UBC students experience first-hand New Jersey rockers' bright lights and big sound
BY FRANCOIS MARCHAND, VANCOUVER SUN MARCH 26, 2011
Jon Bon Jovi delights his audience from the stage of Rogers Arena for the first of two shows in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, March 25, 2011.
Photograph by: Ian Lindsay, PNG
BON JOVI
With Ryan Star
When: Friday night (again Saturday night, 7:30 p.m.)
Where: Rogers Arena
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A springtime Friday night in Vancouver: What could be better than hanging out with your favourite New Jersey boys, Bon Jovi, hammering out hit after hit at Rogers Arena?
Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Rico Torres and David Bryan have been doing their thing for close to 30 years, and they’re not showing signs of slowing down any time soon.
Their touring machine is huge, raking in $146 million in 2010 and making Bon Jovi the highest-grossing touring band worldwide last year according to Billboard magazine.
So this had better be one hell of a show, right?
But before assessing the band’s performance, we should mention Bon Jovi’s mentorship initiative on this tour. In every city, a group of students is invited to witness the ins and outs of setting up a Bon Jovi concert from the ground up: From the unloading stages to sound check to the final tweaks, right before the band is to take the stage.
In Vancouver, a group of UBC students was lucky enough to have been hand-picked for the program, learning some valuable lessons about the complex process Friday afternoon.
Considering Bon Jovi’s extensive stage production, it must have been quite an experience: You don’t earn close to $150 million doing things halfway.
Opener Ryan Star, of Rock Star: Supernova fame, kicked things off with a few heartfelt rock numbers of his own.
The New York City-based rocker and his Kings of Leon-style tunes fared well, even if many were still waiting in line to snag a $45 Bon Jovi T-shirt or a drink (or two).
Star didn’t seem too lost on Bon Jovi’s big elliptical stage, which opened up the whole arena’s seating.
(Note to Saturday concertgoers: Star will not be performing Saturday night. Bon Jovi will be the sole performer for a slightly different show, “An Evening with Bon Jovi.” The band goes on at 7:30 p.m.)
As soon as the four boys from Jersey took the stage around 8:35, you could see just how slick the production was: A massive light display popped up behind the stage and the front display split into multiple sections as Sambora kicked into the opening riff of Blood on Blood. Jon Bon Jovi sauntered onto the stage with his acoustic guitar and a huge grin on his face.
“I’m still the same as I was back then,” Bon Jovi sang as the crowd answered the call.
It was a night where it was more than okay to feel young again and let loose like you did way back when.
“This ain’t television, baby! Get up out of your seats!” Bon Jovi told the audience right before the band kicked into You Give Love a Bad Name.
Bon Jovi may be an aging rock band, but digging up the best from classic ’80s albums New Jersey and Slippery When Wet, throwing in Runaway, Blaze of Glory, Bad Medicine and many more for good measure? Instant time warp.
Jon Bon Jovi’s best asset remains his playful attitude, with Sambora, Torres on drums and Bryan on keys (as well as a touring bassist and an extra guitar player) happy to follow his lead.
Speaking of leads, Sambora can still shred it with the best of them.
Sure, the band can come across as a bit corny at times (We Weren’t Born to Follow, Lost Highway or any of their “country-rock” hits), but Bon Jovi’s earnest, positive attitude (especially over the past 15 years) has been a big part of its successful recipe.
And anthemic, feel-good singalongs (20 or so in all) strung together without skipping a beat are always good for a crowd.
Add some good, crisp sound levelled perfectly, good lighting, that big shape-shifting screen, as well as a heartfelt shout-out to Vancouver (where the band worked on some of its biggest hits with the likes of Bob Rock), and you have a pretty spot-on arena rock show.
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