May 25, 2011

One year ago today...

...I landed at Newark International Airport for the first time. Okay, so it was like 11:55pm and almost May 26th, but still! My journey started on the 25th.

The next morning, I woke up in New Jersey and almost cried with delight. The first of three Bon Jovi shows at the brand new New Meadowlands Stadium was tonight, and I had a FREE ticket to go, thanks to my friends Lori and Jen. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and I was in love with Jersey already.

I was in good company, knowing I'd see most of my beloved Jovi friends over the coming week (some I'd never met in person yet, and some I hadn't seen in years). I was hours away from fulfilling one of my dearest ambitions: to see Bon Jovi at Giants Stadium! (I know it's not technically "Giants" anymore, but the spirit is still there.)

We laughed and hugged and ate and drank, my friend Trish gave me a grand tour of Jersey - including old Jovi stomping grounds, we got rained out and trapped inside the stadium on the second night, had one massive (and totally awesome) tailgate party on the afternoon of the final show, and generally enjoyed traditions of New Jersey Jovi shows (thunderstorms, open-sky stadiums, tailgates with good friends) that I had only read about for years.

These shows were truly my favorite of the whole tour - my #s 4, 5, and 6 out of 8 total I was lucky enough to see this round. Night 1 (ticket in the stands) was a gift from Lori and Jen, Night 2 (far section, 4th row) I bought myself, and Night 3 (PIT BABY, ROW 8!) was a 21st birthday gift from my parents, and the whole trip (airfare) was a gift from my boyfriend. I had never been more excited for anything in my life. And to this day, I thank those who made it possible for me to experience it. I couldn't have done it without any of the above mentioned people!

Anyway, in honor of those wonderful nights, I'm bringing back some of my memories. A selection of my favorite pictures, plus my reviews of each night, and some videos I found (or took). And be sure to check out The Jovi Circle Tour blog for further multimedia goodies.

For those who were there, enjoy your trip down memory lane -- and for those who weren't, live vicariously through us! :)

My Night #1 Review

My Night #2 Review

My Night #3 Review

Hath has Wanted Dead or Alive from each night available for download on her MediaFire account. Thanks Hath!


Video of Never Say Goodbye from Night #2, when Jon forgot the lyrics. LOL. It's taken off the screen, since the band was on the circle waaayy behind me.




Video of Captain Crash from Night #3. I didn't take this - I was grinning from ear to ear, waving my arms in the pit! For those who don't know, I BEGGED for this song to be played in Jersey, since I had never heard it live and it's one of my faves!




Video of Diamond Ring I took from the pit, Night #3:




And some of my favorite pictures from Nights 2 & 3:

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"The End"
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May 23, 2011

Just because...

...BECAUSE.

Holy flipping hotness. I am shamelessly touting my JBJ crush....no apologies.

Damn.

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His Majesty Jon Bon Jovi...

Holy CRAP this is a hot pic.

Someone posted it on Facebook, asking whose it was. Anyone want to take credit? Legitimately? LOL

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St. Louis, MO (5/22/11)

Last Man Standing
Bad Name
Born To Be My Baby
We Weren't Born To Follow
In These Arms
Superman Tonight
It's My Life
Runaway
We Got It Goin' On
Bad Medicine/Pretty Woman/Shout
Keep The Faith
When We Were Beautiful
Make A Memory
I'll Be There For You
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Sleep When I'm Dead
Saturday Night
Have A Nice Day
Blood On Blood

Encore
Dry County
Wanted
Prayer
Twist and Shout

Milwaukee, WI (from 5/21/11)

Lost Highway
We Weren't Born To Follow
Bad Name
Born To Be My Baby
Superman Tonight
It's The End of The World As We Know It(intro)
It's My Life
Runaway
The More Things Change
We Got It Goin' On
Bad Medicine/Hot Legs
Lay Your Hands On Me
When We Were Beautiful
Bed Of Roses
Can't Help Falling In Love(tease)
I'll Be There For You
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Sleep When I'm Dead
Have A Nice Day
Keep The Faith

Encore
Whole Lot of Leavin'
Wanted
Blood on Blood
Prayer
Saturday Night

Memphis, TN (from 5/19/11)

Lost Highway
We Weren't Born To Follow
You Give Love A Bad Name
Born To Be My Baby
Superman Tonight
The More Things Change
It's My Life
Runaway
We Got It Goin' On
Bad Medicine/Pretty Woman/Shout
Lay Your Hands On Me
Memphis Lives In Me (David on Vocs)
Make A Memory
Bed Of Roses
I'll Be There For You
Who Says You Can't Go Home
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
Have A Nice Day
Keep The Faith

Encore
Whole Lotta Leavin'
Wanted Dead Or Alive
Blood On Blood
Livin' On A Prayer

Houston, TX (from 5/17/11)

Lost Highway
Bad Name
Born To Be My Baby
We Weren't Born To Follow
Runaway
It's My Life
The More Things Change
We Got It Goin' On
Bad Medicine/Roadhouse Blues/Old Time Rock and Roll
Lay Your Hands On Me
What Do You Got
Make A Memory
I'll Be There For You
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Sleep When I'm Dead
In These Arms
Have A Nice Day
Keep The Faith

Encore
Saturday Night
Wanted
Prayer

May 18, 2011

Just because...

I'm done with my last college finals ever, and this is pure sex.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

May 17, 2011

Houston, TX set list

Lost Highway
You Give Love a Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
We Weren't Born to Follow
Runaway
It's My Life
The More Things Change
We Got It Going On
Bad Medicine/Roadhouse Blues/Old Time Rock and Roll
Lay Your Hands On Me
What Do You Got
(You Want To) Make a Memory
I'll Be There For You
Who Says You Can't Go Home
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
In These Arms
Have a Nice Day
Keep the Faith
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
Wanted Dead or Alive
Living on a Prayer

May 15, 2011

Orlando, FL set list

Lost Highway
Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
We Weren't Born To Follow
Runaway
It's My Life
Work For The Working Man
We Got It Goin' On
Bad Medicine/Hot Legs/Shout
Lay Your Hands On Me
Make A Memory
Bed Of Roses
I'll Be There For You
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Sleep When I'm Dead
Blood on Blood
Have A Nice Day
Keep The Faith

Encore
When We Were Beautiful
Wanted
Prayer

Atlanta, GA (from 5/14/11)

Lost Highway
Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
We Weren't Born To Follow
Runaway
It's My Life
Work For The Working Man
We Got It Going On
Bad Medicine/Hot Legs/Old Time Rock and Roll
Lay Your Hands On Me
Make A Memory
Bed Of Roses
I'll Be There For You
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Sleep When I'm Dead/Start Me Up
Blood on Blood
Have a Nice Day
Keep The Faith


Encore
When We Were Beautiful
Wanted
Saturday Night
Prayer

Des Moines, IA (from 5/12/11)

Lost Highway
You Give Love A Bad Name
Born To Be My Baby
We Weren't Born To Follow
Runaway
It's My Life
Work For The Working Man
Bad Medicine/Roadhouse Blues/Old Time Rock & Roll
Lay Your Hands On Me
Make A Memory
Bed Of Roses
I'll Be There For You
Who Says You Can't Go Home
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
Blood On Blood
Have A Nice Day
Keep The Faith

Encore
When We Were Beautiful
Wanted Dead Or Alive
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
Livin' On A Prayer

Columbus, OH (from 5/10/11)

Lost Highway
You Give Love A Bad Name
Born To Be My Baby
We Weren't Born To Follow
Runaway
It's My life
Work For The Working Man
We Got It Goin' On
Bad Medicine/Roadhouse/Old Time Rock & Roll
Lay Your Hands On Me
Make A Memory
Bed Of Roses
I'll Be There For You
Who Says You Can't Go Home
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
Blood On Blood
Have A Nice Day
Keep The Faith

Encore
When We Were Beautiful
Wanted Dead Or Alive
Livin' On A Prayer

May 7, 2011

Uncasville, CT: Mohegan Sun Arena (from 5/7/11)

Catching up on set lists...

Uncasville, CT (from 5/7/11)
Last Man Standing
We Weren't Born To Follow
Bad Name
Born To Be My Baby
Superman Tonight
Lost Highway
Whole Lot of Leavin'
It's My Life
The More Things Change
We Got It Goin' On
Bad Medicine/Pretty Woman
Lay Your Hands On Me
Make A Memory
What Do You Got
I'll Be There For You
Saturday Night
Who Says You Can't Go Home
In These Arms
Prayer
So You Wanna Be A Rock and Roll Star
Have A Nice Day
Blood on Blood
Wanted

Uniondale, NY set list

Nassau Coliseum - May 6, 2011

Lost Highway
We Weren't Born to Follow
You Give Love a Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
Superman Tonight
The More Things Change
It's My Life
Runaway
We Got It Going On
Bad Medicine/Roadhouse Blues/Old Time Rock and Roll
Lay Your Hands On Me
What Do You Got
Bed of Roses
I'll Be There For You
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
Who Says You Can't Go Home
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead/Dancing in the Streets/Start Me Up
Have a Nice Day
Keep the Faith
In These Arms
Wanted Dead or Alive
Living on a Prayer

Montreal, QB set list (from 5/4/11)

Bell Centre - May 4, 2011

Lost Highway
We Weren't Born to Follow
You Give Love a Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
Superman Tonight
The More Things Change
It's My Life
Runaway
We Got It Going On
Bad Medicine/Roadhouse Blues/Old Time Rock and Roll
Lay Your Hands On Me
Hallelujah
Diamond Ring
Bed of Roses
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
Who Says You Can't Go Home
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead/Rockin' All Over the World
In These Arms
Have a Nice Day
Keep the Faith
Dry County
Wanted Dead or Alive
Living on a Prayer
Blood on Blood

Ottawa, ON set list (from 5/3/11)

I'm catching up on these set lists, so pardon the delay. Bon Jovi was in Canada last week, and has moved on down to CT and NY.

Scotiabank Place - May 3, 2011
Blood on Blood
We Weren't Born to Follow
You Give Love a Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
Lost Highway
Whole Lot of Leavin
It's My Life
Runaway
We Got It Going On
Bad Medicine/Pretty Woman
Lay Your Hands On Me
(You Want To) Make a Memory
What Do You Got
I'll Be There For You
Who Says You Can't Go Home
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
Work for the Working Man
Have a Nice Day
Keep the Faith
When We Were Beautiful
Wanted Dead or Alive
Living on a Prayer
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night

May 1, 2011

New Orleans Jazz Fest 2011 set list

Bon Jovi put on a successful show at Jazz Fest last night, despite the bittersweet absence of Richie. I have NOT been a fan of the reviews I've read so far, especially one where the author couldn't stop himself from reiterating how Richie "was not missed" and his absence didn't mean anything because he was well replaced.

True, his stand-in Phil "X" Xenidis is perhaps a capable guitarist and helped fill in Richie's lead music role...but for purposes of rhythm only. I know I speak for nearly the entire Bon Jovi world when I say, Richie, you WERE missed. Sorely.

Set
Blood on Blood
You Give Love a Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
We Weren't Born to Follow
Lost Highway
Whole Lot of Leavin'
It's My Life
Runaway
The More Things Change
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead/Dancing in the Streets/Start Me Up
We Got it Going On
Bad Medicine/Pretty Woman
Lay Your Hands On Me
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Work for the Working Man
Have a Nice Day
Keep the Faith
Wanted Dead or Alive
Living on a Prayer

May is NF Month

If you remember, I posted this video a few months ago for a fellow Bon Jovi fan who has neurofibromatosis. The month of May is NF Awareness Month, so he asked me to post this for him again, in the hopes of educating people about the disease - and to show how Bon Jovi's music has helped him cope.