The second (2nd) show I ever attended was a Bon Jovi concert during the “Slippery When Wet” tour at the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, NY, back in March of 1987. Well, circa 26 plus years later, I’ve got my second crack of witnessing the guy with the million dollar smile form New Jersey.
Taking the stage looking nothing resembling the rock star that he is (I guess), but looking like a guy who would pick up your kids and take them to school. After seeing bands from his era within the same week like Def Leppard, Slash, Whitesnake and Journey; they all looked every bit the “rock star” type. Bon Jovi missed the mark here.
Okay, let’s focus on the music because that’s what we are here for. Right? Well, maybe I should comment more on his ‘Less than desirable stage attire’ because what came out of his mouth, I couldn’t believe it. He had no range at all and sounded like a karaoke singer AT BEST! One of his biggest hits “You Give Love a Bad Name” sounded nothing like the man I saw 26 years ago. Yes, musicians age and voices change, we all know that. Jovi wasn’t even remotely sounding like he should. Was he sick? Was he tired? (This was his 2nd appearance in the area since February.) Was he just not feeling it and would rather be back in Jersey? I think the latter is the best choice here.
His new album did debut at number one (#1) on the Billboard charts, even though it wasn’t well received by critics. His left hand man in Richie Sambora abruptly left the band back in March. His daughter also made headlines for her attempted OD. Maybe this is a time that Bon Jovi should take a break and reassess as he has been touring pretty much nonstop since 2000. On top of this, a severe thunderstorm halted the show for a 20 minute delay. Maybe it should have been at 8:15pm to spare the crowd from a nightmare of a performance!
Set List:
That’s What the Water Made Me
You Give Love a Bad Name
The Radio Saved My Life Tonight
Runaway
Lost Highway
Whole Lot of Leavin’
It’s My Life
Because We Can
What About Now
What’s Left of Me
We Got It Goin’ On
Keep the Faith
Captain Crash & the Beauty Queen From Mars
We Weren’t Born to Follow
Who Says You Can’t Go Home
Bad Medicine
Wanted Dead or Alive
