It was with effortless grace and little fanfare that Bon Jovi took to the stage for their first UK date of their Lost Highway tour at a packed St. Mary's stadium yesterday leaving the music to speak for itself.
No big intro was needed to herald the entrance of the ledgendry rock act as they calmly walked onto the stage from stairwell surfacing centre stage. Jon Bon Jovi sported a black leather jacket and black jeans beaming the whitest smile I've seen grace a stage and lost no time before kicking into the title track of their latest release.Lost Highway is Bon Jovi's tenth studio album but it was back to the self-titled 1984 debut that they delved for one of my personal highlights, Runaway, with David Bryan's keyboards cutting through a warm but overbearing Southampton night. In between were a triplet of tracks that would get any Bon Jovi fan salivating; Born To Be My Baby, You Give Love A Bad Name and Raise Your Hands.
The Jon Bon Jovi / Richie Sambora collaboration still working well they shared the limelight in what was a well stage-managed performance. The backdrop featured a thousand lights with screens moving across the stage so the spectacle was visable from all sides of the stadium. Playing primarily in close proximity to centre stage both Jon and Ritchie each ventured to the flanks of the imposing platform only once which did evoke a somewhat 'going through the motions' mentality but that said it was done with passion, poise and shiny white teeth.
During I'll Sleep When I'm Dead Jon broke off into Duffy's Mercy declaring 'I just love that song' before taking the group into a brief taster of Stones classic Start Me Up. I'll Be There for You was delivered by Richie as Jon took a well earned rest before returning to deliver Blaze of Glory from his solo venture.
During Who Says You Can't Go Home the hanging clouds opened but gratefully not to any major degree, serving primarily to cool the excited mass who were showing their vocal appreciation of the show.
Livin' On A Prayer was always going to be the touchpaper moment of the night with 35,000 fans providing backing vocals, and more than a few air guitars pulled out for the magic moment. Richie's talk box effect, which mixes his voice and guitar into one signal, was pitch perfect as was drummer Tico Torres who also deserves a mention.
With that they departed the stage only to return minutes later with power ballad Always, followed by Any Other Day and finishing on Wanted Dead or Alive.
Having sold over one hundred and twenty million albums Bon Jovi look like a band still in there prime. In an 18 track extravaganza they chose a popular and well worked set list from their vast repertoire. They next visit these shores on July 21st at Hampden Park, Glasgow before stopping off at Manchester, Coventry, Bristol and Twickenham, be sure to catch them.
Setlist:
Lost Highway
Born To Be My Baby
You Give Love A Bad Name
Raise Your Hands
Runaway
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead w/ Mercy & Start Me Up
Whole Lot of Leavin
In These Arms
Captain Crash & The Beauty Queen From Mars
We Got It Goin' On
It's My Life
Keep The Faith
I'll Be There for You
Blaze Of Glory
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Have A Nice Day
Bad Medicine w/ Shout
Livin' On A Prayer
Always
Any Other Day
Wanted Dead Or Alive
Lost Highway 4
Slippery When Wet 4
Keep the Faith 3
New Jersey 2
Have a Nice Day 2
Crush 2
Bon Jovi 1
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