I've been a lucky boy this week - I've been able to see 3 excellent tribute bands at the top of their game. First up at Acapela was Spandau Too then on Friday night it was Cloudbusting in Neath and last night it was back to Acapela for Wrong Jovi.
I have also been lucky enough to have seen the original Bon Jovi 3 times over the years so it was a journey into the past I was looking forward to. Bon Jovi have released some of the greatest anthems in Rock so I was sitting there happy and waiting for the oncoming nostalgia fest. What did surprise me was the number of ladies compared to gents in the audience. It was probably 70-30% to the ladies. Perhaps those Bon Jovi love ballads have worked their magic over the years but more of that later,
You Give Love a Bad Name
Part 1 kicked off with the high octane You Give Love A Bad Name and Born To Be My Baby - the crowd were up for it from note one. Then all of sudden one of the keyboards goes down. Now these things happen in live music and it's how you deal with it that counts. So, the band then launch into Lay Your Hands On Me - which is mainly guitar based, to a great cheer from the crowd. For the rest of Part 1 we were on one keyboard but that didn't matter one jot. The only song we lost was Runaway, which was a shame for Natalie sat next to us as it was her favourite Bon Jovi song. Saying that, they didn't play my favourite Bon Jovi song either - Who Says You Can't Go Home, that's the deal we're given Natalie, if you're reading this!!
For the next song we turned to solo Jon Bon as we were treated to a storming version of Blaze Of Glory - by now the crowd upstairs and downstairs were on their feet and the Ladies were dancing!!
Blaze Of Glory
When I've seen Bon Jovi over the years they always had a female following but not to the same extent as tonight's audience would imply. Is this because over the years they've released some excellent ballads and love songs? Well, the next three songs brought the Ladies down to the dancefloor in front of the stage. The danced and sang their hearts out to These Days, In These Arms and Bed Of Roses.
In These Arms
Bed Of Roses
Part 1 came to a rocking close with another Bon Jovi rocker - Have A Nice Day.
Have A Nice Day
After a short break we're ready for Part 2 and Natalie and her friends have joined the now throng of Ladies (and a few brave Gents) in front of the stage as the band launch into another excellent version of Lay Your Hands On Me.
Lay Your Hands On Me
I have to say that by this point I can see that the band are really up for it and with the second keyboard back in action, to a great cheer, the intensity has certainly risen a few degrees.
Another excellent singalong came next as the band played Someday I'll Be Saturday Night - my second favourite Bon Jovi song.
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
I'll be there For You, Bad Medicine & This Ain't A Love song kept the train moving on and the tempo up before an amazing standing ovation brought the band back for encore one. As 'Richie' strapped on his acoustic double neck for the now famous introduction to Wanted Dead Or Alive.
Next came the biggest song of the night - and by God it's another ballad - Always. The crowd and the band sang their hearts out and there were definitely several ladies with tears in their eyes to this one. A real emotional highlight.
ALWAYS
The final encore were two of Bon Jovi's biggest songs - the mighty Keep The Faith and to finish, what else but Living On A Prayer
Keep The Faith
It always happens - the songs I wanted never turned up!! I was in the NEC Birmingham when Bon Jovi filmed the live sections of the Sleep When I'm Dead video. I can see myself in the audience, so that song holds a special place in my heart. Maybe next time!
So Wrong Jovi's first gig at Acapela came to an end and proved a mighty triumph. So many people had a fantastic night with another fabulous tribute act. I really take my Stetson off to these guys for working so hard to bring audiences a memorable experience and a chance to revisit and recall past memories and former glories. It's bands like this that are keeping these songs alive.
All photos copyright ©️ Nick Baker 2023
Twitter - @WrongJovi
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