Rock and Bon Jovi Show the New Meadowlands How It’s Done

The New Meadowlands arena,  home of the New York Giants and Jets, was a rock and roll Mecca on Friday evening, July 9, as native New Jersey sons Bon Jovi along with opening act Kid Rock gave an enthusiastic crowd a rousing rock extravaganza. Bon Jovi, on the American leg of their “Circle Tour,” made this homecoming an intimate affair despite the fact that 55,000 “worshippers” were in attendance.

Romeo, Michigan native Kid Rock (Robert James Ritchie), today’s king of Rap-Metal and country rock, was a dynamic, energetic warm up act for the headliners and won over the crowd from the get-go with scintillating versions of “Rock and Roll Jesus” and “You Never met a Mother *#$*er Quite Like Me.” Rock’s banter with the assembled throng included humorous comments like, “this ain’t American Idol” and pointed jabs at Britney Spears (“we don’t use tapes”) and Lebron James (questioning a certain person in the news’s loyalty to his hometown). He sang brilliantly, played keyboards, drums, guitar and scratched a turntable while imbibing and smoking a cigarette. His cover of Sly and the Family Stone’s “Everyday People” was an interesting choice and hit home with the audience as they sang along to that 1968 classic. Two high points of the show were Rock’s rendition of Waylon Jenning’s “Good Ol’ Boys,” as he tickled the ivories and his duet with his female backup singer on “Picture,” which he recorded with Sheryl Crow. The songs that really revved up the crowd were “All Summer Long” (with its reference to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama”) and “Cowboy.”

All in all, it was a great set by a performer, whose rock and country roots are clear, to see and hear.

Bon Jovi took the stage to a thunderous ovation as original members, Jon Bon Jovi (vocals), Richie Sambora (guitar and vocals), David Bryan (keyboards and vocals) and Tico Torres (drums) electrified the 55,000 fans with “Raise Your Hands,” as the crowd took the title of the song to heart. Bon Jovi, 48 and looking 28, was in great voice and his charisma and stage presence were evident from the start. This Sayerville New Jersey native continually told the crowd he was glad to be home and you could tell that he meant every word. “You Weren’t Born To Follow” was augmented by exceptional visuals on a giant video screen. “You Give Love a Bad Name,’’ a Bon Jovi signature song, was given a first rate rendition and Sambora’s searing guitar “acrobatics” set the musical tone for the night.

“Born to Be My Baby,” “Superman Tonight,” In These Arms,” “When We were Beautiful,” Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen from Mars,” I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” and “We Got it Goin’ On” demonstrated the vast Bon Jovi catalogue and underscored the fact that some lesser known and non–commercial efforts that the band has produced are fantastic songs that translate beautifully in a live setting. Bon Jovi’s spot on vocals and Sambora’s shredding yet workman-like guitar artistry are a wonder to behold. No wonder these guys have stayed around since 1983.

The 26 song set that lasted for two and a half hours hit its stride with “Bad Medicine,” a song that points to the fact that sometimes what we want in a romantic relationship isn’t always good for us. The video screen displayed a few silhouettes of women, who might have been the inspiration for the recording. A high point of the song was a mid-section, in which a giant Juke Box appeared on the screen and the band broke into Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll.” The crowd went “berserk” as Kid Rock returned to that stage to join Bon Jovi on this rendition of another Michigan native’s rock and roll ode. The two singers took turns on verses, and sang spiritedly together on the chorus.They hugged after the song’s completion and this displayed their genuine admiration and respect for each other as musicians. “Lay Your Hands on Me” turned the new Meadowlands into a giant Karaoke party with the masses belting out the chorus in unison. “I’ll Be There for You,” a classic love song, found the lovers in the audience clinging to their partner a little bit tighter as Bon Jovi sang with great power and emotion.

The next section of the concert featured the band in an “unplugged” mood as they ventured to a walkway in front of the audience. Tony Award winner David Bryan (“Memphis”) took a break from his keyboard excellence on this night to play another instrument that has keys, an accordion, on a unique take of The Who’s “Squeeze Box.” “Someday I’ll Be Saturday Night,” an underrated Bon Jovi ballad followed, which provided a nice contrast.

“Have a Nice Day”, a song that has a great video, followed with young and slightly older fans dancing in their seats and in the aisles. “Work for The Working Man,” with an industrial theme on screen, showed the band’s social conscience and intelligent lyrical content that addressed social issues we all can relate to.

Hit after hit followed with “It’s My Life,” a song that extols the virtue of self-confidence and “Who Says you Can’t Go Home,” which was quite appropriate on this beautiful summer night as these New Jersey natives won over the crowd at this home of the Giants and Jets for the 2010 season and beyond. The next song’s title, “Keep the Faith,” points to the fact that a concert experience is somewhat akin to a religious ritual, in which zealots (fans) worship at the altar of their Rock “Gods.” Bryan’s keyboard artistry and Torres’ thunderous percussion were clearly evident throughout.

The band left the stage and was summoned back for an encore despite the fact that they left everything they had on the stage. The unsatiated throng wanted more and got it as Bon Jovi and Sambora took center stage for a riveting version of “Wanted Dead or Alive,” a rock and roll classic with a wild west theme (“I walk these streets, a loaded six string on my back”) as the packed stadium cheered deafeningly.

Sambora’s incredible work on the acoustic guitar shows that the ax slinger is not a one trick pony and equally adept on an electric or acoustic guitar. “I Love this Town,” resonated on this night as Bon Jovi were back home in a comfortable environment after recently touring England. At this point in the show Jon Bon Jovi was limping from a calf injury that he sustained at some point during the night, but he carried on nonetheless. He is a rock and roll icon with tremendous heart.

Bon Jovi’s reverence for rock standards reached new heights with a “killer” version of The Dave Clark Five’s “Glad All Over.” Though a rock veteran himself, Bon Jovi appreciates the fact that without the rock and roll pioneers that preceded him there would be no Bon Jovi. After a rousing ovation the night finished with a song for “every man,” “Livin’ on a Prayer,” with Youtube-like glimpses of Bon Jovi fanatics lip-synching to the tune on auxiliary video screens. Bon Jovi was in peak form and treated die-hard fans to great vocals, expert guitar work, powerful drumming and keyboard excellence.

A brand new stadium and a rock and roll treasure.

Who could ask for more?