Arena rock is a kind of music that will live for as long as people gather in hockey arenas across the country to perform together with their favorite musicians’ anthems. On Friday, April 1st, Bon Jovi performed their first public in-person performance since the epidemic began at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, NE.
Ione, a vocalist from Sioux City, Iowa, won the starting position for the Omaha tour date through sweepstakes. Ione filled the arena with her lovely voice, recalling one of ’70s singer-songwriters like Linda Ronstadt and Stevie Nicks, with a complete backup band — two guitar players, a bassist, a drummer, and a keyboardist. She exuded a free-spirited attitude on stage, and her genuine, absolute pure pop-rock music captured the audience. It was a wonderful performance all over, and it was well worth getting there early. Buy Tickets From Here
Then, it was time for the big show. Bon Jovi, led by lead vocalist Jon Bon Jovi, took their New Jersey flair to the Midwest. While it’s becoming harder for Bon Jovi to deliver those higher notes to the back of the arena as effectively as he did in the 1980s, he is still first and foremost a master showman. He has a youthful spirit, and on Friday, he engaged and entertained the crowd with an unbelievable Mick Jagger-like audience influence performance.
It was also Bon Jovi’s first formal performance since the epidemic began — they’d had to postpone a scheduled 2020 tour — and they seemed ecstatic to be performing in front of an audience. Before they launched into “You Give Love A Bad Name,” Bon Jovi observed, “It’s been a long time since I said good evening.”
The remaining band, on the other hand, was in excellent shape. Phil X has been performing lead guitar for nearly five years and has filled some big shoes, yet he does it brilliantly. He skillfully ran through three guitars throughout the song “Keep the Faith,” breaking one of the strings in the process.
Tico Torres was a powerhouse behind the drum kit, while David Bryan’s trademark synth voice can be recognized from a mile away. Is it also conceivable for guitarist/producer John Shanks to join Bon Jovi as a full-time member? He offered lead guitar responsibilities and was a fantastic rhythm guitarist, stealing the show on several occasions with his guitar solos. Get Cheapest Tickets From Here
The band also gave gratitude to Ukraine by singing “It’s My Life,” a song that has become a rallying cry for Ukrainians, as well as “We Don’t Run,” which was shot for a Global Citizen special.
They also performed songs from their previous albums, which include five songs from their most recent album, 2020, which Jon Bon Jovi described as “proud of.”
Lastly, they closed out their greatest set with the legendary “Livin’ On a Prayer,” which had the entire arena singing along. Finally, the two-song encore began with “Love’s the Only Rule” and concluded with “Bad Medicine.”
Whatever you think of Bon Jovi, they’re still one of the most prominent rock bands, proving that arena rock isn’t dead. You just want to sing along to a fantastic hook now and again, and that’s absolutely what you’ll receive on this run.
On Sunday, April 3rd, Bon Jovi was perform at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Ticketmaster had tickets for that show, as well as the remaining of the tour. Buy Tickets From Here
Bon Jovi 2022 U.S. Tour dates
April 01 – Omaha, Neb. @ CHI Health Center
April 03 – St. Paul, Minn. @ Xcel Energy Center
April 05 – Milwaukee, Wis. @ Fiserv Forum
April 08 – Charlotte, N.C. @ Spectrum Center
April 09 – Raleigh, N.C. @ PNC Arena
April 11 – Greenville, S.C. @ Bon Secours Wellness Arena
April 13 – Savannah, Ga. @ Enmarket Arena
April 15 – Tampa, Fla. @ Amalie Arena
April 16 – Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. @ FLA Live Arena
April 19 – Indianapolis, Ind. @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse
April 21 – St. Louis, Mo. @ Enterprise Center
April 23 – Austin, Texas @ Moody Center
April 26 – Houston, Texas @ Toyota Center
April 28 – Dallas, Texas @ American Airlines Center
April 30 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Bridgestone Arena
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