ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Saturday December 8, 2018 :
When Bon Jovi announced his Australian tour back in June, the (Australian) internet collectively lost their minds, new and old fans alike were foaming at the mouth to see the golden throated, coiffed haired superstar. After all, it has been 5 years between visits. The band, whose currently lineup includes Jon Bon Jovi, David Bryan, Tico Torres, Hugh McDonald and Phil X have since put out a few releases including their 2016 album and tour namesake This House is Not for Sale. Bon Jovi are a God Tier band, legends, mythical creatures of the rock and roll world and absolute Karaoke fodder, let’s break down the numbers for a second, because they are staggering.
Since forming in 1983 in New Jersey the band have released 13 studio albums, 6 compilations and 3 live albums, selling over 135 million records worldwide and playing almost 3000 shows in over 50 countries to more than 35 million people. Try saying all that in one breath. But, the numbers don’t tell us if the band, and Bon Jovi himself for that matter have still got it after 30+ years on the road.
The atmosphere in ANZ stadium is electrifying, a cool breeze runs through the crowd as The Cult blasts through the PA, smiles are wrapped around faces young and old, people are happy to be here, from casual Bon Jovi fans to intense, aficionados who have followed the band from show to show on their Australasian tour. The lights dim and the crowd erupts into a deafening roar as the man himself Jon Bon Jovi comes swinging (literally) out from the side of the stadium through the crowd and up onto the stage as his band mates meet him, Bon Jovi looks like he’s full of beans and ready to take on this almost sold out stadium.
Opening with ‘You Give Love a Bad Name’ is a risky move, arguably their biggest hit and now that Jon’s in his 50’s it must be hard to hit the same notes, He struggles to hit the higher notes in the song but his band and the ravenous crowd fill in the gaps. He may not be able to stretch his golden voice so athletically anymore but this doesn’t stop Bon Jovi from jumping around the massive stage like a crazed animal. The whole band is having a whale of a time, smiles from ear to ear and with a packed ANZ stadium, the band show their appreciation with an energetic show filled with nostalgia laden hits mixed seamlessly in with modern tracks.
The band hammers through three tracks back to back (‘You Give Love a Bad Name’, ‘Raise Your Hands’ and ‘Lost Highway’) before stopping to say hello. Jovi says “I ain’t gonna waste a lot of time talking, cause we’ve gotta lot of music to play” as the band rolls into a stomping rendition of ‘Who Says You Can’t Go Home’, Jovi’s vocals fall a little flat again. It’s hard to watch in parts but he and the band redeem themselves with a newer track ‘This House is Not For Sale’ and Jovi hits his stride. With anthemic backing vocals soaring over jangling riffs and a stomping bass driven 4/4 beat this song finds Jovi at his best, the crowd is lapping it up and it feels a little less awkward. Ok, Now we’re feeling it.
As to be expected, the production value of this evening is absolutely monumental. Massive screens on both sides of the enormous stage adorn professionally filmed live shots of the band so the nosebleed seats can still see clearly but the thing that really ties this whole extravaganza together is the large backdrop screen which showcases some jaw dropping visuals including but not limited to Gogo-Dancers, clips from Bon Jovi’s music videos and some awesome, beautifully shot stock footage and B-Roll. Coupled with outstanding sound production this powerhouse of a show is one for the ages and wouldn’t look out of place being included in a special edition blu ray on your shelf.
So many people are still upset that Richie Sambora is not a part of the band anymore, look, he left in 2013 and to be completely honest his replacement Phil X more than fills his shoes, singing his heart out and throwing down some of the flashiest guitar solos the band have ever produced, even becoming reminiscent of the guitar Randy Rhoads with playful, uplifting licks that make you want to air guitar until your hand fall off. The Canadian born riff master is a welcome addition to the band mainly because you could never EVER find someone who is having a better time than him and he certainly play EVERY solo as if it’s his last.
Bon Jovi, the man with the hair says “I’m just getting started, I’m just getting warmed up, I’m just getting a little sweaty” (To which a LOT of middle aged mums screamed like they were 16) and the band rip into an absolutely stomping rendition ‘It’s my life’ and he absolutely nails it, he has the crowd in a frenzy when he steps down to the barrier during ‘Born to be my baby’ and you can see every baby boomer instantly transported back to their golden years. The set highlight comes in the form of a one two attack of ‘Keep the Faith’ and ‘Bed of Roses’ which sound huge and vital, the band step it up a gear and bring the show right to every crowd member. And to hammer the last nail in the coffin of people whining about Sambora not being a part of JBJ anymore as Phil X rips out some of the most electrifying leads this venue has seen maybe ever. In fact, the entire band throws down hard, maybe even harder than bands half their age. The band slow things down with a sultry, stripped back version of ‘Sleep when I’m dead’ and Bon Jovi is feeling a bit of guitar solo love as he shreds out one himself.
The band wrap up their set with ‘Captain Crash & the Beauty Queen from Outer Space’ and fan favourite ‘Livin’ on a prayer’ (It was actually hard to hear anything from the band during this one because the crowd was SO loud) and after a quick costume change come back out for a mini “best of” set with ‘Bad Medicine’, ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’ and ‘I’ll be there for You’.
Hey, Did you think they were done? Of course not!! They may be in their 50’s but Rock and Roll doesn’t give a shit about age, they grace the stage once more for ‘Blood on Blood’ and an absolutely monumental rendition of ‘Someday I’ll be Saturday Night’.
Two hours of absolute, dare it be said, bangers have passed by, with a rocky start quickly forgotten about as the band and the crowd helped Bon Jovi find his footing and they triumphantly crushed their set, fans, parents, children, husbands, wives, children and band leave the venue exhausted but happy that they experienced such a massive show in Sydney. With such a successful tour It will be interesting to see if Bon Jovi leaves 5 years between now and the next time he makes it back down here.
Reviewer : Luke Winchester
Photographer : Troy Constable
