
bands like Nickelback and Three Doors Down. His backing musicians are
grungy and muscular, just like him, and he played the tormented rocker
to perfection.

For a full review of the show, see Friday's Post-Gazette.

Scott Mervis can be reached at [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]
First published on March 6, 2008 at 12:33 am

super review!!