Project Description

BON JOVI

+ BIRDS OF TOKYO

@ ANZ Stadium

08/12/18

(Live Review)

Reviewer – Nicky Carrall

Photo – Nicky Carrall

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The night has come for Sydney Siders who have waited for This house is not for sale tour to reach our shores. It has been 5 years since Bon Jovi toured Australia and you can feel the intensity of excitement building as time clicks on for the recent hall of fame inductees to hit the stage.

ANZ Stadium is filling with eager fans, many are queuing for the concert t-shirt’s to wear during the concert and years to come. Ranging from all ages from those who haven’t missed a single tour since Slippery When Wet back in 1987 to the newer fans that Bon Jovi gain with every new album they release.

First to appear on stage from Perth WA Birds Of Tokyo playing many of their hits including Brace, Plans, and Anchor. Ian Kenny and co then played a new song followed by the ever popular Unbreakable the song chosen as the theme for the 2018 Invictus Games recently held in Sydney. Finishing up their set with fan favourites This Fire and Lanterns, Birds of Tokyo never disappoint.

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Just after 8pm the anticipation is over and here comes Bon Jovi. With the band on stage Jon Bon Jovi enters the stadium via a side tunnel like a prized fighter as he’s punching the air getting pumped up for a night of rock n roll. Jon greets excited fans along the way via the pit giving high fives and hugs to those fortunate to be in his path on the way to the stage. He receives a massive roar from the Sydney crowd as he stands on stage, Bon Jovi have arrived.

Jon dressed in black jeans, red shirt finished off with a blue zipped jacket with Bon Jovi’s classic and timeless Heart and Dagger logo encourages fans to get up out of their seats as they open with ‘You Give Love A Bad Name’. Jon is raring to go as they play ‘Raise Your Hands’. The Sydney crowd are all on their feet ready to rock the night away. The band then play ‘Lost Highway’ from the same titled album released in 2007. Before the next song Jon says “Good to see ya it’s been way too long, gotta lot of catching up to do” as they play ‘Who Says You Can’t Go Home’.

Bon Jovi are working their way through old and new songs with ‘This House Is Not For Sale’, ‘Roller Coaster’, ‘We Weren’t Born To Follow’, and ‘We Don’t Run’. Fans are dancing and singing to their favourites. Jon says to the crowd that he’s just getting warmed up which the band then launches into ‘It’s My Life’.

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Jon stops and takes in the warm reception by the Sydney crowd, smiling he says “Lots happened in the last 31 years since we came to Australia for the first time”. Jon pauses looks back at David Bryan, Tico Torres and the rest of the band he continues saying “Listen to those people 31 years after we came to Australia”. Jon is happy and beaming as the crowd erupts in cheers and applause.

Songs to follow are ‘God Bless This Mess’, ‘Born To Be My Baby’, ‘Have A Nice Day’,  ‘Keep The Faith’ the lead track from their 1992 album of the same name and then ‘Bed Of Roses’. Jon might not be able to hit those high notes of the 80’s but he sure sings with so much energy and passion that fans have enjoyed for many years.

Jon asks the crowd “My brothers and sisters are you still with me out there? I gotta know if you’ve got the faith, if you believe, I gotta know if you’re ready to go to church on a Saturday night?” Leading into ‘Lay Your Hands On Me’ from Bon Jovi’s 1988 album New Jersey.

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‘I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead’ is next followed by ‘Captain Crash & The Beauty Queen from Mars’ off their seventh studio album Crush. Finishing off this set with their anthem Livin On A Prayer then leaving the stage with the crowd wanting more.

Not needing too much encouragement to come back on stage by enthusiastic fans that their encore starts with ‘Bad Medicine’, followed by a massive favourite among many ‘Wanted Dead Or Alive’, finishing with ‘I’ll Be There For You’. Bon Jovi are not done yet they come back for more with a second encore of songs ‘Blood on Blood’ and ‘Someday I’ll Be Saturday Night’.

It was a night of many hits, energy and passion.

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Check out Nicky Carrall’s gallery of this show HERE.

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Check out Len Panecki’s full gallery of photos from the Melbourne show here

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Check out Jahmiele Hick’s review of the Melbourne show here

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Follow BON JOVI
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Follow BIRDS OF TOKYO
@ OneBigLink

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