The Enmore Theatre Sydney
Wednesday the 26th of February, 2014.
American pop metal idols Bon Jovi have sold truckloads of albums, toured the world packing out arenas and cleaned up awards galore. Admittedly not revered by everyone and clearly able to dodge a bullet or two over massive musical taste shifts, one of their core reasons for such longevity lies in guitarist Richie Sambora’s aptitude to write a great, catchy song. His appreciation for the great guitarists of rock can be heard outside of the commercial rock middle eight solo that radio once restricted such talents to endure and those at the Enmore tonight knew that. In this setting, free of the chains of mega platinum selling, corporate rock returns and bean counters, Richie and his band were let loose to stretch out on tracks and re-jig Bon Jovi tracks as ever he saw fit. He can, he wrote half of them. But this was also about his latest album, Aftermath of the Lowdown.
Walking onstage with a well worn Stratocaster after the five piece band that included Australian guitar talent Orianthi playing the sideman guitar role got the mood set, he led them into ‘Burn the Candle Down’ with an extended outro guitar solo. Followed by more original material such as the more radio friendly ‘Every Road Leads Home to You’, the first Bon Jovi song re-adjustment came with ‘I’ll Be There For You’. The guitar tech was clearly locked in stadium setting mode as with every guitar change over, of which there were many, he’d plug the cable in for Richie once he had the guitar strapped in to let him banter with the crowd uninterrupted. Yep, the luxuries of rock stardom indeed. Vocally, it is clear he has the live arena show aspects well ingrained and the years of performing with Jon Bon Jovi was impossible to miss in the stage presence but the fact is, he seemed comfortable in his own skin and it showed with humour, even though the celebrity side was bubbling underneath. Still, it was a very different crowd to the Soundwave festival that was far more enthused at seeing the man on the stage and the songs being offered.
Teasing the audience with a double neck acoustic guitar, Richie played some laidback blues of sorts, with Orianthi singing her song ‘You Don’t Wanna Know’. The two traded solos between electric and acoustic to a rapturous crowd. Of course, it was ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’ next which was perfectly executed with feel, pace and the crowd singing along, word for word. Changing guitars for the solo, Richie took everyone back in time with a ripping solo. The time warp continued as Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Voodoo Child’ was covered with Orianthi trading vocals and solos with Richie as they journeyed off into improvisational wonder land, taking his wah pedal along for a funky ride whilst keyboardist Mike Farrell and bassist Robbie Harrison kept things bouncing. Early soulful solo material from Richie came with ‘Stranger In This Town’, allowing a mellow change in pace, including an anecdote of seeing poverty at an airport as a rock star before more Bon Jovi classics were given their almost obligatory inclusion into the set list. The rock drama of ‘Lay Your Hands on Me’ segued well into new solo power ballad track ‘Seven Years Gone’ before the vocoder was trotted out for the monster Bon Jovi hit ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ with Orianthi adding some vocals.
Throughout the set, drummer Aaron Sterling brought the rock drumming power and producer Luke Ebbin jumped between keyboard, backing vocals and guitar backing, filling out the sound as only a musical director would, bringing more depth to the songs.
But the encore had something special when INXS drummer Jon Farriss turned up on stage, thankfully knocking Dickie Wilkins away from the kit, to play along with Richie and company on ‘Don’t Change’. The jubilant reaction continued as the first encore was closed off with two more recent time Bon Jovi hits in ‘It’s My Life’ and ‘These Days’, enticing the crowd to sing along in unison as Richie let some great rock scream on a tasty blond Telecaster guitar.
The second encore was a cover of the Prince hit ‘Purple Rain’ which led to Richie trading solos (and of course vocals) with Orianthi, both on PRS guitars that Orianthi favours and yet both guitarists added distinctive, signature tones. Ending with the brief harmony section, the two guitarists’ sounds fitted together perfectly. Richie and his band delivered an entertaining set that lasted two hours and ten minutes, included two encores and contained a string of massive hits. Seeing this material played by an arena filling rock guitar legend in a concert theatre mode was thoroughly enjoyable.
Set List:
Burn the Candle Down
Every Road Leads Home to You
Taking a Chance on the Wind
I’ll Be There for You
Nowadays
You Don’t Wanna Know
Wanted Dead or Alive
Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
Stranger in This Town
Lay Your Hands on Me
Seven Years Gone
Livin’ on a Prayer
Don’t Change
It’s My Life
These Days
Purple Rain.