Bon Jovi - Dublin Croke park

It's been a while since this reviewer last caught up with Bon Jovi in the live environment, not since the last shows at the old Wembley Stadium in fact but, since some friends were going and this was the only date I could get too, Dublin seemed as good a place as any to get reacquainted with the New Jersey mob.

Croke Park is huge, over 80 thousand people turned up however I was lucky enough to be in the 'Gold Circle' and having never had that privilege before I must admit I was quite impressed. There was so much room and I think being in Ireland too, there was no squashing, no pushing and had loads of room for a dance and a bounce. It was also the nearest I’d ever been to the stage cause usually I see them in the distance. So very happy!

As with every Jovi show on the current tour an unsigned band gets the chance to open proceedings and for this gig the lucky boys were Faded Sun.. Heavily reminiscent of The Black Crowes, with a touch of Led Zeppelin they entertained and looked really comfortable on such a big stage with so many eyes peering at them. Also good to see was Faded Sun fans in the seats at the sides with matching T shirts and a banner. Excellent.

Nickelback were next up. Never seen these guys live and I liked them but where I was standing the sound was rather too much bassy with not enough of Chad Kroger's vocals. OK so he was audible but not as clear as either Faded Sun had been or Mr. Jovi would be. Nevertheless Nickelback gave us 'Too Bad', 'Never Again' and recent hit single 'Photograph' amongst all their other anthems so that was all great fun and and warmed everyone right up for Jovi.

Opening with 'Last Man Standing' off the newest 'Have A Nice Day' CD JBJ strolled around the elliptical stage that came around the pit and off into the main crowd. Whilst the re4st of the band all occupied the main stage bringing in the music which was pitched perfectly in terms of clarity and volume. As you would expect the band played all the old faves & hits, 'You Give Love A Bad Name', 'Runaway', 'Born To Me My Baby' etc, but the band interspersed the these older tracks with a good few newer numbers as songs like 'The Radio Saved My Life Tonight', 'Novocaine', 'Who Says You Can't Go Home' and of course 'Have A Nice Day' itself all got an airing. This also gave the chance to use the big red smiley that adorned the album cover on the video screens that provided the back drop to the stage. Whoever thought of that for the cover were on to a great marketing ploy as T-Shirts with the same face seemed to be doing great business.

Naturally the majority in attendance were there for the hits so songs like 'Captain Crash' and 'Its My Life' definitely kept things bouncing whilst 'In these Arms' had never sounded better. All representing, arguably the bands best album 'Keep The Faith' was the title track alongside 'I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead'' and Dry Country'. The latter perhaps getting the biggest cheers of the whole gig. The crowd loved it and there were certainly lots of singing going on. Being as this was Dublin, the home of U2, Bon Jovi also threw in a short homage in the shape of 'Gloria', as well as another cover to finish the night off, this time 'Treat Her Right' with its call and response 'hey hey hey' sending the punters home happy

Highlights, well 'Living on a Prayer' still sounded great, although it now closes out the main set, and it still feel like the first time you hear it whilst 'Someday I’ll be Saturday Night' has always been a good one personally but the main highlight of the evening had to be Richie Sambora taking lead vocals on 'I’ll Be There For You' but then again I’m really biased as his solo album 'Stranger In This Town' is probably my all time favourite album, mind you judging from the crowd reaction it appeared as though I wasn't the only one who loved it. Sambora also got to take most of the vocals in 'Wanted Dead or Alive' and whilst I've never been a great fan of the studio version , LIVE it is a completely different animal bringing out the best vocals from both Sambora and Bon Jovi himself. If there was anything missing at all from this show it was any contribution from the 'These Days' album, a record that almost seems to be missing in action these days (excuse the pun) and is certainly overlooked in the Bon Jovi pantheon of work. Still that being said it was good to see Bon Jovi again after so long and based on this performance
I won’t leave it so long to see them again. As for Dublin, well I wasn't to be back there real soon as both the people and city itself are as good as the reputation they so richly deserve...