Jon and Richie and Baby Jovi

It's not either of THEIR baby, but this was too cute to pass up. A couple named Blaine and Chera, who are HUGE Bon Jovi fans apparently, named their baby boy "Jovi" after the band. And after the show in Regina, Canada, they met their son's namesake backstage.

I personally think it's cute, not that I would name my kids that. But who's to judge, after all - it's their kid!

Jon and Richie obviously found it flattering, and every woman's heart will melt at the sight of these two rockstars with a baby:<

Jon's happy with the setlists...apparently.

The Goddess Hath posted this on her blog, and it caught my attention:

In an article from The Boston Globe, Sarah Rodman asks Jon some pretty standard questions, but got some really great answers. It was a good read. What I found most interesting was in the lead-in, so that's what I'm going to concentrate on here this morning.

Bon Jovi may only be playing one show at Gillette Stadium, but thanks to recent residencies at other venues — including 12 nights at London’s O2 arena — the band is primed to play just about anything. Whether it’s tracks from the multiplatinum rockers’ most recent release, "The Circle," expected hits like "Livin’ on a Prayer" or a deep cut from his "Young Guns II"-inspired solo album "Blaze of Glory", Jon Bon Jovi is prepared.

"A lot of bands write a set list and go out and do that all year. We’ve never been that kind of band," the frontman said recently by phone from Philadelphia. Just don’t expect to hear ’80s pop metal anthem 'In & Out of Love.' Ever again. "Oh lord, no thank you. Pass."

The second paragraph is what caught my eye. Bon Jovi NOT doing the same set list all year? Really? For those who have been following the posted set lists, there has been very little variation in the content of said lists. I say content, because strictly speaking the set list has not been identical each night. And to the band's credit, they have been throwing in audibles (most recently this past Saturday with Always and I Love This Town in the encore) and digging deep for some gems that have made the Fandom very happy. But overall, to borrow a line from Two Story Town, "it's just the same old sights, and the same old sounds".

Not that I don't still love them, because I do. It's just that you can't tout yourself as a "we've never been like that" when in fact you ARE like that. You, the band for whom "there's no dancers, there's no diamonds" have replaced these with TelePrompTers and "scripted" song choices. I don't have the reference handy, but I know I've read in more than one place that the band was proud that they had more than 90 songs programmed for the tour.

Programmed.

What happened to the days of "Hey, the crowd looks into it, let's dig deep for something that will knock them on their asses"? Now it's "Let's see what's programmed into the cheater on the stage, and what we have graphics done up for".

This was my comment/reply:

This is a great post - I think it succinctly sums up what many of us in the 'Fandom' are feeling. The entire debate over who wants what song and why aside, Jon's remark that they never were that kind of band made my jaw drop. Does he REALLY think that, or does he REALLY think he's fooling us all into believing it?

I thought that with the endless urging from fans everywhere, he'd have gotten the hint. It seems he did in London, anyway, which so far has seen the best setlists of the tour. But when they came back to NMS right afterward, it was straight back to vanilla, standard hits. THAT to me was not cool, especially considering that it's your hometown and more fans would know the b-sides and rarer songs in that area than any other around the globe. At least, you'd think so from a performer's standpoint.

Ah well. Unfortunately it makes it a little easier for me to go through my withdrawals -- I won't see them again until next year in Europe. Hopefully by then, they'll be tired of the standard hits and cookie cutter, PROGRAMMED sets. But probably not.

What do you all think? This is an issue among Jovi fans that has been boiling since they opened the tour in February, and if you're ever on Twitter, the fire is stoked at every single PBP. Comments like "again?!" and "where's the new stuff?" and "Oh, PLEASE let them play that in [city name]", when the band does do a rarity, abound. Endlessly.

I'm not saying the setlists are completely identical. I've heard a few gems in my six shows, on two opposite U.S. coasts. But I find myself literally growing tired of Bad Medicine and Bad Name, and if I hear "it's all right" one more time, I just might rip my hair out. Not that they aren't good songs, they're just tiring to hear at every. single. show. And not just on this tour....on every one since Bounce!

I know why they play them, I've been in many a discussion about it before. The general audience is just a general fan, and if the band played all rare stuff or a box set program, critics would eat them alive. But Jon's comment that they "never were" that kind of band made me laugh. Because they are.

They can certainly throw in more of the good stuff, the gems, the rare from the underbelly of their albums. Because there IS a substantial portion of their audience that DOES know them, DOES like them, and DOES WANT them. When you've been writing and performing for 25+ years, you have a thorough enough catalog that you could play a different setlist every night for a week.

But the key is you have to find that balance.

What do you all think?

New shows on The Circle Tour: Costa Rica & Peru!

Just announced today! Two new Circle dates:

Lima, Peru on Sept. 29, 2010

Ticket sales:

Saturday, August 7, 2010 at 11 AM

online on Teleticket (http://www.teleticket.com.pe)

and at outlets at Wong and Metro stores.

&

Costa Rica on Sept 26, 2010

Tickets sales:

Saturday, August 7, 2010 at 10 AM

online at www.specialticket.net and at

authorized retail outlets as Servimas, Bansbach and La Barbería.

Turn the Page & Wanted w/Dierks Bentley videos!

The last few days have held a few surprises in Bon Jovi land - they played the Bob Seger cover "Turn the Page" in Toronto on Wednesday, and all reports I heard were fantastic. People were surprised and very pleased!




And at the HullabaLOU Festival in Louisville, KY, Dierks Bentley joined the band onstage for Wanted. This is the only video I could find, and it's funny how Dierks' voice completely drowns out Jon's, but not Richie's! LOL

Latest setlists...

Winnipeg, MB - July 17, 2010
Blood on Blood
We Weren't Born To Follow
You Give Love a Bad Name
Whole Lotta Leavin'
Born to Be My Baby
Lost Highway
It's My Life
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
We Got It Going On
Bad Medicine/Pretty Woman/Shout
Lay Your Hands On Me (richie vox)
Bed of Roses
I'll Be There For You
When We Were Beautiful
Runaway
Work for the Working Man
Have a Nice Day
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Keep the Faith
Wanted Dead or Alive
I Love This Town
Living on a Prayer


Toronto, ON - July 20, 2010
Blood on Blood
We Weren't Born to Follow
You Give Love a Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
Lost Highway
Runaway
It's My Life
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
We Got It Going On
Bad Medicine/Old Time Rock and Roll (w/Kid Rock)
Love's the Only Rule
Lay Your Hands On Me (Richie Vox)
Bed of Roses
I'll Be There For You
Something for the Pain
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
In These Arms
Work for the Working Man
Have a Nice Day
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Keep the Faith
Always
Wanted Dead or Alive
Living on a Prayer


Toronto, ON - July 21, 2010
Happy Now
We Weren't Born to Follow
You Give Love a Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen from Mars
In These Arms
Lost Highway
When We Were Beautiful
It's My Life
We Got It Going On
Damned
Bad Medicine/Pretty Woman/Shout
Lay Your Hands On Me (Richie Vox)
Turn The Page (Bob Seger Cover)
Make a Memory
I'll Be There For You
Runaway
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Keep the Faith
Hallelujah
Wanted Dead or Alive
I Love This Town
Living on a Prayer

Louisville, KY: HullabaLOU Festival - July 23, 2010
Lost Highway
We Weren't Born to Follow
You Give Love a Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
Superman Tonight
It's My Life
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
We Got It Going On
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
Bad Medicine/Pretty Woman/Shout
Lay Your Hands On Me (Richie Vox)
Make a Memory
I'll Be There For You
Runaway
Have a Nice Day
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Keep the Faith
Wanted Dead or Alive (w/Dierks Bentley)
Living on a Prayer

Tune in tonight for Gillette Stadium at Foxboro, MA!!

Edmonton, AB setlist

From July 15, 2010:

Blood on Blood
We Weren't Born to Follow
You Give Love a Bad Name
Raise Your Hands
Born to Be My Baby
Superman Tonight
Lost Highway
It's My Life
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
We Got It Going On
Bad Medicine/Old Time Rock and Roll (w/Kid Rock)
Lay Your Hands On Me (Richie Vox)
Bed of Roses
I'll Be There For You
Something For The Pain
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
Runaway
Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen from Mars
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Keep The Faith
Always
Wanted Dead Or Alive
Living On a Prayer

Calgary, AB setlist

From July 14, 2010:

Blood On Blood
We Weren't Born to Follow
You Give Love a Bad Name
Whole Lotta Leavin'
Born to Be My Baby
Superman Tonight
Lost Highway
It's My Life
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
In These Arms
We Got It Going On
Bad Medicine/Pretty Woman
Lay Your Hands On Me (Richie Vox)
Blaze of Glory
I'll Be There For You
When We Were Beautiful
Runaway
Work for the Working Man
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Keep the Faith
Wanted Dead or Alive
I Love This Town
Living on a Prayer

So Bon Jovi's having a blog contest...

And I'm entering.

LOL.

They posted this on Twitter and FB today:

A lot of you share your blogs with us here on Twitter. Did you know we're having a blog contest? You can enter here: http://ow.ly/2bW9F

The "Live Before You Die" blog contest asks participants to blog their ideal concert experience to win two tickets to the Soldier Field (Chicago) show on July 31st. If I win, I won't be able to go unless they pay for my hotel and plane too, but I'm entering just for the hell of it. ;)

Unfortunately, the contest is (once again) only open to U.S. and CAA residents. Sorry int'l folks. :(

So check this space for my entry soon, and good luck to everyone else entering!

http://www.bonjovi.com/story/news-featured-fans-contests-backstage_news/bon_jovis_live_before_you_die_blog_contest

Update: setlists and such

Greetings Jovi World!

Apologies for the lapse in updates - my laptop is still on the fritz and I've only been able to get on my sister's computer and the computer at work for small periods of time during the day. That, plus working 8-5 every day and hosting two Dutch visitors (boyfriend and his sister this time) for two weeks, and I'm barely able to keep up with my own friends and family!

I'm sure you all have heard the news, since it's hardly news anymore, that Jon tore a calf muscle on Friday night at the 4th New Meadowlands Stadium show. Thankfully it was right near the end (just before LOAP), but I heard from friends at the show that he looked in severe pain and had to be carried off stage by Richie and David. My heart goes out to the guy - this is what happens I guess when you tour relentlessly at that age! (Not that I want them to stop touring, by all means, but I just hope they don't hurt themselves further in this tremendous undertaking of a world tour -- especially with new dates announced in Sao Paulo, Brazil - October 6, and a second date added to Australia in December.)

He posted this little messsage on Facebook, too:

my friend said ..old guys still rock..in chairs.

that hurt. i tore the calf on the left side at the 2:45 mark of NMS stadium show 4. I was just about to go into an endless encore when i popped the calf.

thanks to all the medical team both at the NMS and Riverview Hospital who have done everything to put Humpty Dumpty back together aga...in. Tonight Cleveland ...see you soon jbj

Reports are that JBJ is doing better, though he had a stool at the shows over the weekend and was seen before and after performances with crutches. He, of course, wouldn't call off a show unless he were on his death bed, but I do hope he isn't too proud to not listen to his doctor and therapists. Get better soon, Jonny!

In happier news, Mr. Sambora celebrated his 51st birthday on Sunday (also the day my heart broke watching the Dutch lose in the FIFA World Cup tournament!! :( ) Did you all leave him a birthday message on that hotline? I meant to, and completely forgot with all the prepping I had to do for the tournament final party and our guests. I hope Richie had a wonderful birthday and those who were at the show had a treat as well. :)

Here are the most recent set lists from the last few shows --

New Meadowlands Stadium - July 9, 2010

Raise Your Hands
We Weren't Born to Follow
You Give Love a Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
Superman Tonight
In These Arms
When We Were Beautiful
Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen from Mars
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
We Got It Going On
Bad Medicine/Old Time Rock and Roll (w/Kid Rock)
Love's the Only Rule
Lay Your Hands On Me (Richie Vox)
Open All Night
I'll Be There For You
Mama's Got a Squeezebox
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
Have a Nice Day
Work for the Working Man
It's My Life
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Keep the Faith
Wanted Dead or Alive
I Love This Town
Glad All Over
Living on a Prayer


Saratoga Springs, NY - July 11, 2010

Last Man Standing
We Weren't Born to Follow
You Give Love a Bad Name
Whole Lotta Leavin'
Born to Be My Baby
Superman Tonight
Lost Highway
It's My Life
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
We Got It Going On
Bad Medicine/Pretty Woman
Lay Your Hands On Me (Richie Vox)
Make a Memory
I'll Be There For You
When We Were Beautiful
Runaway
Work for the Working Man
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Keep the Faith
Wanted Dead or Alive
Living on a Prayer


Cleveland, OH - July 12, 2010

Blood on Blood
We Weren't Born to Follow
You Give Love a Bad Name
Whole Lotta Leavin'
Born to Be My Baby
Superman Tonight
Lost Highway
It's My Life
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
Treat Her Right (w/ Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes)
We Got It Going On
Bad Medicine/Pretty Woman
Lay Your Hands On Me (Richie Vox)
Make A Memory
I'll Be There For You
When We Were Beautiful
Runaway
Work for the Working Man
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Keep the Faith
Wanted Dead or Alive
Living on a Prayer

Fighting diabetes...one step at a time.

Well...it's that time again! :)



In October, I will be joining more than 100,000 fellow walkers from across the country in this year's Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes to raise money for the American Diabetes Association. I will be gathering donations and walking to help stop diabetes - for the third year in a row!

I am humbly asking for your help. By making a donation of even a mere $10 on my behalf, you will be helping the American Diabetes Association provide community-based education programs, protect the rights of people with diabetes and fund critical research for a cure.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors appear to play roles.

There are 23.6 million Americans living with diabetes, a disease that is outpacing heart disease, cancer and AIDS.

As many of you know, my boyfriend of almost four years and his sister were both diagnosed with Type 1 (also known as juvenile-onset) diabetes when they were each 8 years old. Though they have each found ways to keep it under control, it is not an easy disease to live with and constantly monitor every single day of their lives. Furthermore, several of my own family members struggle with Type II diabetes. I see each of these people I love battle the ups and downs and obstacles involved with diabetes; as such, I am deeply passionate about finding a cure for this terrible disease.

If we don't act now, one in three children born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime. I believe that my participation in this year's Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes can and will make a difference. Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes is one of the American Diabetes Association's biggest fundraisers. With the help of people like you, the American Diabetes Association can raise over $20 million to help stop diabetes.

Please help me reach my goal by supporting me for this year's Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes. Please follow the link below to my personal Web page to make a secure, 100% tax deductible donation.

**If you do not want to donate online, please make your check payable to the American Diabetes Association and email me to arrange snail-mail delivery.

Together we can stop diabetes. One step at a time.

Thank you so much everyone!

Click here to visit my personal page.

Click here to view the team page for NJBG Support