Talking to a friend the night before Bon Jovi's sold out show at Glasgow's Hampden Park we realised that it was twenty two years since our paths had first crossed New Jersey's favourite sons in a live environment. That was supporting Kiss on their Animalize tour at Newcastle City Hall and since those days we have followed Jovi as their career at first seemed to be going nowhere fast and then, with 1986's Slippery When Wet, opus went into overdrive. Indeed since the early nineteen nineties Jovi have almost exclusively played sold out UK stadium shows and that is a record that is surely only beaten by the Rolling Stones. But before we get ahead of ourselves two bands preceded Bon Jovi onto Glasgow's sun drenched stage to entertain the 45,000 or so souls who made the pilgrimage to see their heroes.

First up were Kilmarnock band Redhouse, local boys with the chance of a lifetime and to give them their dues they didn't really do that much wrong. Playing a sleazy glam rock, akin to L.A. Guns in places the band gave it their all with songs such as 'Foxtrot Charlie' and 'Young Blood'. Ok so there is nothing much new to what they do but it was enjoyable and, for the band, no matter what else they do in their career something to tell the grandkids.

For quite a while I've been of the opinion that Nickelback are the Bon Jovi of the post grunge era. They peddle the same brand of stadium friendly anthems, albeit slightly heavier, than the Jovi boys and pretty much tick all of the right rock 'n' roll boxes. For this show Chad Kroeger & Co. played it safe with a greatest hits type set serving up the likes of Photograph & Animals from the current' All The Right Reasons' opus alongside the likes of 'Too Bad', 'Never Again' & set closer 'How You Remind Me' from their biggest selling album 'Silver Side Up'.

To a certain extent the band were on a hiding to nothing with show. This was a Bon Jovi audience and, as Kroeger admitted from the stage had the weather been bad it would have been ''who are these Nickelcrap guys, get Bon Jovi on'. The weather though was excellent and Nickelback, to their credit, simply rocked, pitching the show just right. Good music, a nice line in dodgy, dirty jokes and an appreciative audience all helping to make their fifty minute set a winner. Lets just hope they come back in the near future and play some indoor headline shows nationwide.

The one thing guaranteed about Bon Jovi is that they always put on a near spotless performance. Sure the hunger that the band displayed in the early years alluded to above is long gone but has, instead, been replaced with a spectacle and sheer professional stadium rock show that few, if any, other bands can match.  Lets look at the evidence. A Two hour plus show, a frontman that has the stage moves, patter and charisma to keep 45,000 peoples attention for that length of time, a set chock full of hits and a band that are as tight as the proverbial... it doesn't get much better on this scale.

Indeed from the opening bars of 'Last Man Standing' which kicked off the show Jon Bon Jovi was most definitely on top form and seemed to be having a ball onstage. The ego walkway that extended into the crowd was a godsend for those not privileged enough to be in the inner circle bringing their hero that much closer and the hits just kept on coming. 'You Give Love A Bad Name', 'I'd Die For You', Born To Be My Baby', 'Everyday' each and everyone greeted with wild cheers and applause and Mr. Bon Jovi at the centre of it all, lapping up the adoration poring his way. 

On a personal level I may feel that, as far as studio output goes, Bon Jovi haven't released a truly great album since 'Keep The Faith' but live the new songs featured in the set take on an urgency and vibrancy that is hardly evident on the recorded versions. 'Have A Nice Day', 'Who Says You Can't Go Home' 'Complicated' and 'Story of My Life' sitting easily amongst the older tracks, although noticeably the crowd weren't as vocal during those songs which perhaps comments more eloquently on the most recent album than any reviewer possible could.

Talking of the vocal ability of the crowd to hear 45,000 people sing 'Wanted Dead Or Alive' in unison was simply awe inspiring as Jon & Richie simply stood on stage strumming their acoustics and letting the audience take the whole of the first verse. Mind you they were equally as loud during 'Livin' On A Prayer' and 'and the appropriate set closer 'Someday I'll Be Saturday Night'.

The other most noticeable thing about the show was the expanded line up on stage with the band now including both a second guitarist and an additional keyboard player to compliment the band. It would have been nice for these two to be introduced though. I guess though that this is very much a Jon Bon Jovi experience these days. If one wanted to be really picky you could argue that Jon could have any band surrounding him and nobody would notice that much. However from a personal point of view Sambora could perhaps share the spotlight a bit more as he is equally as important to the history of Bon Jovi, the band, as Jon himself. Sambora though seems content to take more a subdued role, only really coming to centre stage for his version of I'll Be There For You'' and the aforementioned ego catwalk was definitely out of bounds for anyone other than Jon. 

To sum up Bon Jovi in 2006 are the consummate stadium rock band. Experience has taught them just how to pitch a show of this magnitude and they get it spot on just about every time. Polished, professional entertaining and highly enjoyable with just enough of an edge to stay on the right side of the line that marks out rock from cabaret. Love 'Em or Loathe 'Em, you can't help but respect them.

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