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Concert review: Bon Jovi came, saw and rocked Bucharest

Although a concert venue no longer omitted by major artists, Romania still has a lot of catching up to do on what concerns the legends of the last decades. Bon Jovi’s arrival to Bucharest was therefore long overdue, but it was sure worth the wait, since the American band brought everything that one would expect from performers of their caliber and much, much more! Over 50,000 attended the July 10 concert and sang together to the likes of “Bed of Roses”, “Always” or “Livin’ on a Prayer” in front of what once used to be a symbol of communism, but now became a symbol of freedom, the People’s House.

The opening acts, a surprising choice

The concert started on schedule, at 20.00, after the two opening bands, Quantiq and Stillborn prepared the audience for what was to become the biggest concert of the year. The two local bands were selected after a national competition, which also included a third, Oldgreen, that will perform next year, at Rock the City 2012. Of the two, Quantiq seemed the least appropriate for the “friendly” kind of rock that Bon Jovi are playing. The band, although very talented and with potential proved too dark for the circumstances and more fitting for festivals as Artmania, for example.

Stillborn, on the other hand, rocked their way into the hearts of classical rock lovers, as, in spite of the fact that the band members appeared to be in their twenties, what they performed was good old-fashioned ‘70s/’80s rock. Lead singer Aura Pohoata has the perfect voice in that sense, a modern mixture between Heart’s soulful and laidback Ann Wilson and Guano Apes’s enraged vocals of Sandra Nasic.

Bon Jovi brought the heat levels even higher through a three-hour marathon

Bon Jovi took to the stage right on time, right before the audience became too anxious. There were people there who had come early in the morning just so as to get closer to the band, in spite of the scorching heat (there were over 40 degrees Celsius at the location, and the asphalt only made the situation worse). The band started their performance with Raise Your Hands and You Give Love a Bad Name quickly followed. Nobody really cared about the heat anymore since Jon Bon Jovi promised to bring the temperature even higher, a promise that he and his band stuck to until the end.

Official July 13, 2011 - Esprit Arena, Dusseldorf, Germany thread ...

Yeah they didn't play Dusseldorf last tour but they did Gelsenkirchen instead. They always do a show around that area, so bringing up the set from Dusseldorf isn't exactly fair comparison material, if you know what I mean? Gelsenkirchen was auto pilot after the first half of the set with Jon just going through the motions and the other show in Gelsenkirchen back in 2003 wasn't exactly brilliant either. Dusseldorf 2006 was saved by Jon, Richie was very far out of it but Jon gave everything he had that night. I'll be at this show together with the Americans you're thinking of. I have a feeling it'll be great, but we'll see. Yeah they didn't play Dusseldorf last tour but they did Gelsenkirchen instead. They always do a show around that area, so bringing up the set from Dusseldorf isn't exactly fair comparison material, if you know what I mean? Gelsenkirchen was auto pilot after the first half of the set with Jon just going through the motions and the other show in Gelsenkirchen back in 2003 wasn't exactly brilliant either. Dusseldorf 2006 was saved by Jon, Richie was very far out of it but Jon gave everything he had that night. I'll be at this show together with the Americans you're thinking of. I have a feeling it'll be great, but we'll see.

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