With or Without JBJ, Jukes Rock The Hamptons

You can find the article/review I wrote for Jukesnet HERE ... Enjoy!

Elvis, Elton and More ...

*currently singing Loverboy's "Everybody's Working for the Weekend"*

Greetings folks! Hope this finds you well. Here in the States we are all anxiously awaiting the weekend ... Memorial Day Weekend, the generally accepted start of summer. For me, this weekend means two things:

1. Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes tomorrow night in Amagansett. Remember what happened last time I went out there? Luckily, we are not under a hurricane watch this time. As for an appearance by Jon Bon Jovi -- as fun as it would be, I'm actually more excited about possibly hearing "Some Things Just Don't Change" ...c'mon SSJ, you did it at least TWICE in Scandinavia, it's our turn!!

2. The Early Elton Trio out on Long Island on Saturday. I absolutely love these guys. It will be interesting to see them in a large-scale setting (outdoor park, picnics, fireworks, etc.) versus the smaller venues I've experienced. Jeff Kazee's version of "Madman Across the Water" at the January show still remains the single most amazing performance of 2011. Honestly, it's going to be hard for something to top that.

So, bring on the weekend! Good music. Fun times.

Oh! Speaking of good music, fun times ... many of you know I went to see Elvis Costello this week. A bunch of you asked if I took pictures. Is water wet? Is ice best served with vodka? Do you always get ketchup on yourself when wearing white? In other words ... yes! I took pictures. Here are a few.

The fabulous Spinning Wheel used to help the audience determine the setlist. Wouldn't it be a hoot if Bon Jovi used one? Apparently, the Jukes had one several years ago.



...as you can see, it's a pretty big wheel! I'm not a fan of audience participation (as in "you come up here on stage and mangle the song") ... but THIS kind of involvement I fully support! LOL



Elvis is in the building!





...this was a shot I got when he walked up the aisle right next to me. Very cool.



Keyboardist extraordinaire, Steve Nieve.





...and you thought David Bryan's outfits were...ummm...interesting? Haha.



It was a truly fantastic show. Great interaction with the crowd. Wonderful playing. A TON of songs - I Want You (my personal favorite), Alison, Hand in Hand, Hoover Factory, Accidents Will Happen, Veronica ... of course (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love and Understanding (still trying to process the video on that one) ... and kick-a$$ covers of the Stones' Out of Time and Prince's Purple Rain. If you have never seen Elvis before, I highly recommend that you do! There is a reason why great songwriters cite Elvis Costello as one of their favorites. Brilliant.

Okay...that's all for now. Will be back with thoughts on the Jukes show in Morristown last Friday, as well as Lorenza Ponce's "Apocolypse (Not Quite) Now" show at Stanhope House on Saturday.

Til then. Keep rocking!
xoxo
BAJ

So You Wanna (Help) a Rock-and-Roll Star?

Ok...I've written about Outside the Box before. Really, truly NICE guys. Talented. Smart. SO YOUNG (but that's not their fault. LOL) I was that young once ... I think. Yeah, I know -- "not old, just older."

Anyhoo, they are in the process of completing their debut album (yay!) but need some help. Here's where all of you, my lovely friends, come in.

How would you like to support this amazing band? You could get everything from a signed CD to concert tickets to dinner with the guys! And ... in the process, you'd be assisting in the development of one of the next great rock-and-roll bands! Every band has to start somewhere, right?

Those who read this blog on a regular basis know my passion for music. I wouldn't write about something I don't feel 100% about ... and that's why I was the first person to jump on board to support them (as a diehard Yankees fan, I even overlooked their producer sporting a Cincinnati Reds hat in the promo video. Haha. j/k JK.)

So, whaddya think? Will you join me?

Step 1: Go to THIS SITE to watch a great video on the project and pledge your support.

Step 2: Pat yourself on the back for doing a good deed. :)

Step 3: Visit Outside the Box's website for more music, tour dates and pictures.

Thanks in advance from me, the blogger formerly known as Big Apple Jovi Girl.

p.s. and if you're in/near Asbury Park on Wednesday nights in June, you can check out OTB live at the Stone Pony! Be sure to let me know you're coming.


*re: Blog title ... gotta love The Byrds*

Bon Jovi in the Buckeye State

Greetings readers! Hope this finds you well ... sorry it's been so long. I'm ridiculously far behind on posting pictures and reviews from the last couple of weeks. Oops.

Well, while I get my act together, I thought I'd post some images from the Columbus show last night.

This show was all about seeing Bon Jovi with my mom. We hadn't seen a show together since the Blossom one (the Jukes *ahhhh*) So, given it was a couple of days after Mother's Day and this was the only other Ohio show, I knew I had to treat her ... I even (only slightly reluctantly) agreed to forgo pit tickets so my mom could see Tico close up on the circle (ooops - who knew.) But, we ended up with FANTASTIC circleside (non-package!) seats. THANK YOU to the Backstage with Jon Bon Jovi fan club. :-)

I must say that Jon seemed much more playful than last Saturday night at Mohegan Sun. (I promise. Those pictures will be posted soon.)



I tend to use the continuous auto-shutter mode during concerts. The only issue -- sometimes my subject goes missing while the camera is snapping away. LOL



With Richie's absence, only Jon has been coming out onto the circle these days. (I've been affectionately calling this the "Music Minus One" tour. By the way, if you haven't checked out videos with Phil X playing, you should. He sounds great.)



As we all know, we love to have those special moments with the guys ... and we are blessed with loving a band that is happy to indulge us with those moments. I was grateful to have two wonderful moments this show. The first being during Bed of Roses when Jon sang a couple of lines to me and then sat down on the circle right in front of me. Here is the last shot I got until my camera decided to spaz out. UGH!



I must say ... Jon on the circle + 26x zoom = *Sigh*



But why is it that no matter how many times I see the band, I still get a little shaky when Jon comes around?



I have always loved the lighting for When We Were Beautiful ...



Many of you have heard about "the dolls" already ... some fans in the pit had Jon and Richie dolls that Jon asked they throw up to the stage. The whole exchange was funny, but to me what stood out was the poignancy of the moment. Jon's love for Richie came thru at several points during the show including during the added lines of IBTFY and a reference during Blood on Blood.

I can't even imagine how much he misses his friend right now.







...and how wonderful that he made sure "Richie" was sitting on his guitar, leaning against Jon's heart ...



Jon came out onto the circle once again during Living on a Prayer. At one point, one of the robotic cameras got a bit frisky with him, focusing in on ... well ... let's just say, Jon exclaimed something like "watch it there, buddy!" Haha.



He continued to make his way around the circle ...



He then arrived in front of me and my mom. He looked at me and smirked and then offered his hand to my mom. *smile* A bit shy, my mom tentatively reached her hand out to him and he grabbed her fingers and held on ... tight. I give my mom credit for not saying "umm...this is nice, but can you go get Tico?" ROFLMAO. But, seriously ... it was a moment neither of us will ever forget. So, I may have bought the tickets, but it was Jon Bon Jovi who really gave my mom such a great Mother's Day present.

Okay, folks...that's it for now. I'll be back soon with Mohegan Sun pictures and a write up of an amazing night in Asbury Park to benefit former Jukes keyboard player Kevin Kavanaugh. And then, get ready! The schedule so far for the rest of May/June? BonJovi 7x ... SSJ/Jukes 6x ... Outside the Box 4x and a show each by Lorenza Ponce, the Early Elton Trio and Elvis Costello.

So much music, so little time!

p.s. Yes, I changed my Twitter handle to @bigapplejen ... why? Because as much as I love Jovi (and I DO!), I also love a lot of other bands and musicians as well. (Also, a couple of the Jukes kept threatening to come up with a new Twitter ID on my behalf. Now THAT could have been scary. LOL)

Heads Up!

Hello friends! Just wanted to let you know that I was recently invited to serve as a contributing writer for Jukesnet, the best Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes site around. Y'all know how much I absolutely LOVE that man and that band, so I'm incredibly honored. :-)

Therefore, going forward, most of my reviews and write-ups about the band will appear there before they are posted here on my own blog. In fact, you can go there right now to read my write-up of last Friday's show in New Jersey.

And, here are a few teaser pictures ... more over on the Jukesnet site.

Before You Know It...

Greetings friends! Well, it seems that the first hints of Spring are trying to break through here in The Big Apple (meaning it's raining and my allergies are kicking in.)

If Spring is coming, then Summer must be just around the corner -- for in New York City, Spring usually lasts for only two weeks before the heat rolls in and you're perched in front of a crappy window a/c unit, praying that the power doesn't go out in your poorly-wired pre-war building. (I am still wondering exactly which war they're referring to, by the way. LOL)

BUT .. with the onslaught of Summer comes the slew of great outdoor concerts -- everything from the New York Philharmonic in Central Park to Southside Johnny at The Stone Pony (which by the way is July 2nd this year.)

Speaking of the Pony, I wanted to mention a great young band I heard when I was at a show there last year.

Outside the Box is four YOUNG guys from New Jersey and New York City. (And, I mean young ... as in I was going to Jovishows before they were even born! Scary!) Regardless of their age, these are musicians that "get it" when it comes to good music. Already a favorite on the Jersey Shore scene, the band seems to have a keen understanding of the history of that place and seem to have embraced it well ... to me, it's a somewhat classic rock-n-roll sound with the fresh, exciting energy that comes with youth.

To check them out for yourself, I recommend you click HERE and download their song Furnace for FREE. When you do, it also serves as a vote for them to win an invitation to perform at the Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee ... so CLICK!! NOW.

Having recently done a mini-tour of gigs throughout the East Coast (complete with amusing road stories, of course), OTB has been in the studio over the last couple of months working on an album to be released later this year (produced by music guru Jeff Kazee.) Personally, I can't wait to hear it and am hoping it will include their extremely popular and catchy (which is NOT a bad thing) song, Suddenly Saturday.

Take a listen ...



Love the opening lyrics to that song ... pretty mature for a bunch of 20-somethings.

I’m picking up the pieces of all the nights we left behind
Arranging all the evidence collecting in my mind
I can use it as a weapon or I can use it as a shield
I’m terrified of myself and the power that I wield.

On top of it, they're also just a nice bunch of guys ... follow them on Twitter at @OTBMusic.

Well, that's all for now, folks. Those of you looking for my review of the Jukes show in Collingswood on Friday (which was a HOOT!) ... it will be published tomorrow on Jukesnet.

So ... what's next? More Jukes! Friday night at Mohegan Sun. :-)

p.s. ... and just in case you forgot already, go to THIS LINK and download the song!

New (Sorta) Music Alert!

Happy Tuesday y'all! Seriously?! ...it's only Tuesday?! The fact that Opening Day is right around the corner (GO YANKEES!) is the only thing getting me thru the week ... oh, and that Friday is a Southside Johnny show. :-)

Speaking of the Jukes ... just wanted to give you a heads-up that Jeff Kazee (of Jukes and Jovi fame) recently made his 1998 album "No River" available on iTunes. A great collection of original songs, I've had this CD for a few years now and listen to it on an almost daily basis.

To me, there's a straight-forwardness to the songs and this fabulously ironic mix of optimism and sadness which keeps me coming back to them. And regardless of the fact it was issued over a decade ago, it really doesn't feel dated in the least. Standout tracks include She Can't Stand Me, Give, Real Thing and my personal favorite She Could've Been Mine (who knew that a simple octave jump could be so catchy and effective? ...listen to the chorus, you'll understand.)

I am hoping that Jeff makes the liner notes available (originally only published online, I believe) because he has a great way with words (well, he is a songwriter afterall LOL) Here's his intro to the album:

As if writing, recording, and throwing out a bunch of songs
onto the unsuspecting public isn't self-involved enough, I now
present a few liner notes concerning my 10 little punks that
reside on the No River recording. Basically I was trying to
catch a couple of real pivotal years in my life, change a few
names, make up a lot of stuff, channel my feelings, and
turn all of it into Popstuff.

Now, with notes as honest as that, doesn't it make you want to check out the album?

Go HERE to purchase.

The Secret?

Just a quick post ... for those who haven't seen this yet. You know that Nike slogan, right? Well, this is what "it" is all about!

Soul Kitchen from Soul Kitchen on Vimeo.

For more information, visit wwww.jbjsoulkitchen.org.

p.s. I'll be back soon with more tales and pictures from the road. Jukes in Collingswood, NJ is up next. :-)

Going Global...

Greetings from soggy New York City. "Rainy days and Mondays always get me down" ... so rainy day PLUS Monday makes for an introspective morning.

I have always held the belief that music is the universal language and ultimate healer. It has a way of bringing people together like no other. It can get you thru the best of times, but more importantly the most difficult of times.

Like everyone else, the people of Japan and the incomprehensible challenges that they are facing have been weighing on my mind ... a lot. I don't know, maybe it's because I'm a Jovifan and there has been such a long and wonderful relationship between Bon Jovi and that country that it has hit many of us so hard. It is because of the band that I have friends there in the first place ... as I have in other parts of the world -- from Christchurch (where they are still reeling from their own disaster) to Berlin, Vancouver to Santiago. It really is an incredible thing, the Jovi family (complete with moments of utter dysfunction. LOL) Ya know, I was thinking ... heck, if each of the 10 million BJ fans on facebook made even a $1 donation, imagine the impact that could have! By the way, if you can donate, please check out this site for various options.

So I wanted to put together a mini-tribute to the band's great history in Japan. FYI: Every Jovifan owes a huge debt to Wowow TV and Burnn magazine. Period. Years and years of great coverage.

...ok, possibly the best vocal performance by Jon Bon Jovi anywhere, anytime, any song over the last 27+ years *sigh* (Yokohama)



...Lost Highway tour (Tokyo) ...



I love this one -- Jon actually messes up the the words a little in the opening of the second verse ... but it certainly doesn't alter the sentiment. :) (Bounce Tour, Club Zepp) ...



Living on a Prayer? Yes.

But not just one prayer -- the prayers of many, many people.

I will be back later this week with more pictures, concert goodies, etc.

Until then, be well.
xoxo
Jen

p.s. I didn't even realize while I was typing this post, a message from JBJ to his Japanese fans and friends was being circulated. :-) I haven't seen it yet (blocked at the office) but as soon as I get home ...

The Big Finale ... (part 1)

warning: this could be long and rambling ... sorry

Hello all. Well, after getting some grief (in jest) from friends about the fact that I hadn't wrapped up the chaos that was February and early March, here I am to do just that! :-) #WillY'allShutUpNow LOL

Anyhoo, so when I last wrote, I was about to talk about the Mohegan Sun show. Geez, what can I say? That I was a bit sick of getting on a frickin' bus by this point? Oyyy. That the show kicked off with a fabulous set by Lorenza Ponce? That it was the best set list I've experienced in quite some time? That we had a blast staying up until the wee hours of the morning laughing and drinking? Ok ... that works! :-)

There was NO WAY my friend S and I were going to miss Lorenza in Connecticut...so nothing made me happier than to have the opportunity to sit in the friends and family section on her big night and cheer her on ... quite loudly, as my seat neighbor would attest. Hehe. I even wore my lucky concert shirt for her ... (those who know me are VERY familiar with that shirt. LOL)

When you think about how much has happened in the short time between the release of Soul Shifter and now, it really is remarkable. So, Lorenza and her great young band of Andy, Zach, Brett and Greg took the stage just before 8pm, playing a slightly longer set than is usual for an opening act (yay!) We were lucky to get quite a few songs from her album (like my favorite Testify), as well as some great covers ...



We had a great time backstage between her set and when Bon Jovi was due to take the stage. Having already seen the set list for the night (as she was playing on a number of songs), I totally cut Lorenza off from telling me what was on it. I NEVER want to know beforehand. Luckily, my friend C doesn't feel the same way because she was sitting 2nd row in the pit and likes to record (her videos from that night are breathtaking!)

By now, everyone has seen the set list. When the band opened with Radio Saved My Life, we knew it was going to be special. But then to get Wild In the Streets (FINALLY! Don't think I've heard that since Giants on the HAND tour, maybe???), I Got the Girl, the gorgeous acoustic version of Superman Tonight, Living in Sin, Raise Your Hands, Thorn in My Side ... and then, there was, of course, this little gem ...



I yelled. I screamed. I cried. (Ok ... almost cried.) S and I just looked at eachother and shook our heads in disbelief ... then sang EVERY WORD .... VERY LOUDLY! We were all in shock that Jon Bon Jovi had actually given in and did a "European set list" in the U.S.

Here are a few pictures from that night ...




















Thinking about it some more ... I just HAVE to include the video for Thorn in My Side ... Jonny's been practicin' LOL ... duo starts around 3:30 ... *sigh*




Okay ... yes ... the show was on the shorter side (damn casino curfews) ... but quality over quantity was definitely the right way to go! After the show, a bunch of us girls hit Michael Jordan's Steak House for the healthiest of post-concert meals -- espresso martinis, truffle oil fries, lobster mac and cheese ... you get the idea, right?

S and I finally fell into bed around 4:00am. But, couldn't sleep long, right? For the next day was ... again ... Bon Jovi Day!

Anyone who reads this blog on a regular basis knows how much I take the bus. So, you can imagine my sheer delight when my dear friend JerzyJovi called and said "get off the bus, we're coming to get you!" YAY! ...okay, it was a little mean though that I had to sit in the car the whole way back smelling the half-baked Mystic Pizza (yes, as in the movie Mystic Pizza) that she was bringing back for her family. LOL

In any case, we made it home just in time to get ready for MSG 3. The fun that never ends! Admittedly, after the dream show in Mohegan and the marathon show at MSG 2, I wasn't expecting much out of this show. It was a good, solid show ... well, except for that little sound problem (hmmm...twice in one week...wonder what's going on there!) and I'm sure as much as Jon tried to shrug it off (seriously, sh*t happens ... it's live performance), he couldn't have been too pleased this happened in Madison Square Garden.

So ... even though I had taken so many pictures in the previous shows, it didn't seem to dissuade me from taking just a few more. Come back later ... cuz those pictures are up next!