If at first you don't succeed....

So I went to see Bon Jovi again Sunday night -- their seventh of 10 shows at the Prudential Center in Newark (The Rock) -- and, overall, this was a much better show than opening night.

The trip in, which I made alone and then met up with some friends I grew up with at the arena, was smooth just like the first night, and I parked in the same parking deck right next to The Rock, albeit one level above where I parked last time.

Here's a quick breakdown:


WHAT WAS BETTER:

1. The seats:
After sitting, pretty much, in the fucking rafters on opening night, tonight I sat in Section 106, across the arena from the stage and slightly to the right, second row in what is, essentially, the mezzanine level.

2. The acoustics:
MUCH better sound this time. We could actually hear what was being said on stage and got more of a full effect from the music.

3. The people around us:
While Jersey Girl and I were the only people in our section, it seemed, on opening night that were actual Bon Jovi fans, tonight everyone around me was into it, up and singing. The first night, as we sat in a comp section, the seats around us were half full and pretty much everyone stayed seated throughout the show.

4. The opening act:
As opposed to My Chemical Romance and a setlist that was totally foreign to me, I very much enjoyed Daughtry and knew most of the tunes he played, as he has several songs that have been played on the radio.

5. My state of mind:
Unlike opening night when I was stone cold sober, we actually pounded a few beers tonight, so I had a nice buzz going.

6. The Setlist:
A couple of nice surprises, like Richie singing one of his solo tunes, "Stranger in This Town," as well as some tunes they didn't play the night I was there last week, but had at shows since, like "Runaway," "Lay Your Hands on Me" and Radio Saved My Life Tonight."
Also, they not only played a tour-high 24 songs tonight, but they only played five new tunes, as opposed to the eight they played last Thursday.


WHAT WAS WORSE:

1. Arrival:
Unlike the first night when we sauntered right in upon arriving, we did have to wait online for about 10 minutes to get into the building.

2. Unlike the first night when we got right out of the parking deck, tonight it took me a good 45 minutes from the time I got into my car until I was out on the street. Still, while last time the traffic pattern took us in a circular route back toward our way home, this time, once I got out of the parking deck, I was able to get right back onto Broad St heading South and was home in no time.

3. Absent from the setlist:
While the overall setlist was much better than the first night, they did not play "Blood on Blood" on Sunday night, which is my favorite Bon Jovi tune. They did play it opening night. Also, they did not play "Keep the Faith" the first time I was there, another song I love, but did play at a bunch of other shows, They did not play it Sunday night.

***

I am toying with the idea of going back for one of the three remaining shows this week, but that's probably a longshot.



SUNDAY NIGHT'S SETLIST
* = song from new album
INTRO
LOST HIGHWAY*
YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME
RAISE YOUR HANDS
RUNAWAY
STORY OF MY LIFE
I LOVE THIS TOWN*
WHOLE LOT OF LEAVIN'*
MAKE A MEMORY*
BORN TO BE MY BABY
RADIO SAVED MY LIFE
WE GOT IT GOIN' ON*
IT'S MY LIFE
COMPLICATED
BAD MEDICINE W/ SHOUT
STRANGER IN THIS TOWN (Richie Sambora solo song)
RIGHT SIDE OF WRONG
LAST MAN STANDING
LAY YOUR HANDS ON ME
HAVE A NICE DAY
WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T GO HOME?
LIVIN ON A PRAYER

ENCORE:
BELLS OF FREEDOM
WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE
I'LL SLEEP WHEN I'M DEAD