My Review. The show: part 2

Rating:
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They take the stage around 7:40. Arena is about ¾ capacity at this point. I’m already sad for them since the house is not yet full. Then I get a good look at their “stage”. Pathetic really, the amount of space they are given. Some of the private gigs from last year gave them more space than this tiny spot. Joey is way out in front giving the guys like 10 or 12 feet in front of him to do their thing. Poor Josh Paul was so confined, I really felt for him. Brian and Steely never left their sides of the stage. Chris moved around a little more and did come up on the ramps on each side of the stage once. That was nice for the fans in those sections. They were really working hard with what they had, but clearly this show was not about them, at all.
I was ready with the camera to record the new song that Chris said would open the show, “You Don’t Belong.” But, then heard the familiar background of “Crashed” out first. Huh, I wondered what had happened, but suspected they just decided to put in it somewhere else later. Nope, I was wrong. Set list was: “Crashed, What I Want, It’s Not Over, Breakdown, What About Now/Walk the Line, Over You, Feels Like Tonight and Home.” What? No “There and Back Again?” I was ready for Josh Paul to shine. I wanted to bounce the house! And, no new song anywhere. I was crushed. I was so ready for it, and nada. It felt cramped. It felt rushed. It felt cold (the stage). It was short. The guys did the best with what they were given. They rocked it as best they could and didn't disappoint.
Bon Jovi was quite the show. Flashy, moving and shifting screens, huge ramp in the back with another huge screen on it. They sang 25 songs! OMG! Their set really was great. Jon and Richie were on fire and rocked the house. And, my oh my, Jon Bon is still sexy!! They came out in the audience for 3 songs (* below) which was very cool. So, if you have floor seats around row 20 in the right side of the center section, then your set for this experience! IDK all the titles exactly, but their setlist was: “Lost Highway, You Give Love a Bad Name, Raise Your Hands, Runaway (came out in 1982, lol), Complicated, I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead/Jumpin Jack Flash, Just Older, In These Arms, Knocking on Heaven’s Door, Blaze of Glory, ?Whole Lotta Feeling Going On?, Born to Be My Baby, We Got it Going On, It’s My Life, Bad Medicine/Shout, These Days (Richie only), Making a Memory*, I’ll Be There for You*, Bed of Roses*, Have a Nice Day, Keep the Faith, Who Says You Can’t Go Home, Livin’ on a Prayer (21st birthday of this tune, wow), BREAK FOR ENCORE, Wanted Dead or Alive, I Love this Town.” And nope again. No Chris with Jon singing “Wanted Dead or Alive”. Jon did introduce the song very nicely by saying how he met Chris in a bar a few years back and recalled how Chris sang this song on AI and did a great job of it. He also commended Chris for his work stating he was a great songwriter and performer. That was cool! But, it was all a wind up for what I thought was going to be a duet, and again nada. It was over just like that. Well, ok, not exactly just like that, their set was super long! And, the Bon Jovi show was fantastic.
So, I left wanting and sad and short of breath. I’m still sad for the guys, but I’m trying to think positive. This will be great exposure for them, no doubt. I’m hoping everyone that comes out to these shows can see through the lack of set and flash and appreciate the music and the guys as performers. Unfortunately, after the spectacle that is Bon Jovi I’m afraid that many are going to forget that this tour even has an opening act. It was such a sharp contrast. DAUGHTRY is better than that and deserves better than that. They were not given their moment IMO.

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Rocked it with DAUGHTRY:
Lincoln NE, Kansas City MO, Wichita KS, Sioux Falls SD, Frisco TX, Dallas TX

TODAY!!! OMAHA, NE

Upcoming:
Tampa, FL...