One could sense from his spoken-word banter to his performance with his namesake band at Madison Square Garden Tuesday night that Jon Bon Jovi was grateful to be back on stage. In 2022, the singer underwent vocal cord surgery, putting Bon Jovi on hiatus from the road for four years, which seems like a lifetime to a band that had been consistently touring in a career now spanning more than four decades.
Last week, Bon Jovi returned in a major way for the first of nine shows at the Garden as part of their Forever tour, to be followed later with dates in the U.K. and Ireland. Tuesday’s show was Night Four of the New Jersey band’s residency at the World’s Most Famous Arena, and it ticked all the boxes from song selection to the band’s heartfelt performances.
The concert kicked off with an unlikely yet stirring cover of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends,” rendered in the guitar-charged interpretation made famous by Joe Cocker. Symbolically, the inclusion of the song in the setlist appeared to be a thank-you from Jon Bon Jovi to his bandmates and fans for their support as he was recovering from vocal surgery.
From there, it was mostly hits and favorites from Bon Jovi’s enduring catalog. Especially in light of the band’s recent comeback, the songs — which always spoke and rooted for the underdog — took on greater significance. That was especially true of anthemic tracks like “It’s My Life,” “Have a Nice Day,” “This House Is Not for Sale” and “Keep the Faith.” Even a power ballad like “Bed of Roses” conveyed a sense of poignancy appropriate for the occasion.
Naturally, the songs that evoked the strongest emotions from the packed audience came during Bon Jovi’s performances of “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Livin’ on a Prayer,” both off of 1986’s Slippery When Wet, the album that made the band household names. With the crowd joyously singing to every word in those songs, Jon Bon Jovi could have just sat out and let them handle the vocals for him. Those songs provided a nostalgic flashback to the ‘80s era of big hair, ripped jeans and denim jackets.
The band’s encore didn’t disappoint either, as it consisted mostly of big faves, including the classic cowboy anthem “Wanted Dead or Alive,” the power ballad “I’ll Be There for You” and the pile-driving rocker “Bad Medicine.”
Post-surgery, Jon Bon Jovi was in good voice throughout the two-hour set, augmented by solid turns from his bandmates. The Madison Square Garden residency confirmed that the band was back in form and ready to rock once again.
Setlist
With a Little Help From My Friends
Beautiful Drug
We Weren’t Born to Follow
Lost Highway
Who Says You Can’t Go Home
You Give Love a Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
Legendary
Whole Lot of Leavin’
Bed of Roses
Have a Nice Day
It’s My Life
Livin’ on a Prayer
Lay Your Hands on Me
Living Proof
This House Is Not for Sale
Keep the Faith
Encore 1:
I’ll Be There for You
Red, White and Jersey
Wanted Dead or Alive
Bad Medicine
Encore 2:
Always
