Jon Bon Jovi getting primed.Story and Photos by Phil Bonyata
Bon Jovi played to a sold out Marcus Amphitheater last night on the closing day of Summerfest. '80s pop-metal must be coming back in vogue as witnessed by the many female (and male) fans loose in the audience.
Their set lasted more than two hours and simply consisted of sterling straight ahead, guilt free rock 'n roll. Jon Bon Jovi looking fit and not much different than he did 15 years ago, strutted onto the stage with the rest of the band in tow. Bon Jovi danced from one end of the stage to the other striking Elvis poses along the way. He hammed it up for all the shrieking women in the front rows.
This band is definitely about Jon Bon Jovi. Richie Sambora can get his guitar to fire on all cylinders, but this band revolves around their charismatic lead singer.
This was after all a greatest hits collection, including "Bad Medicine" and "Keep the Faith." All guilt free, fun sing alongs. On "You Give Love a Bad Name" the band ripped down the walls and rocked in overdrive. Bon Jovi's voice sounded it's best on the slower ballads like "It's My Life." His voice is a bit more weathered, a bit more mature than it was 10 years ago. The buff Bon Jovi, whose second job as an actor is starting to take hold, is a natural entertainer. His movements on stage flow naturally and without self doubt. If he can translate these qualities to film he might have a brilliant movie career.
The bands' encore finished off the faithful with a sugary, but yet satisfying medley that included "Twist and Shout" and "Tequila" and finished 'em off with "Wanted Dead Or Alive" with all their guns roaring.
Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora
Jon Bon Jovi
