Mohegan Sun review, Night 1 and 2

I am going to get another cup of coffee and attempt to get this blog going again. Be right back....Alright.

So as the tour started in February, I survived by trying to stay up for the various play by plays and commenting on set lists the morning after. But finally, my time was coming. Mohegan. I had originally bought two tickets and my bestest Jovi buddy was going to fly up to go with me. Circumstances being what they may, it didn't work out for her. She is in Nashville and I, Boston. So I had an extra ticket, asked another friend, who had to think on it for all of about 2 minutes. In the end I was overcome with the lure of the pit, and we ended up with two pit tickets for night 2 as well. What can I say? We were going to be there anyway. As it often happens with this particular sickness called "ticket addition" I found another set of tickets even closer for night 1. A mere 4 rows from the coveted circle and that awesome acoustic set we have come to expect this tour.

So on the road we went. I picked Missy up Thursday night at Logan International. The Jovi lucked held strong as I didn't get lost in Boston and Missy exited the plane with the Jesus in hand. All good signs. We chit chat that night, and head to bed, knowing we have a weekend of little sleep ahead of us. We wake up, cheerily put my little guy on the bus, pack the car and we are Mohegan bound! We were lucky enough to stay at the Mohegan hotel Friday night and were upgraded to a suite, no charge. Well, this room was so big, and the shower so huge you could fit the whole band it just the shower (maybe Hugh and Bobby, too). Fun! With cautions to not lift anything out of the mini bar that we didn't really want to consume, the bellman left us to enjoy our afternoon. Too wired to take a nap, we unpacked, figured out the nightly wardrobe and headed down to meet up with a few other folks. Our other friend, Terri, had the unfortunate situation of her friend getting sick (poor friend had to head home)so we met up with her and another friend, and some of the fun fan fic ladies I have had the pleasure to chat with online. We got dinner at the food court, and then all went our separate ways. We decided to check out the opening act, a band that had won a local contest to open for Jovi. they were good, and clearly so thankful to be there. Fun to watch. We sit in our seats and are in awe, so close to that Circle! These were GOOD seats!

The opener finished and the roadies built the Jovi stage. One song was cut short and Our House came on. We knew it was time. Camera ready, we sat tight. The big screen came down and the opener began. I will say, it is impressive. I won't spoil it if anyone hasn't see it. And as much as I say we don't need all those robotic screens, it is really amazing. The screen lifts and there is Bon Jovi, ready to rock the house. They band had started about 15 minutes late. Jon was in a good mood, the band was cheery. But there was a bit less energy than I would have liked to have seen. I had heard sickness has been going through the band and crew. A few wobbles and a shorter set list, but some wonderful surprises and moments as well. The casino had an 11 p.m. curfew, so to fit in the show, a couple changes were obvious, and they left out LTOR for the first time this tour. No pit walk for Jon. We were disappointed. But there were many highlights of the of show. Never Say Goodbye on the Circle, well, OH MY! I had not heard that live since well, it was the 80s. And what fun to see the whole band up close like that on the circle, even Tico! I was able to get pictures of him I have never been able to get before.



In the end it was a great show. It is Jovi, after all. Some speculated about Richie and a mistake or two, the gum, etc. But the vibe was fine, just a bit short, and not too energetic.

After the show I texted my Jovi Buddy, Paige and then we headed to Ben and Jerry's, now a tradition after all Jovi shows at Mohegan. We then found a quiet little nook to have a few drinks and hang out with Jesus. Upon closing, Terri and her friend, Debbie, came up to our suite and we ordered room service pizza. The man serving us that evening was heard to quote, "there is a name for people like you." He, however, never did share that name. Might be a good thing, we let him live. :)After pizza, a small mini bar raid and Jesus in the ice bucket, we went to bed at 5 a.m.. True to it's name Mohegan Sun brought the sun way too early, thank GOD for hotel black out curtains. We rose and checked out around noon, got lunch at the casino and contemplated how long of a nap we could fit in that afternoon. That evening we were going to stay with our friend, Terri. She has the extra hotel room from her other friends that had to leave, so we took that one. Luckily we did fit in an hour or so nap. We got ready again and headed out to Friendly's where our waiter, Johnathon, was moving on a track much slower then the rest of the world. Not going to work for us so we leave and end up eating hot dogs and nachos inside the arena before the show. Eh, it is ok. The casino is MUCH more crowded in general that Saturday night.

We get our tickets and head into the show, being led to that coveted place, inside the circle.....WOW! It felt so cool to sit inside and have everyone look at us, wishing they were in there. We had row 5, 2 seats from the center isle. Now those were good seats! We skipped most of the opener and settled in for Jovi, who came out about 10 minutes early. Jon clearly was going to fit in what he could even though they told him he had to go to bed at 11. He was still going to rock the house that night. THe screen comes down and the opener starts. well, being literally 5 rows from that huge thing is even more impressive than 10 rows, as we were the night before. The screen lifts much faster than the previous night and there is Jovi, this time, packed with energy, and Jon with a look on his face that says you better be ready to rock and rock hard! He is heard to say, "Stand up, people! This isn't television!" Well, I was standing anyway. lol I can not remember when I ever sat at a Bon Jovi show.

Now I have to say, this was the most awesome show. It was as awesome as it could be being in a small venue with a curfew. But the audience, people, stand up! After a few songs, I heard people sat down, especially in the stands. The pit, not so much. the energy there was good (as I hoped not to be wearing the beer, the fan next to me kept waving around).

ANyway, back to the show. Camera in hand, I did my part to document this wonderful evening.



I was told I was easy to find in a video of Miss 4th of July, in the pit because of the camera always in front of my face. LOl what can I say, it is what I do.

The show rocked. The band was on fire. I am not going to spend time speculating about Richie. I think he is ok. He played wonderfully, Jon sand so strongly. His voice is in tip top shape, better than in years. Richie did my favorite, Homebound Train. Man, I love it when that man sings that songs. That deep voice. *swoon* (yes, I am a Jonny girl!). Just loved it. Security so quietly sneaks Jon out on the circle. The man is literally 4 feet from me and I didn't even know it. The spotlight goes on him and he starts to sing, his back to us.

The view. Yeah. Two different views on two different nights. I am so thankful to have had both views. Something to be said for both sides, just depends on what you like. There are some songs I am sad I did not get to see from the front, actually. And that is saying something since Jon's back was to us, we got to enjoy a view, close up, that is not a bad view at all. It is a very nice one, as a matter of fact. The man is 48 years old, and has a physique of a man 20 years his junior. He is tight and in shape, his clothes showing this off to it's best advantage. *Shallow moment there, fanning self.* Ok, back to the music. Miss 4th of July... well, My God. It was just spectacular. Amazing. And Jon on Hallelujah. The whole arena was stunned silent as Jon held the ending note for what seemed like eternity. It was almost like he had to recover when he was done. Truly beautiful and amazing. Something I will NEVER tire of seeing.



The arena erupted in fits of cheering as Jon recovered his smile.

The other highlight was yes, we did get Love's the Only Rule and Jon did walk the pit. One fan had to be pried off of him at once time. But my friend, Missy, got to hold his hand. I am loving his interaction with the audience this tour. Really special and I just love that song anyway. He puts everything he has into it.

The encore almost didn't feel like one, I know they were trying to fit it all in, so not much of a pause there, they sort of just played it. Wonderfully though, I must say. Some other highlights were Hot Legs and Jon's little story about the girls outside his room. Then his little banter about Cougar Town. Well, not so much, Jonny. Cougars are older women trolling for younger men and your still quite a bit older than me, sweetie. Unless the arena is filled with 70 year old grannies, I think he got is terms a bit confused. I will forgive him, however. :)

All in all an truly amazing set list (really, both nights) and the energy level on Saturday night WORE us out! It is tough being a groupie on tour, I must say. *yawn*. We went back to Ben and Jerry's, looked for a place to have one drink, but went back to our hotel when we found none. We choose hot cocoa instead and spent two hours looking at our pictures from the evening on the computer. Trying not to swoon too much, we went to bed at a more reasonable hour of 3:00 a.m.

Sunday we had a wonderful breakfast on the way out, before I took Missy back to Logan. I sent her off with a hug and promises to see her, and the rest of the gang, in Nashville. 3 weeks is really to far away! Watch out Nashville, the Belles are headed your way!! It was a wonderful weekend, with wonderful friends. Mohegan Sun is just a fun place to be for a show (or two). There really isn't a bad place in the house, the arena is SO small. The limit on time is a bummer. But in the end it all worked out and was so worth it!

Bring on Nashville! I am ready to rock 'n roll!