There are old rock bands and then there are classic rock bands, and New Jersey rock group Bon Jovi, still rocking out sold-out venues some 27 years after they first formed under the banner of lead singer Jon Bon Jovi, is the latter. Their latest tour, in support of the release of their Greatest Hits album, saw the band stop for two nights in Pittsburgh, where the Consol Energy Center was treated to two sold-out crowds, two unique setlists, and over two hours per night of uninterrupted rocking from the famous act.
Saturday’s show opened with a guest act: native Pittsburgh band Jimbo and the Soupbones. The winners of a radio contest to find the “best band in Pittsburgh,” Jimbo and his merry band played four of their “hits,” including one piece about a man named Tiffany. Even more hilarious was the contrast between Jimbo, a huge man with a shiny bald head, and the lead guitarist, who was probably five feet tall with a full beard and Army-style cap. The band also featured members with such creative nicknames as “Baby Jesus” and “The White Shadow.” So to recap: no, they weren’t meant to be taken seriously.
After a short intermission, Bon Jovi stormed the stage, building up initial momentum with a thunderous rendition of “You Give Love a Bad Name.” “This ain’t television, get up!” said lead singer Jon, and the crowd of mostly middle-aged women responded, remaining hopping up and down with hands in the air through much of the first half of the set, which featured recent crossover hit “Lost Highway” and rock anthem “Bad Medicine.” Guitarist Richie Sambora then took center stage for a song of his own as a sort of interlude, which was entertaining more for his awesome Santana-type hat than his actual singing skill (Santana.com).
Never fear, though, as Bon Jovi himself soon reappeared out in the middle of the crowd, ready to croon a sweet cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” before launching into his own slow ballad, the love song “Bed of Roses” (hallelujahsong.com). The band also included some of their newest works, recorded just for the Greatest Hits record. While “This Love” enthralled the audience, “Keep the Faith,” with its maraca intro and seemingly everlasting chorus, failed to ignite the crowd.
“’Keep the Faith’ wasn’t a good choice for the concert,” said concertgoer and Baldwin teacher Mr. Brad Schulte.
Obviously lacking from the body of the set were Bon Jovi’s two greatest hits: “Wanted Dead or Alive” and “Livin’ on a Prayer,” both originally released on the album Slippery When Wet back in 1986 (last.fm). These songs, along with “This Love,” made up the encore, which although guaranteeing an enormous crowd reaction, really took away the quality of surprise that an encore is supposed to have. Still, the end of the show featured the band’s most famous songs, leaving the sold-out crowd at Consol with a decidedly satisfied feeling as they headed toward the gates.