THANK YOU Lillian, for getting this on video and sharing it!
Look what we got last night! GAH it was fantastic!!
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And thank you to Tre for finding this for me - the SoCal challenge from Friday night. As Jon said: "We gotta take it easy on Southern California - we ain't in New Jersey anymore! Yes, that was a direct challenge to the people of Southern California!"
Oh no you didn't! LMAO! And I think you'd agree that we proved our worth by the end of Sat night, eh Jonny? ;)
I had the best time tonight! Anaheim Round #2 definitely, surely KICKED my ass. Despite the drunk idiots in front of me (again, DON'T GO TO A CONCERT DRUNK!!!!) standing on their fucking chairs and their boyfriends' shoulders and screaming like children when Jon was on the catwalk, and falling over themselves because they were drunk and in heels, I did my best to ignore them and promised myself I would not let them ruin MY concert experience. And for the most part, I was able to ignore them...and I had a DAMN good time.
For those of you who followed my PBP, I thank you. It is a really cool feeling to come home to 20 pages of mentions and comments on my tweets (I disabled mobile updates tonight because they KILLED my phone last night, LOL!) and I am so glad you all had fun! I will definitely do the same for Staples Center in LA -- I'm right by the effing catwalk!
The band was on FIRE tonight, and it showed! They opened pretty predictably, but I had the sweetest and most fun girl next to me so we were able to make the most out of a bland opening - dancing and singing and cheering (last night's neighbors were boring ;)), so that made up for it.
Jon was silly and quirky, telling us that he was going to put us through one hell of a night nand we'd be begging for mercy by the end of it (or something to that extent) then, "ladies...you know what I'm talking about!" LOL. Followed by his merciless ass-shaking during We Got It Goin' On (and yes, I got video. HOLY crap.)
I was surprised by Whole Lot of Leaving coming up as 4th song, then back to an identical set list until song #13 - Make A Memory on catwalk. I'm not crazy about that song, but it was nice to have a change! And I was able to get about 100 pictures of Jon (and later the whole band) on the catwalk, since I couldn't see shit on the main stage with those morons in front of me.
But when they returned to the stage...Jon announced a song off of These Days (which instantly excited me) and then freaking launched into HEY GOD. I could have DIED. I screamed and cheered so loud I thought my voice was going to give out! I was SO excited, never heard that song live, and it was FANTASTIC. And Jon was banging that damn tambourine with such a sultry, sexy rock star look that my heart was pounding. So what if it's 15+ years old, they sounded great and did it huge justice!
The rest of the show just kicked our asses - we did not get a BREAK. You couldn't put your arms down or even look away from the stage, or even stop smiling for that matter! It was just merciless plowing on through fist-pumping songs and chill-inducing solos - for example, Richie NAILS Homebound Train. Seriously. The energy was just rampant throughout the whole show - all of the guys were on fire, Jon was personable and in great spirits, and it definitely showed.
And Love's the Only Rule? Absolutely, completely beautiful live. Jon injects so much energy and passion into that song, it's surreal - I had permanent chills and tears stinging my eyes the whole time, my heart swelling to twice its normal size. I LOVE that song, absolutely adore it. And you can tell Jon does too, and that he wants the crowd to love it as much as he does, and I wish he could feel just some of what I feel when I hear it. Because I have never had such a connection to a song, such a heartfelt attachment that fills up my soul every single time I hear it - and live, it's just magnified tenfold. When Jon himself is pouring his heart and soul into it, and you're giving back some of your own heart and soul, it's pure magic.
Of course they ended with Wanted and Prayer - Jon asked us to rise for the playing of our national anthem, but the crowd was on FIRE tonight (and in sync for the chorus, LOL) so there was no need. I kept looking around during some of the classic anthem choruses (Wanted, Bad Medicine, BTBMB, etc.) and just marveled at how every damn person it seemed, from the pits to the highest rafter, was on their feet, their hands in the air, their voices ringing in unison, thoroughly enjoying the show. It was FANTASTIC, and I didn't want it to end.
SoCal definitely leaves a mark on those guys - Jon asked "Southern California to sing it like we mean it!" And we did. And he was smiling so big at all of us that I felt higher than Jersey in that moment. :)
There were few production issues - save for some lag in the video screens, and a very obvious speaker feedback during Richie's Homebound Train solo, but he played it off beautifully by making a funny/surprised face at the crowd, making us all laugh. Bobby Bandiera joined the dynamic duo for Bad Case of Loving You (insert in Bad Medicine) - and when they squat down to their knees and slink toward the crowd, you can just feel yourself melting into a puddle.
I remember laughing at several things Jon or Richie said, and of course now I can't remember them. But let me just tell you that interaction with the crowd was on HIGH today - Jon held hands and kissed women and walked through the pits and up onto the catwalk again (twice!) after the standard mid-show set, pointed out posters, and made kissy faces at girls standing on their chairs (though I wish he wouldn't encourage that! LOL). Richie flipped picks out to the crowd, tipped his Slash hat to ladies, pointed and smiled and winked at them all the time. David would catch the eye of whoever was actually looking at him when they were on the catwalk, and would sing to them, making faces and keeping eye contact...and I know this because *I* was one of the ones he did that to!!
I took advantage of the drunk posse in front of me slobbering over Jon to move into the gap they left and focus my attention on the King of Keys -- and I was rewarded with direct eye contact, a huge smile, silly faces, and a whole verse of Something For the Pain sung between us. GAH! It was fantastic! I was smiling like a freaking goofball, and naturally promptly forgot all about the PBP -- or you can bet I would have posted about it!! LOL
I also got a kiss blown from Jon when the girl in front of me fell off her chair - I started cracking up (sorry, couldn't help it) and took advantage of the clear view to Jon to wave at him and smile - and got a little pucker kissy face.
*thud*
I know you're all thinking that could have been to anyone, but I for one hate when people make things up about the boys seeing them (especially when you're like 15th row...come on now), and I even won't admit to myself when I get attention unless I'm POSITIVE it was directed at me, and if the circumstances would make it make sense. And they did, because everyone in front of me was either sitting down, cramming into the aisle, or falling over their chairs. Hence, direct clear view to Mr. Bon Jovi. :) I was so in awe and on cloud 9 that I forgot all about the PBP.
I was so sweaty and sore/achy by the end that I wanted nothing more than to sit down in a chair, gulp down a gallon of cold water, and just dream about the last 2 1/2 hours. As I was trying to find my friends on the other side (and said goodbye to my new one from Japan!), luck struck me square in the face - some girl held out her program and asked if I wanted it. I literally asked her if she was serious twice...I was shocked. She said yes, and I accepted and thanked her like I had just gotten a bag of gold, LOL. Saved me $30, what a stroke of luck that is!
Overall, tonight was phenomenal. And I'm amazed I can say that because I was so angry at the people in front of me at times that I wanted to knock them all out. But like I said, I was determined not to let them ruin my night. They couldn't take that away from me, though they tried their damndest.
As Jon said..."And you, the fine, fine people of Southern California - you're wonderful, thank you! We love you!"
God, we love you too Bon Jovi.
Now all I have left to say is this...BRING ON LOS ANGELES, BABY!
~ Here's the full set list:
Blood On Blood We Weren't Born to Follow You Give Love A Bad Name Whole Lot of Leaving Born To Be My Baby Lost Highway When We Were Beautiful Superman Tonight We Got It Goin' On Bad Medicine/Bad Case of Loving You (w/ Bobby) It's My Life Homebound Train (Richie on VOX) Make A Memory I'll Be There For You (Richie & Jon duet) Something For the Pain Someday I'll be Saturday Night Hey God (!!) Work for the Working Man Who Says You Can't Go Home Love's The Only Rule Thorn in My Side Wanted Living On A Prayer
Good morning! I just woke up after barely 8 hours of sleep, and the knots in my stomach are back, ready for tonight's round #2!
Thank you to all who followed me on Twitter for the set list/PBP last night -- I saw people translating my tweets into other languages for their followers! Crazy! I'm very honored, and so glad you all enjoyed the show vicariously through us all who went.
I did notice, however, that one tweet didn't make it through - the band DID play "Get Ready" between Bad Name and Born To Be My Baby (I believe), and I remember texting that out...so something must have had a glitch. Sorry about the confusion!
The set list was...predictable. Yeah, not too thrilling to be honest, but I'm still holding out hope for a few surprises tonight. And I'm still begging for Captain Crash! ;)
I loved hearing Get Ready and Something For the Pain - fantastic acoustic! And the band coming out on the catwalk is definitely a treat -- and I am right up front in Los Angeles (not last night like I thought), so I am simply going to DIE. I can't wait!
Overall, the show was great. I was further back than I've ever been, had tall guys in front of me, a sullen-faced teenager on one side, and couldn't see the band half the time, but the energy and music were great. And there were a couple of production issues, but Jon remained in high spirits (or so it seemed), so at least the show wasn't ruined by his mood.
I had a hell of a night with photography (more blurry shots than I've ever taken, thanks to heads and hands in the way), but when the band came out on the catwalk (and Jon did Hallelujah, I nearly died) I snapped that camera so many times my arms hurt from keeping it up. LOL. I got great shots of Dave and Tico, as well as Richie and Jon of course, so I finally have a full catalog of all members! hehe
Anyway, I just woke up to the news of the earthquake in Chile (God bless them...who's next?!) and the tsunami warnings in Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and the entire U.S. west coast. And the weather is definitely something fierce out there...so I am NOT thrilled about driving back down south. Not sure what's going to happen, but we'll see...I hope it isn't severe enough to make the band postpone or cancel, but then again, I don't want anyone to get hurt.
So if you're headed there tonight, BE CAREFUL! And PLEASE do not drink and drive (and honestly, don't drink and go to a concert either...drunks were rampant last night and I wanted to strangle this moron who kept cussing out Jon and boo-ing while the rest of us were screaming and cheering. It just ruins the show for yourself and others, so please don't do it!)
Here's the full set list from last night:
Blood On Blood
We Weren't Born To Follow
You Give Love A Bad Name
Get Ready
Born To Be My Baby
When We Were Beautiful
Superman Tonight
We Got It Going On
Bad Medicine/Bad Case Of Loving You
It's My Life
Homebound Train (Richie VOX)
Hallelujah (Jon on catwalk)
Bed of Roses (Jon on catwalk)
Something For the Pain (whole band on catwalk)
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night (whole band on catwalk)
Work For the Working Man
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Love's the Only Rule
Encore:
Thorn In My Side
Wanted Dead or Alive
Livin' On A Prayer
And now, I'm uploading and cleaning up my pictures, but here are some of my faves (LOTS more will surface soon!):
