Making a Memory: Bon Jovi live in Atlanta 2008
Bon Jovi's Lost Highway led straight into Atlanta on May 1st for their second straight show in Phillips Arena; and for the third time in my life, I was going to see they boys live.
My first Jovi experience came when I was only in 7th grade. I watched them support their "Crush" album on the One Wild Night Tour. Missed the Bounce Tour and caught them at the Gwinnett Center during the Have A Nice Day Tour. Now I was back at Phillips (with the wonderful Moore family) to watch them perform their last show in America until their tour ending shows in Jersey. That's right, the boys were off to Europe for the second leg of the tour after my show. Kinda cool to get the last American show...
Daughtry was the opening act for Jon, Richie, David, and Tico. This was their last show period, for they were not going to Europe. I saw Daughtry last summer at a local festival and was really disappointed, hopefully they would do better in an arena setting.
Well, they did. Their set was much better and they performed beautifully. They did their hit "It's Not Over" early (third). They blended Chris' version of the Johnny Cash classic "Walk The Line" into their set and did a hardcore rocking version of the Beatles' "Helter Skelter." They closed their 10 song set by blending Motley Crue's "Home Sweet Home" with their smash single "Home." It was quite an impressive show for an opening act, I was really pleased.
Not long after, Bon Jovi strolled on stage and launched into their song "Lost Highway." I am a fan of the song, but it was a weak opener compared to the hits they had used in my past shows ("One Wild Night" and "Last Man Standing"). But they jumped quickly into "Born To Be My Baby" and then "You Give Love A Bad Name."
"Runaway" is always cool to hear live. Good that the band remembers the song that started them out. New song "I Love This Town" was next and showcased a locally made video of Atlanta. It was very nice, props to the editor, whoever he or she may be.
Stage setup was typical for Jovi. Had paths on either side and people were brought right up close on the stage during the show. Back part of the stage was actually a large screen that the band could walk on. Jon ventured back there occasionally. There was one big screen well above the stage and 4 smaller screens that moved around just below the large screen. They connected occasionally to make another big screen or two slightly smaller screens. Very interesting setup
My favorite song of the night came early. "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" got people dancing until the interlude... I've kept up with the setlists of the tour and thought I knew what was coming. The interlude either included "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Dancin' In The Street" or "Gimme Some Lovin'" and "Start Me Up." Well tonight was different. They went headlong into "Jack Flash;" performing the first verse and course. The other guitarist then ran to the center of the stage and hit the opening riff of "Start Me Up!" What the hell.... Am I at a Bon Jovi show or is this the Rolling Stones? Jon hopped around doing his best Jagger impersonation before cutting back into "Sleep" to end the song. Phenomenal covers. They certainly pleased my girlfriend who was wearing a Rolling Stones shirt.
Chris Daughtry came onstage to do an awesome duet of "Blaze of Glory" next. It was much better than I expected. "We've Got It Goin' On" rocked hard and led straight into "It's My Life," which blew the roof off the joint (no tornado pun intended). "Bad Medicine" lead straight into "Shout" and then flew back into the keyboard opening to end the song. Jon exited the stage and Richie sang "I'll Be There For You." I saw him do this one on the last tour and kind of wanted "Stranger In This Town," but the song was great nonetheless. It was nice to hear a lead guitarist that could actually sing well after hearing Little Stevie last week at the Springsteen show.
Jon appeared on the side platform for two songs and came back to the main stage for "Who Says You Can't Go Home." "Keep the Faith" had the screens set up in a way that we got a firework show on them. Richie was running from side to side during this one. "Living on a Prayer" is always amazing live and closed the first set
Encore followed of course. Jon sang an amazingly beautiful version of the frequently covered "Hallelujah." I mean, it was awesome... "Wanted Dead or Alive" followed and then Richie flew headlong into another cover tune, "Treat Her Right." This song just grooves man... Jon jumped off stage and walked through the crowd as Richie, David, and Tico finished the song and ultimately their last show in America. Great show
Ratings
(Comparisons- OWN Tour-9/10...HAND Tour- 8/10)
Lost Highway 2008 Tour- 9/10
Setlist
1. Lost Highway
2. Born To Be My Baby
3. You Give Love A Bad Name
4. Complicated
5. Runaway
6. I Love This Town
7. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (with Jumpin' Jack Flash and Start Me Up)
8. Blaze Of Glory -with Chris Daughtry
9. Whole Lot Of Leavin'
10. Summertime
11. We Got It Goin' On
12. It's My Life
13. Bad Medicine (with Shout)
14. I'll Be There For You -Richie vocals
15. You Wanna Make A Memory -Jon side stage
16. 'Til We Aren't Strangers Anymore -Jon side stage
17. Who Says You Can't Go Home
18. Have A Nice Day
19. Keep The Faith
20. Livin' On A Prayer
ENCORE
21. Hallelujah
22. Wanted Dead Or Alive
23. Treat Her Right
Notes- "Complicated" was an interesting choice, but I miss "Raise Your Hands," Wild In The Streets," and "Just Older."---Not one song from the Bounce album---When Chris Daughtry first came on, he was wearing an 80's hair band wig. it was hilarious--- the screen effect on "Whole Lot of Leaving" was cool, it was like a driving effect--- Back part of the stage that was a screen actually rose up to make it a real screen during "Medicine" and "Keep the Faith"--- "Bad Medicine" had nearly nude women dancing on the screens---Richie threw the finger up during "Have a Nice Day"--- During Richie's guitar solo in "Faith," a certain camera angle showed a Bud Light sign right next to his head on the screen. Ironic considering his recent DUI I thought--- I wonder where Jon went when he jumped into the crowd at the end. I mean, he just walked through one of the back portals... All I know is that women were cupping a feel on both sides of him--- Tico got a haircut, it's buzzed.--- Richie has put on some weight in the stomach area, beer belly perhaps?--- Terry (Audrey's dad) commented on how Tico works harder than anyone on stage, he is 100% correct--- It was great to see Ol Buford (Audrey's mom, Natalie) yelling for the band--- seats were dead center in the 200's, not bad at all--- "Memory" is way better live than on the album---
Great show overall, Riverbend is next. Black Crowes, America, and ZZ Top...
Just Some Thoughts...
My first Jovi experience came when I was only in 7th grade. I watched them support their "Crush" album on the One Wild Night Tour. Missed the Bounce Tour and caught them at the Gwinnett Center during the Have A Nice Day Tour. Now I was back at Phillips (with the wonderful Moore family) to watch them perform their last show in America until their tour ending shows in Jersey. That's right, the boys were off to Europe for the second leg of the tour after my show. Kinda cool to get the last American show...
Daughtry was the opening act for Jon, Richie, David, and Tico. This was their last show period, for they were not going to Europe. I saw Daughtry last summer at a local festival and was really disappointed, hopefully they would do better in an arena setting.
Well, they did. Their set was much better and they performed beautifully. They did their hit "It's Not Over" early (third). They blended Chris' version of the Johnny Cash classic "Walk The Line" into their set and did a hardcore rocking version of the Beatles' "Helter Skelter." They closed their 10 song set by blending Motley Crue's "Home Sweet Home" with their smash single "Home." It was quite an impressive show for an opening act, I was really pleased.
Not long after, Bon Jovi strolled on stage and launched into their song "Lost Highway." I am a fan of the song, but it was a weak opener compared to the hits they had used in my past shows ("One Wild Night" and "Last Man Standing"). But they jumped quickly into "Born To Be My Baby" and then "You Give Love A Bad Name."
"Runaway" is always cool to hear live. Good that the band remembers the song that started them out. New song "I Love This Town" was next and showcased a locally made video of Atlanta. It was very nice, props to the editor, whoever he or she may be.
Stage setup was typical for Jovi. Had paths on either side and people were brought right up close on the stage during the show. Back part of the stage was actually a large screen that the band could walk on. Jon ventured back there occasionally. There was one big screen well above the stage and 4 smaller screens that moved around just below the large screen. They connected occasionally to make another big screen or two slightly smaller screens. Very interesting setup
My favorite song of the night came early. "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" got people dancing until the interlude... I've kept up with the setlists of the tour and thought I knew what was coming. The interlude either included "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Dancin' In The Street" or "Gimme Some Lovin'" and "Start Me Up." Well tonight was different. They went headlong into "Jack Flash;" performing the first verse and course. The other guitarist then ran to the center of the stage and hit the opening riff of "Start Me Up!" What the hell.... Am I at a Bon Jovi show or is this the Rolling Stones? Jon hopped around doing his best Jagger impersonation before cutting back into "Sleep" to end the song. Phenomenal covers. They certainly pleased my girlfriend who was wearing a Rolling Stones shirt.
Chris Daughtry came onstage to do an awesome duet of "Blaze of Glory" next. It was much better than I expected. "We've Got It Goin' On" rocked hard and led straight into "It's My Life," which blew the roof off the joint (no tornado pun intended). "Bad Medicine" lead straight into "Shout" and then flew back into the keyboard opening to end the song. Jon exited the stage and Richie sang "I'll Be There For You." I saw him do this one on the last tour and kind of wanted "Stranger In This Town," but the song was great nonetheless. It was nice to hear a lead guitarist that could actually sing well after hearing Little Stevie last week at the Springsteen show.
Jon appeared on the side platform for two songs and came back to the main stage for "Who Says You Can't Go Home." "Keep the Faith" had the screens set up in a way that we got a firework show on them. Richie was running from side to side during this one. "Living on a Prayer" is always amazing live and closed the first set
Encore followed of course. Jon sang an amazingly beautiful version of the frequently covered "Hallelujah." I mean, it was awesome... "Wanted Dead or Alive" followed and then Richie flew headlong into another cover tune, "Treat Her Right." This song just grooves man... Jon jumped off stage and walked through the crowd as Richie, David, and Tico finished the song and ultimately their last show in America. Great show
Ratings
(Comparisons- OWN Tour-9/10...HAND Tour- 8/10)
Lost Highway 2008 Tour- 9/10
Setlist
1. Lost Highway
2. Born To Be My Baby
3. You Give Love A Bad Name
4. Complicated
5. Runaway
6. I Love This Town
7. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (with Jumpin' Jack Flash and Start Me Up)
8. Blaze Of Glory -with Chris Daughtry
9. Whole Lot Of Leavin'
10. Summertime
11. We Got It Goin' On
12. It's My Life
13. Bad Medicine (with Shout)
14. I'll Be There For You -Richie vocals
15. You Wanna Make A Memory -Jon side stage
16. 'Til We Aren't Strangers Anymore -Jon side stage
17. Who Says You Can't Go Home
18. Have A Nice Day
19. Keep The Faith
20. Livin' On A Prayer
ENCORE
21. Hallelujah
22. Wanted Dead Or Alive
23. Treat Her Right
Notes- "Complicated" was an interesting choice, but I miss "Raise Your Hands," Wild In The Streets," and "Just Older."---Not one song from the Bounce album---When Chris Daughtry first came on, he was wearing an 80's hair band wig. it was hilarious--- the screen effect on "Whole Lot of Leaving" was cool, it was like a driving effect--- Back part of the stage that was a screen actually rose up to make it a real screen during "Medicine" and "Keep the Faith"--- "Bad Medicine" had nearly nude women dancing on the screens---Richie threw the finger up during "Have a Nice Day"--- During Richie's guitar solo in "Faith," a certain camera angle showed a Bud Light sign right next to his head on the screen. Ironic considering his recent DUI I thought--- I wonder where Jon went when he jumped into the crowd at the end. I mean, he just walked through one of the back portals... All I know is that women were cupping a feel on both sides of him--- Tico got a haircut, it's buzzed.--- Richie has put on some weight in the stomach area, beer belly perhaps?--- Terry (Audrey's dad) commented on how Tico works harder than anyone on stage, he is 100% correct--- It was great to see Ol Buford (Audrey's mom, Natalie) yelling for the band--- seats were dead center in the 200's, not bad at all--- "Memory" is way better live than on the album---
Great show overall, Riverbend is next. Black Crowes, America, and ZZ Top...
Just Some Thoughts...
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