Bon Jovi's musical marathon marries something old, something new ... and everything cool (review)
View full sizeJon Bon Jovi, frontman for the band that bears his name, led the group through a greatest-hits marathon of the band's 30-year history during a concert at the The Q Saturday night.
Most young bands who roll through Cleveland manage to fit only 18 or 19 songs in the 90 minutes or so between the clichéd “Hello, Cleveland!’’ and the gratuitous “G’night! We love you!’’
What a bunch of twentysomething sissies.
You want to see a real band, get yourself a ticket to a Bon Jovi concert the next time Jon Bon Jovi (51), Richie Sambora (53), David Bryan (51) and Tico Torres (59) visit the North Coast.
And don’t plan on a post-concert aperitif at your local watering hole. By the time these guys – who are aided by touring bassist Hugh McDonald (62) and guitarist Bobby Bandiera (59) are done, the bars will be closed and Dunkin’ Donuts will be the happenin’ place.
For almost three hours Saturday night, Bon Jovi kept a packed Quicken Loans Arena on its collective feet, mashing through 27 songs – including SEVEN encores. Yeah, seven. And it didn’t really matter that having three sets of encores clearly were scripted; this was a party neither band nor audience wanted to end.
Bon Jovi has been around for 30 years now, and Saturday’s show really was a live greatest hits double album. Lead singer Bon Jovi is as dynamic a performer as there is, but what’s amazing is that his voice is able to hold up through songs like “You Give Love a Bad Name,’’ “Livin’ On a Prayer,’’ “Runaway,’’ “Lost Highway,’’ “Faith,’’ “Have a Nice Day’’ and more.
In a pre-tour conference call, drummer Torres said one of the things the band has learned over the DECADES – I keep stressing that – is that an 18-month tour like this one is as much about conditioning as it is musicianship.
That’s absolutely true – Lord knows, Bon Jovi’s happy arena-rock style is about as frenetic as a puppy on caffeine-laced Kibbles ‘n’ Bits. But don’t downplay the gifts that guitarist Sambora, keyboardist Bryan and Torres and Bon Jovi bring to the singer’s namesake band.
It’s not the bizarre rhythms of prog rock, a la Rush, Yes or Dream Theater. Nor is it beat-heavy hip-hop, intricately layered jazz, frenzied alternative or morose emo. What Bon Jovi plays is hook-laden happiness in four-four time, mixed with just enough tinges of blues and country to add flavor.
View full sizeRichie Sambora's lush guitar and sweet harmonies behind lead singer Jon Bon Jovi's vocals gave fans at The Q an extra reason to cheer Saturday night.
Sambora is able to coax sounds out of a guitar others can’t find, especially when he’s playing one of his famous double-necked instruments, and Bryan’s keyboard are kind of like the tasty filling in a musical éclair. Torres’ drum beats are the perfect complement – neither too complicated nor too simple, with accents that add a nice texture to the songs (although to be fair, there were times Saturday night when the oldest member of the core band seemed to be dragging a bit).
But it all revolves around Bon Jovi’s sometimes nasally, wonderfully expressive multi-octave voice, and the letter-perfect harmonies and vocal doubling from Sambora and Bryan, with help from McDonald and Bandiera.
Best of all, while the hits like “Wanted: Dead or Alive’’ and “I’ll Be There for You’’ are as familiar as a favorite sweatshirt, the new stuff is just as good. “What About Now,’’ the title cut off the band’s 12th studio album, due out Tuesday, is an exhortation to help. “That’s What the Water Made Me,’’ “Because We Can’’ and especially the Sunday-go-to-meetin’ “Amen’’ deserve places of honor in the band’s extensive catalog.
Which, come to think of it, would make good reading for those kids who want to follow ’em.
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