Bon Jovi 2011

I can't even tell you how excited I was when I heard Bon Jovi was coming back to Salt Lake City! I had gone to their last concert (which was about 6 years ago, mind you) when they came to Utah with the Goo Goo Dolls---which just so happened to have been the BEST CONCERT EVER.

We bought our tickets the weekend they went on sale, back in September & the concert finally rolled around last night! While the opening act was nothing like the Goo Goo Dolls (it was Brian Starr--although I had heard rumors it was going to be Dashboard Confessional, and had secretly hoped for them over the Starr kid) it was still a really great concert.

My cousin Kyle, and his wife Dani, were suppose to come up from Blanding to go to the concert with my mom and I, but Dani ended up having to work the evening before and so they couldn't make it. (Missed you guys!) So we rounded up my sister Kassidie, and my mom's friend Jenny and made our way to Salt Lake City.

The concert was AMAZING. Seriously. After 27 years of making music and doing live performances, Bon Jovi has the stage presence down to a T! Even though I made jokes that Jon was going to throw out a hip with some of his moves (it was harmless joking--I, like most women, have a not-so-secret crush on him) I was impressed with his energy. Never once did he sit on a the typical stool during a "ballad", and I am pretty sure I was wore out from just watching him before he even began to wear out himself.

Their stage set was really cool, with screens that moved while the lights were off making everything almost look like things do in 3D movies. Their set list was great as well, although my one suggestion would be for them to play more of their older stuff than their more recent--I'm pretty sure almost everyone was there for the "oldies" because as soon as the intro started to songs like Bad Medicine, Living on a Prayer, and Runaway you could feel the hype of the crowd come alive more-so than during more recent music of theirs. THAT is my only complaint...and it's not really even a complaint. While I thought our seats would be better than they actually were it was still a lot of fun, and I would definitely pay to see them play again!

And those of you wondering about the "people watching" part of the concert, I will admit I was mildly disappointed. While there was one kid who I was sure was going to throw his arms completely out of socket, and a 16 year old girl two rows in front of us who looked like she was training for a marathon by running in place (apparently her form of "dancing") and was constantly playing with her hair, there weren't as many people "lost in time" as you might've though. (Either that, or I am simply becoming conditioned to those who are lost in a time-warp. Sad day.) The mullet scene was surprisingly bleak unlike you might anticipate. Whether this is a good thing, or a bad thing, I am going to make the assumption that people have made the move from the 80's into at least the 90's. Don't be too let down though..there were a few 50 year old women in ruffled mini skirts and spiked stiletto boots roaming around the arena. (And no, luckily my mother was not one of them ;0) hehe!) Some things just never change....