Did Jon Bon Jovi sound like he did in the ’80s? Or the ’90s? Or the 2000s? No. But did Bon Jovi put on a great comeback show at Madison Square Garden? Yeah.
“What would you do if I sang out of tune?” are the words Bon Jovi opened with at his first of nine sold-out shows at the Madison Square Garden, a reference in The Beatles’ 1967 track “With a Little Help From My Friends.” It’s a witty reference to Bon Jovi’s vocal struggles over the years, which sidelined him from touring for the past four years.
Despite Bon Jovi’s obvious vocal struggle during this tour kick-off show, with help from his band and the audience, the group sounded great, and the show was phenomenal.
The two-hour and 15-minute set featured 21 songs, including huge hits like “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “It’s My Life,” “Wanted Dead or Alive,” and “You Give Love a Bad Name,” and new songs like “Legendary” and “Living Proof.” Bon Jovi closed the show with “Bad Medicine” in the encore. He took the stage at 7:45 p.m. and left at 10:00 p.m.
Setlist:
- With a Little Help From My Friends (The Beatles cover)
- Beautiful Drug
- We Weren’t Born to Follow
- Lost Highway
- Who Says You Can’t Go Home
- You Give Love a Bad Name
- Born to Be My Baby
- Legendary
- Whole Lot of Leavin’
- In These Arms
- Have a Nice Day
- It’s My Life
- Livin’ on a Prayer
- Lay Your Hands on Me
- Blood on Blood
- Living Proof
- This House is Not for Sale
- Keep the Faith
- I’ll Be There for You (encore)
- Wanted Dead or Alive (encore)
- Bad Medicine (encore)
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