Bon Jovi has been rocking out in arenas since the eighties and they don’t seem to have lost a step. Their more than two hour performance is filled with hits from Slippery When Wet all the way up to their latest album What about Now. It’s amazing how a band can continue to perform to sold out arenas for decades and still be as relevant today.
Jon Bon Jovi was in top form at the Xcel Energy Center with his signature shaggy haircut and electric smile that lights up the entire arena. His voice isn’t quite what it used to be but it is still strong enough to energize the crowd and sing along to all the biggest hits.
Aside from a few minor issues the show was a hit. The opening acoustic song “Bed of Roses” was a good way to get the crowd warmed up for the rest of the night. Bon Jovi did a few more acoustic songs midway through the set and one of them was an emotional tribute to the murdered US Marine George Floyd and his daughter Gianna. It was a touching moment in an otherwise energetic set that included a great mix of old and new.
After a few more acoustic numbers the band went into their greatest hits and got everyone up and dancing. The classics like “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “Wanted Dead or Alive” had the entire audience singing along. Jon Bon Jovi is one of the few musicians that can take a huge rock anthem and make it sound completely fresh.
The band also did a cover of the Roy Orbison song “Oh Pretty Woman” and that was another highlight of the night. Bon Jovi kept the energy up with hits like “Army of One” and “Bad Medicine”. It was a great mix of old and new that proves arena rock isn’t dead.
Bon Jovi closed out the show with “Livin’ on a Prayer” which found the whole crowd singing along. It was a great way to wrap up a show that was a great reminder of why this band is so popular even in the age of Spotify.
It is unfortunate that the coronavirus pandemic has kept many of these shows from happening but it is nice to see some big acts come back and entertain the fans that want to come out. If you have tickets to an upcoming bon jovi concert you should definitely go and enjoy the show. The band is still one of the best live acts around and they prove that arena rock isn’t dead. Bon Jovi will be back in Minnesota on April 3rd and if you can’t make that one be sure to catch them when they return at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.