The stadium gods of rock reunite for an arena-sized tour, proving that they’re not quite ready to be put out to pasture. With a new docuseries, a new album and a world tour, it’s an exciting time to be a Bon Jovi fan. But the band’s lead singer, Jon Bon Jovi, isn’t sounding quite right. He’s suffering from a condition that could impact his singing voice for the foreseeable future. According to a laryngologist, Bon Jovi may be suffering from COVID-19-related vocal issues.
It’s not a death sentence, but it does mean that the man who led the band through its golden era of the 1980s may be struggling to sing as well as he used to. The band’s iconic hits are timeless, however, and they continue to pack out arenas for decades after their formation. The crowd in attendance at the Xcel Energy Center in St Paul were incredibly excited to see their heroes and sing along to their favorite hits, proving that arena rock isn’t dead after all.
Jon Bon Jovi’s acrobatic stage show is still as impressive and fun as ever. Even though he’s been playing live music for over thirty years, he’s still a commanding presence onstage. He conducts the crowd like a pastor addressing his faithful church commune. The crowd is receptive, cheering enthusiastically and bellowing the catchy choruses of ’Livin’ on a Prayer’.
The rest of the band are all in good form, too. Phil Xenidis, who took over for Richie Sambora in 2013, sounds amazing and is clearly the right fit for the band. Tico Torres is a beast on drums, and David Bryan is a fantastic keyboardist. Bon Jovi isn’t really a metal band, but they’ve always been more pop-rock than heavy metal.
Despite Jon’s less-than-ideal singing voice, the fans seemed to enjoy the concert immensely. The lights, video screens and pyrotechnics all added up to a high-energy performance. The band didn’t use any smoke or confetti or balloon drops (thanks, COVID). Instead, the massive network of lights and video screens proved to be just as rock-show worthy.
The set list included a generous selection of hits from the band’s latest studio album, 2020. But the crowd was really there for the copper-bottomed smashes from their heyday, such as Slippery When Wet and New Jersey. Bon Jovi understand that audiences will tolerate new material, but they’re really here to hear those classics that everyone from young kids to old grandparents can’t help but belt out. It’s a testament to the longevity of their songs that they can still fill arenas with thousands of fans, all eager to let off a little steam. And who can blame them? After all, what’s not to love about a great rock song with a memorable hook?