Review: JonBon @ Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, FL
Friday, July 27, 2012
From Broward Palm Beach New Times
Jon Bon Jovi and the Kings of Suburbia's Debut Show - Hard Rock Live, Hollywood - July 26
Better than: The pizza we munched on during the show.
See also:
Our taste test of Bon Jovi's family pasta sauce, Bongiovi
Photos from the Bon Jovi and Kings of Suburbia show
One
word to describe Jon Bon Jovi's solo debut with the Kings of Suburbia:
Jazzy. Another word to describe it: Bluesy. Yet another: Weird old man
music. Wait, that's four words. Either way, we're going with it. Jazzy,
bluesy, weird old man music.
We kinda should have known what to
expect of JBJ's debut with the band Kings of Suburbia after eyeing the
well-maintained crowd. It was middle class, shimmery, and very blonde.
Also, the name "Kings of Suburbia"... You know, clues.
When you think of JBJ, you think of rock and roll. Well, pop rock
and roll, the yummy, amped up stuff of the eighties. With "It's My
Life," he got more pop than rock, and his hair began to look less like
Cher's and more like Hillary Clinton's. Then, we thought, well
everyone's gotta age. But it is possible to age and still rock. With
this new backing band, there was no rock. Nothing heavy. Not much but
jazzy covers and original Bon Jovi hits played at odd tempos.
That
said, Jon Bon Jovi is legitimately one of the handsomest old dudes
ever, and his mop would be impressive on a 15 year old. He puts Bieber
and all of the Jonas Brothers to shame with those thick, bouncing
tresses. And, he's, of course, still a great performer.
Jon
(we'll call him that to distinguish him from his usual band that shares
his last name), Jon stepped out on the stage, all cool with aviators and
a denim American flag button down shirt. He started with what we're
almost sure was a cover of the Byrds' "So You Want to Be a Rock and Roll
Star," except it didn't sound anything like the Byrds' version. He was
backed vocally by both soulful ladies and white guitar dudes, and
instrumentally by a full band.
He said, "Show me what you've, got
sister," all sexy-like before breaking into "You Give Love a Bad Name."
All the blonde ladies got on their heeled feet, singing the last lines
of the song loudly, and without Jon's assistance.
