I thought I was fortunate enough to be able to see Bon Jovi in concert back in my hometown of Vancouver, BC in December ‘07 (for the very first time I might add). Since having been a fan it seems like forever, I had always wanted to see them perform live but for whatever reason I never had the opportunity. Their genuine love for Vancouver, having recorded three of their most successful albums there, was apparent in both their performance and in the memories they shared of an obviously important time in their lives. I even declared that this concert was probably as much fun as my all time favourite concert - Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA tour, which stopped in Vancouver in October 1984. (Click here to read my review of Bon Jovi in Vancouver and see photos/video from that show.)

So when I had the chance to visit friends in Kansas City, MO I couldn’t help but choose a time when I knew Bon Jovi would be performing in KC, on the off-chance that I’d be able to get decent tickets to at least one of their two scheduled KC dates.  ‘lo and behold, a couple of weeks before I was scheduled to leave on my trip, I went to Ticketmaster to check things out, assuming that the only seats still available, if any, were the same ones that were available a few weeks prior - behind the stage. Much to my surprise however, floor seats had opened up the very day I was looking for tickets and I was able to snap up a couple in Row 9 on the floor for the April 17th KC show.  (Click here to read that review and see photos/video from that show.)

There really is nothing like seeing a great concert from the floor and I knew that as soon as the April 17th show ended I wanted to see them again when they returned to KC on the 22nd.  The concert Karma Gawds must have been looking out for me cuz when I went to check online for tickets just a couple of days before the April 22nd show, I hit the jackpot again with floor seats, only this time Row 4 on the floor, stage right. Knowing that Jon Bon Jovi walks through the crowd on that side to perform during the show, I figured I couldn’t pass up that opportunity and justified the cost by saying “well I probably would have spent that much $ on shopping for stuff I don’t really need to haul back to Vancouver with me anyway”.  Let me tell ya, it was well worth it!  (And hearing what some folks around us spent on their tickets, hell the price I paid was a bargain by comparison!) Not to mention, it was an opening to use with both U.S. and Canadian Customs agents - once I mentioned I was going to see or had seen Bon Jovi, they became downright chatty; definitely two of the easiest customs screenings I’ve ever had! ;-)

I have to admit, seeing Daughtry open for Bon Jovi the second time around wasn’t anywhere near as annoying simply because for the first night in KC, I just wanted to see Bon Jovi and who was this American Idol guy to open for them. Honestly, he’s pretty good and once he gets out of the habit of crouching when he sings every five minutes like he’s about to have a major BM, I think he’ll be headlining his own arena shows before too long. ;-)

The day of the second show, April 22nd, my friend Mel and I went to the Country Club Plaza area of Kansas City for lunch and as we were settling up the bill, our waiter pointed out that Jon Bon Jovi was across the street. We both dismissed him as being a nutjob but sure enough, we looked out the window and it was indeed Jon Bon Jovi.  Now while I will admit that we casually strolled in the direction that a waitress had indicated he had gone (though certainly not at the frenetic pace that the chick who came flying out of the restaurant after us had) we never did manage to see him again. But my damn Canadian politeness would probably have not wanted to bother him anyway - although thanking him for two great shows so far, and anticipating another great one that night - well, I wouldn’t have minded the opportunity to do that.

BON JOVI TAKES THE STAGE

My friend Jenny was excited to be there and while probably not as excited as I was, even she couldn’t help but be taken aback by Jon Bon Jovi’s infectious smile as he took the stage of the Sprint Center that night. Jenny’s a wonderfully sarcastic chick but said later “you can’t help but smile when you see him smile like that”. Now before you get all gooey over Jenny’s observation, keep in mind this is the same person who just shortly after the band started playing the title track from their current album Lost Highway, was yelling at me to “get the nipple shot, GET.THE.NIPPLE.SHOT!”. ;-)

Who knew that we’d get more than just a nipple shot a little later in the show. (Hint: Be sure to check out the video link for Bad Medicine/Shout below.)

THE SET LIST

LOST HIGHWAY

BORN TO BE MY BABY

BAD NAME (Click song for video)

ONE WILD NIGHT (Click song for video)

RUNAWAY

JUST OLDER (Click song for video)

SLEEP w/GIMME SOME LOVIN’ & START ME UP (Click song for video)

BLOOD MONEY

BLAZE OF GLORY w/DAUGHTRY

WHOLE LOT OF LEAVIN’

MISUNDERSTOOD (Click song for video)

ALWAYS (So glad I got to see this one live. Click song for video)

WE GOT IT GOIN’ ON (They wrote this song with Country duo Big & Rich and you can’t help but move when you hear it.)

IT’S MY LIFE 

BAD MEDICINE W/SHOUT (Click song for video)

His comment right after his pseudo-striptease was: “I’m getting too old to be showing my ‘boobies’ in public.” Uh, Jon from where I was standing, no, no you’re not. In fact you really should do it more often.

Jailed cuz of “boobies”? Click here to hear the funny exchange between Jon and Richie. 

I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU - RICHIE SAMBORA

(YOU WANT TO) MAKE A MEMORY

BED OF ROSES (Click song for video)

BED OF ROSES (Short clip as he heads back to stage; click name for video)

(Like a dope, instead of shooting video at the point as he was walking back to the stage by our row, I’m standing there pretending to be like Annie Leibowitz with a silly point and shoot camera, knowing full well that the pictures are all gonna of arms and heads as every other goober like myself was trying to get a good shot of him. Doh!)

WHO SAYS YOU CAN’T GO HOME

HAVE A NICE DAY (Click song for video)

HEY GOD (A rarity to see live - what a treat for longtime fans. Click song for video)

LIVIN’ ON A PRAYER (Click song for video)

ENCORE:

I LOVE THIS TOWN (At least this time during the video montage of Missouri and Kansas, the crowd tonight was more anti-Jayhawk than pro, my eardrums can take booing a lot better than the high pitch screeching we heard at the first show. Sorry ‘hawks fans, Missouri Tigers all the way!) ;-)

WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE (Click song for video)

Whew! What an amazing night of music and fan appreciation from a band that has taken, in my opinion, its not so fair share of negative press for their brand of “arena” rock over the years. I’m pretty sure that the 34,000 folks who went to both KC shows, not to mention the ones in Vancouver who were entertained for 3 hours, would agree with me when I say Bon Jovi throws one helluva party and I for one can’t wait for the the next invitation.

And hey, if you’re lucky, you may even get a “nipple” shot.  ;-)

~Sly

*My thanks to all the You-Tubers who posted some amazing footage of the concert that night.