2009: The story of JBJ's life

From February 22nd to March, 1st I went on a trip to the USA with some friends. My expectations were very low, but sometimes life can really surprise us, and so I was able to experience some culture, road trip, visiting the country's political capital Washington DC, and also visit planet Earth's capital, the city that never sleeps New York. All this with a little taste of my very favorite Rock band: Bon Jovi.

I will limit this post to describe a show that was a fan club only event, something the man had not been done for quite a long time. It all happened in the magical day of February the 23rd, when we headed to the "Starland Ballroom", the venue that would host the concert in Sayrevill, New Jersey. Some hours after we arrived we all got inside as I got a spot in the side stage behind a soundboard, while some of my friends were fortunate enough to reach the front row center. The venue was very small and there were bars at the sides with tables for people to eat. 2700 people was the capacity we were told the venue was able to hold.

When the time came for the band to get in, they passed right in front of us for our delight. I must say my expectations were to attend to an one hour acoustic show with perhaps some story telling. However this time the fan club and Jon himself completely surprised us turning what could be just a gig to fill a not very busy year, into a unique event that won't be easily repeated.

And so we found Jon had gathered a full band: most of them from the "the Big Dogs", the guys with whom he had played during the 1997 promotional shows, with the exception of Hugh Mcdonald, who was replaced at the bass, and a horn section that was added only for this event. During the show we were able to time travel through the life of Rock legend Jon Bon Jovi, since his early days playing covers in bars with his first bands, among which songs from his local heroes: "Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes"; renditions from demo tapes he had recorded during dead time in New York city's Power Station studios and produced by his own uncle Tony; incursions through his two solo records; and, of course, some of the classics and personally favorite songs from Bon Jovi's career.

The journey had its beginning with the loud beat of the drums that set the rhythm for an apotheotic entry of Mr. John Francis Bongiovi Jr. who welcomed us all while playing "So You Want to Be A Rock and Roll Star". It was the dream of a young kid who was looking the world from his window in New Jersey and who was fascinated with legends from his home state. "This Time Its For Real", a cover song from his hero Southside Jonnhy was the next step in a night that was already surprising all of us who were there. His first words were to welcome us all to his hometown, mentioning the history of the building we were all inside: he had performed there as a young boy; the video for the band's second album first single "Only Lonely" had been shot there in 1985; his long time wife had been a waiter there; and Richie Sambora had actually owned the place once. He added we were in for a real treat as we would travel in his time machine as he used to mention during the band's concerts. The first hit he wrote, "Runaway", was then played exactly how it was recorded and the way the band used to play it in their first couple of years.

Two songs from the band's outtake box set collection followed: "I get a Rush" and "Garageland". The last one was introduced as having a deep meaning in terms of what the band represented in his life. "Lost Highway", the title track from the band's last record, was next, making fans remember moments from a tour that had only ended a few months before.

Right after that we heard songs nobody could expect Jon would take out of his old closet, two songs that were written during the 1978-1982 period while the young musician was still an apprentice of a song writer. Jon even commented "That was fun..... once". The songs were "Head over Heels", with its particular beat and "Don't leave me tonight" with lyrics dedicated to the still Mrs Bongiovi. Those were true treasures that despite not making much sense in 2009, were determinant stepping stones in the life of a rising artist.

Not fully recovered from the moments before, Jon took us to his experience in London turned to a record in 1997 called "Destination Anywhere". He played a European hit, "Midnight in Chelsea", a commercial flop with a very deepful meaning, "Janie, don't you take your love to town", and what it is still one of his most honest lyrics: "Every word was a piece of my heart" in a breathtaking performance.

The very professional band that made no mistakes and were always with the right rhythm backed the artist in what proved to be a good fit. It was not Richie, David, or Tico, but a very up beaten Kenny Arnoff that couldn't stand still in the drums; an irrepressible John Conti in the bass guitar; Everett Bradley dancing like a small kid with his "toys" in the percussion, enhancing each song with particular sounds; Jeff Kazee that was vibrating in the keyboards, while spreading the magic of the "Jukes". A horn section that added the so characteristic Jersey sound of the "E Street band" and "the Asbury Jukes". And last, but definitely not least, Jon's right hand outside the band: Bobby Bandiera, in Jon's words a local hero who filled the "Stone Pony" playing covers while the "Wild Ones" played original songs only for dozens of people, among which relatives, in the "Fast Lane" on the other side of the street in Asbury Park.

Two songs from "the Jukes" were then played: the classic "Broke Down Piece of Man" in a duet between Jon and Bobby, and a song that not even "the Jukes" play anymore "All I Want Is Everything". Two very upbeat and fun songs that delighted even the ones who were listening to them for the very first time.

"Whole Lot of Lonely" (as introduced or simply "Lonely" as written in the track list of the English and Japanese editions of the album "Lost Highway"), an outtake from the band's last record that didn't make it, on Jon's words, since it could easily be confused with a track with a similar name, "Whole lot of leaving", as well as for being musically too similar to the album's first single "(You wanna) Make a Memory". Nevertheless he added that a song like that should definitely be covered by an artist like Chris Isac who could easily take it to an even higher level. A very intimate moment with the lights down low and a very cosy atmosphere, typical of a small bar.

The time machine then traveled to 1990 and we were able to listen to three songs from the Original Soundtrack of the movie "Young Guns II", in which were included two concert debuts. I must confess that "Bang a Drum" and "Never Say Die" were magical moments proving great songs are timeless, and they don't need to be hit singles to be played 19 years later and still sound fresh and with a contagious energy. The former carried the emotion, faith and hope the songwriter was able to put in words when he wrote it, while the latter was a joyful ride with the perfect timing for the lead guitar and drums to shine. Brilliant.

"Billy get your Guns" was the perfect excuse for the party to settle during two of the band's classics: "Someday I'll be Saturday Night" and "Wanted Dead or Alive", the latter without the charisma of the "King of Swing" but with the passion of the mentor behind the well oiled machine of "Bon Jovi". The country theme from their Nashville incursion "Lost Highway", "I Love this Town" closed the main set with lots of energy, hands waving in the air, and a Jon Bon Jovi who was smiling from ear to ear and paying his tribute to the town that saw him grow up as a human being and an artist; in which he dropped from school to follow his dream with only a guitar on his hands; many were the ones who followed him, and some of them turned their head away from him; still he managed to gather a band that worked their way up, eventually inspiring millions who, 25 years after the first record, share his dreams and believe they are worth fighting for.

But the night was not over yet and we got a three song encore: "Just Older", with an obvious reference to his birthday that was a week away, "When you get to my age you don't celebrate anymore ... Once I was young and pretty". We then got the song that was not in the set list: "Prayer'94" with all the inspiration in a low tuned rendition and an electric guitar that colored all the remaining acoustic sounds that kept the rhythm. Melancholic and intimate, in a single word: Perfect for the atmosphere.

Before he abandoned the stage Jon took the time to tell us about his band mates: Tico, who was enjoying his little baby son and smoking cigars in Florida; David who was about to debut his latest play in Broadway "The Toxic Avenger" after the critical acclaim "Memphis" had in Seattle. And of course, Richie with whom he was in permanent contact since they were into 20 new songs of a riff rock record. "What else can I say... ask me anything... where are you from?".. "I came all the way from Portugal just for this" a Portuguese friend of mine answered after Jon gave her the microphone.... What could one want after that?.

"Who says you can't o home" the theme song of the state since 2006 was the last song to be heard in a magical night in which Jon told us the story of his life in the first person. His inspirations, his first songs, his band's hits, his side projects in which he risked but always knew how to take lessons from. It was also the night for the singer and song writer's personal favorite songs that filled the atmosphere with the ego of a man who has already guaranteed a place in the history of Rock'n'Roll. He, himself announced that they would be eligible for the real "Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame" next year and when that moment comes, nothing and nobody can erase what so many already have no doubts about.

Those were magical moments spent on a Sayrevile bar in which you could see people seating around eating or even in the bar drinking and talking, while the majority of the audience was filling all the space there was in front of the stage in a cosy atmosphere that provided a unique moment of retrospect on the life of this Rock Icon.

Much more could be told, and there are many scenes in the nowadays so familiar public book of memories called youtube, but with these lines I tried to make you feel "in my shoes" during that night. I hope you enjoyed.....