Concert Review: Bon Jovi’s The Circle Tour

Despite his recent injury, Bon Jovi remains a superb performer and maintained an incredible stage presence throughout both two-and-a-half hour long shows at the Rogers Centre.

Bon Jovi certainly knows how to show the middle aged soccer moms in attendance a good time. Jon is always one to please the ladies in the house by wearing unbuttoned shirts and flashing his gorgeous pearly whites. Loyal fans may have also noted that red is a reoccurring colour in his wardrobe and with good reason – it’s a great look for him!

By projecting silkscreen images of icons like Obama and Martin Luther King during ‘We Weren’t Born To Follow’, Bon Jovi inspired fans to create social change ASAP because after all, you can sleep when you’re dead.

Opener Kid Rock’s return to the stage made for a memorable duet when he joined Bon Jovi to cover Bob Seger’s ‘Old Time Rock ‘n’ Roll’, something keyboardist David Bryan “randomly” selected from the jukebox. The song was a fantastic addition to the set list and effectively added to the overall classic rock concert experience that always make Bon Jovi tickets a worthwhile purchase.

At risk of losing the audience’s enthusiasm, Bon Jovi tried offering a more intimate vibe by singing lack lustre acoustic versions of songs like ‘Someday I’ll Be Saturday Night’ in the middle of the audience. Furthermore, the band’s failure to perform ‘Raise Your Hands’ was also a major let down, as the memory of throwing my arms in the air at the ACC during The Lost Highway tour was half the reason I made sure to see him again! Fortunately they regained the crowd’s excitement with my personal favourite off The Circle record, ‘Work for the Working Man’ and then showed some attitude with ‘Have a Nice Day’.

Before closing with ‘Living on a Prayer’, Jon explained that it has been his dream to perform in the Rogers Centre ever since playing at Toronto’s El Mocambo nearly three decades ago, adding that he needed a few moments to take it all in. I’m glad that my fellow Torontonian fans could help you fulfill your dreams, Jon. Please come back soon.

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