Jazzfest 2011

Soooo, I waited throught the weekend to read all the reviews and see the videos and pics before commenting on it. Not that I was looking for an ass-kissing review, but this one puts into words almost exactly what I think, so I'll leave it to the pros.


From http://www.spinner.com/:

(...)Filling in for Sambora was the extremely proficient Phil "X" Xenidis, who comes complete with his own set of rock star hair and great moves, though his playing excludes Sambora's nuanced, often bluesy touch.

(...)Not that Jon Bon Jovi -- dressed in a black sleeveless vest that became increasingly unsnapped as the show wore on -- needs an apologist, but critics have seldom given him the credit he deserves as a tremendously compelling and commanding frontman who has only gotten better with age. Like U2's Bono or Bruce Springsteen, he works the crowd ceaselessly, constantly taking their collective pulse to see how to take them higher. And while some of the rock star moves may seem rote, the sheer amount of work he puts into making sure the fans have fun deserves far more respect than he's gotten.

But achieving longevity has its own reward, especially when it's been done on the nearly unparalleled worldwide level of success that Bon Jovi has attained and almost all of the groups born out of the same hairband movement of the mid-'80s have long faded away or grown bald.

During 'The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same,' a new song featured on last fall's greatest hits set, Jon Bon Jovi playfully delivered a little speech that more than made his point: "Look around and you've got Justin Bieber. Honey, I remember when there was a Justin Timberlake." He then name checked Jay-Z, noting that he recalled when Ice Cube and N.W.A. ruled the rap world. Then it was Lady Gaga's turn. "Hell, I was there before there was a Madonna... Things change, but there's only one constant... You're looking at it."

Yes, there's a reason almost 30 years since the release of the band's debut album, they remain one of the biggest touring attractions the world over. The Jazz Fest show was prime proof, with Jon Bon Jovi doing whatever it took, whether it was spreading his arms wide open, messianic style; pumping his fists into the air, jumping up and down or even doing a very funny and credible imitation of Mick Jagger's rooster walk during 'Start Me Up' to keep the energy high. And it worked, as it has thousands of times before, like a charm. With his million-watt smile and mirrored shades, he had the 50,000-plus audience eating out of his hand, as they sang loudly to all the hits.

None of this would matter much if his voice wasn't still vital. Even though he started off a little reedy at the Jazz Fest show, Jon Bon Jovi's pipes remain tremendously powerful and gained strength as the two-hour show wore on. Plus, he delivers the rockers, even sub-par ones such as 'Have A Nice Day' and 'We Got It Going On,' bolstered by drummer Tico Torres's relentless pounding, with the same verve as Bon Jovi classics like 'Bad Medicine.'

Oddly, during the main show Jon Bon Jovi never addressed the pink elephant in the room -- that his partner-in-crime for many years was not beside him on stage -- other than to coyly say to the audience, "And what's been going on in your life?," several songs in.

For the encore, Jon Bon Jovi smartly trotted out in a New Orleans Saints jersey, screaming "Who dat," before launching into 'Dead or Alive.' As well as Xenidis played, it was one of the times that Sambora's absence was palpable. To close the show, Bon Jovi performed 'Living on a Prayer,' with the lead singer kicking it off with an a capella verse, his voice having only gained momentum as the night progressed. In the only clear acknowledgement that Sambora wasn't present, Jon Bon Jovi said, "I'm sending this out to our brother Richie." Then, though visibly ragged around the edges from the heat, he went back to bouncing around on stage, with an almost superhuman determination to end the show with as much, if not more, energy that when the band started.

I feel the need to be honest, while I watched the videos I felt awful, like I was "cheating" on Richie, I kinda felt I HAD to dislike this new guitarist, but as much as I tried anyway, I couldn't get over Richie's absence, it's all I could think about, regardless of X's guitar playing abilities. I mean, Richie is more than JUST the guitar player, he is also half of the vocals (maybe not in quantity but most of all in quality) and half the chemistry. I have never been one to like changes in the band (beat me up, after 15 years I'm just, maybe just, starting to accept Hugh, and don't get me started on Bobby...), and this was a hard pill to swallow...I couldn't even start to compare them, what's the use? He's not Richie and that's it.

Whadda ya think?