The ’80s were the golden age for rock, and one of the era’s best was Bon Jovi. This band, which exploded out of New Jersey, helped define the genre with such hits as Livin’ on a Prayer, New Jersey, and What About Now. They still tour huge arenas, and their music continues to be as recognizable and elicit a rapturous response from fans young and old as it ever was.
In recent years, the band has branched out a bit and experimented with different genres with songs such as This House Is Not for Sale and 2020. However, it seems they’ve realized that the crowds they play for are really here for their copper-bottomed smashes. This night was no exception, as the band tore through a lengthy setlist of fan favorites.
The show opened with the album’s second single, Lost Highway. The song has more of a country rock tone and a harder sound than the more traditional ’80s material. The song got the audience on their feet and dancing, as did their following single, Army of One. The tempo slowed down slightly for ballads such as Bed of Roses and Have a Nice Day. The latter had the crowd holding onto Jon’s arms and body, which was a great way to interact with them on a more personal level.
Towards the end of the show, the audience jumped and cheered as Jon introduced his encore with Don’t Stop Believing, which was played acoustic. The entire audience sang along with the classic and relived a little of their youth.
Bon Jovi finished their 15-date tour in Nashville, TN at Bridgestone Arena and it was an electric show. The lighting, bassist Hugh McDonald’s expert strumming and Jon Bon Jovi’s dynamic stage presence were all on point.
Jon threw in some covers including a cover of Kiss’s I Love You, as well as his latest single, Rollercoaster, which features slower verses before building into the type of power-pop chorus that he’s known for. The crowd loved it, and even though he was clearly not in the best voice of his life, it didn’t matter.
Despite the pandemic and Bon Jovi’s time away from the road, they put on an incredible show and proved that arena rock is alive and kicking. Bon Jovi is a legendary band that never stops trying to please their fans and they are truly an amazing live act. Tickets for the next Bon Jovi concert at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center are on sale now, and you can check availability by clicking the link below.