Bon Jovi show heats up a cold south Florida night

It seems like it it’s always something when Bon Jovi comes to south Florida on tour.

In April, 2008 on the ‘Lost Highway’ tour, a cell phone bomb threat delayed the show for thousands and in April, 2010 on ‘The Circle' tour a thunderstorm of biblical proportions elicited momentary thoughts of Jon & Company arriving to play in an ark.

Saturday night’s show at the packed-to-the-rafters Fort Lauderdale BB&T Center was no different.

Uncharacteristically cold weather dropping into the 50’s pre-show greeted band and fans alike, but it wasn’t long after the show started that Bon Jovi proved that if ‘you wanna start a fire, it only takes a spark”.

On the night of his 51st birthday when other bands might have taken the night off, magnetic front-man Jon Bon Jovi shared the occasion with over 18,000 of his close personal friends, fanning the fan flames and raising the roof with 25 songs that undoubtedly included something for everyone, including Jon picking up an electric guitar for a change and even playing lead on a couple songs!

Let there be no mistake: Bon Jovi is a flawlessly workman-like band that clearly loves playing for their fans and with each other.

In addition to flashing those endearing smiles to this rapt audience, Jon and Richie shared moments on stage where their looks were clearly appreciative and sentimental, particularly when the two stepped onto the half-circle in the audience to deliver a version of “I’ll Be There For You” that was every bit as good as the recorded original.

In a humorous moment before they began singing, Jon and Richie were standing close enough to be on Jon’s mic, but sharing his white mic wasn’t in the cards for Richie as Jon nudged him back to his own microphone center circle before starting the song.

And they played the show old school.

Back in the days of vinyl and album art, a band went on the road in advance of an album release, supporting a single and spreading the gospel about the upcoming record. No surprise then that the band played “Because We Can, “That’s What The Water Made Me”, “What About Now” and “Amen”.

Though the band and fans are clearly more comfortable with the new material, “Amen” was by far the most moving.

Speaking to the audience from the center of the half-circle, Jon Bon Jovi mentioned his birthday and how “Every day is my birthday”, and then honored his parents by telling the audience that his parents were in the house, and the audience should thank them for giving them him.

His vocal on this song---and every song of the night that required range---were spot-on flawless and should dispel any fan fiction that his voice is toast from the ravages of near constant touring.

As John Lennon had Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger had Keith Richards, Jon Bon Jovi’s Cool Dark Duke, Richie Sambora is the guitar God to Bon Jovi’s ecliptic energy.

Seldom has Sambora played better: whether the restrained plaintive chords of the new gem “Amen” or the nuts-out power chord romp of “Have A Nice Day” to the understated accoutrements of “Because We Can”, it is awesomely clear that he is having fun playing again.

Not a cue missed nor a chord misplayed, despite multiple guitar changes between songs; and an unabashed display of powerful channeling of the music from the base of his spine through his skilled fingers and into the stratosphere.

As usual drummer Tico Torres and bassist Hugh McDonald unfailingly power this precisely oiled Bon Jovi engine out onto the lost highway, sharing smiles with one another as Richie play bandleader to Tico’s driving beat.

Keyboardist David Bryan---who’s brilliant melodic accents are more out front on the new material than ever---even had a solo moment during the extended solo on “Keep The Faith” where he faced the audience, with one hand on the synthesizer to the left and another on the right.

By the end of the fifth encore---“You Want To Make A Memory”, “In These Arms”, “Born To Be My Baby”, “Have A Nice Day” and “Living On A Prayer”---no one cared that frigid temperatures licked at the arena glass like a kitten with a saucer of milk.

Set List

You Give Love A Bad Name

Raise Your Hands

Lost Highway

Because We Can

That’s What The Water Made Me

It’s My Life

Runaway

What About Now

We Got It Going On

Keep The Faith

Amen