We Got It Going On in the Front Row at Bon Jovi's Chicago Show

Hi friends and Jovi's!

I'm so glad you stopped by my blog today.  For those of you who are new around here, I'm a busy mom of three (what Mom isn't busy, right?) who recently decided to take back control of my life, including going out and having fun with the girls.  I also recently decided to start VLogging (video-blogging) my adventures about being a mom who has returned to school (college).  You can check out my YouTube Channel with my VLog by clicking here.  And my, oh, my, I can already tell this this will be one of my FAVORITE blogs as I reminisce about how I had front row for Bon Jovi's October 23rd show in Chicago.  But it didn't start out that way...

You see, when Bon Jovi comes through Chicago, they usually perform two or three nights at one venue (usually the United Center or Soldier Field.)  We Chicagoans were pretty bummed out when Bon Jovi did only one show in July at Soldier Field on their 2013 tour.  But much to our DELIGHT, in September, Bon Jovi announced a second date on the 2013 tour in Chicago.  This time at the United Center.  I had enough money saved up for one fan club ticket, without the backstage tour, and I had a friend lined up to go with me, should I be lucky enough to score two tickets for the Fan Club pre-sale.  Well, I WAS fortunate enough to snag two seats, row five, seats 3 and 4, section 2 (Richie/Phil X's side).  Concert buddy, Melody, and I were thrilled to have these awesome PIT seats.  Amongst our excited conversations about the upcoming Bon Jovi show, we were remarking how we'd, in most ways, prefer the 6th row PIT to 5th row PIT so that we could quickly get to the back of the PIT for the portion of the concert where Jon (and sometimes Dave, Tico and Richie) perform from the circle.

Continuing the story, I received a phone call from concert buddy, Melody, one week before the show. Melody said, "Hey, Erica, I've got my sister and brother-in-law coming to town and I'd like to give them our 5th row tickets.  Would that be OK as long as I buy tickets for us somewhere else in the PIT?"  I said, "Sure, Mel.  Anywhere in the PIT is fine with me," secretly hoping that if she bought us different tickets, that they would be in the 6th row PIT.  She said, "Just say, OK Melody."  Laughing, I complied with, "OK, Melody."  She said, "That's good, because I bought us front row tickets."  I started crying and laughing at the same time.  With tears streaming down my face, I thanked Melody.  (I hadn't had front row for Bon Jovi since 1993, and hadn't even dreamt of being there this tour.)

To make a really long story short, with the addition of the front row tickets, we had two extra tickets, so my son got to go with me to his first Bon Jovi concert (he sat by one of Melody's friends) in the SIXTH row!!  How awesome is that for his first Bon Jovi show!

To start off our big evening we--all twelve of us going--met at Melody's house and took a big stretch limo downtown, which was sooo much fun!  We got to the venue early because we had two people who had special package tickets.  In fact, Mel, and a couple of her friends, just the week before, had package tickets for the Atlanta show.  Mike Savas (for those of you who know who he is) recognized Mel and her friends right away and chatted it up with them while we were standing in line, waiting to get in.  (Very personable guy, that Mike!)

When we got in to the venue, we hung out and snacked on some food, until it was time for Mel and I to go bask in the glory of our front row seats, about 1/2 before the show.  I have to say, there is nothing like the walk going closer and closer and CLOSER to the stage.  The excitement builds with each security guard/usher that permits entrance to the next level.  I mean, truly, it is better than I remember Christmas feeling as a kid.  We got to our seats, Row 1, PIT 2, seats 5 & 6, and just stared in amazement and took pictures.

And for those of you who don't know, fans in row 1 get to take their commemorative seats home with them.  Here's a pic of us in our seats.  How exciting!

At almost 7:00 pm on the dot, the show started with That's What the Water Made Me.  I must say to sit in the FRONT ROW and have Jon and the rest of the band SO CLOSE is a MOST AMAZING EXPERIENCE! (THANK YOU, MEL!)  I won't list all of the songs included.  If you would like to see the setlist from Bon Jovi's site, you can click here.  But I will say this, if I could have put together my personal set "wish list," this would have been as close to it as you can GET!  The guys even played The Radio Saved My Life Tonight, which I had NEVER personally seen in concert.  It seems like that song is mostly played oversees and not here in the states.  I was OVERJOYED to hear it and was singing along with the the song, with a BIG SMILE on my face, when Jon happened to catch me singing during the 1st chorus.  He bent down twice to smile at me!  I was useless and didn't even hold the camera in place, because I was so stunned to have his attention.  Here's my video, which, BTW, is NOT the video of the year, but here it is anyway! :)  And EVEN THOUGH it's hard to tell in the video, Jon is actually looking at me out of the corner of his eye as he's singing, "driving home by the dashboard light!"   OH, MEL!  This makes me weak in the knees every time I see it!

Other songs that would be in my dream setlist that Bon Jovi did that night were, Raise Your Hands, Someday I'll be Saturday Night, Diamond Ring, and (You Want To) Make a Memory.  (The latter 3 songs were played on the circle along with Amen.)  And even though their backs were to us, I was SO HAPPY to have the "unplugged" part of the show back.  For those of you who aren't aware, Jon hadn't been able to perform much on the circle for the stadium part of the tour due to bad weather, and also due to some allergy problems that Jon was having while touring (the outside stadiums).  The "unplugged" part of the show is one of my favorite parts.  I was concerned that they wouldn't do that part without Richie's vocals to join in with Jon.  But Jon invited Dave, Tico and Bobby to the circle, and Dave and Bobby did a FANTASTIC job with back-up vocals on the songs.

Melody and I made a sign for Phil that we held up while the other guys were out on the circle. (We held it up by the gate, not by our heads--we didn't block anyone's view!)  Phil gave us the BIGGEST SMILE when he saw the sign.  (Melody brought the sign out again later in the concert, and got a BIG SMILE from Jon for the sign.)  Way to go, Mel!

See! Look at Phil smile at Melody holding up the sign!  The pic below is Mel's pic!  ;)

And of course, they did favorites, like It's My Life (probably my favorite song in concert of all time), Captain Crash... (a nice addition to this show), and Have a Nice Day. 

And I must give a SUPER BIG THANKS to Melody for snapping this shot, of Jon looking right at me!  WOW!

The show wrapped up with Livin' on a Prayer.  MAN!  I LOVE that song!

After the show, Melody and I were each lucky enough to snag a setlist.  When I was taking Mel's picture with her setlist, Mike snuck up behind Mel, giving me the "Shhhh" sign with his finger to his lips.  We took the pic without Mel knowing he was there!  BEST PHOTO BOMB EVER!!

    

My son and I had a FANTASTIC time with Melody and her family/friends that went to the show. (They are such a NICE group of people--I really enjoyed their company!)  Chicago was one of the last shows in North America for the Because We Can Tour.  And, thanks to Mel, we made the last show COUNT!  After the blog, I included some pics from the show that I really liked.

I hope you enjoyed my blog.  If you did, go ahead and click the "join this site" button toward the right. You can also follow me on twitter by clicking here.

Best Wishes,

Erica Basile

Here are the pics...

This is one of my favorite pictures that I shot.

KTF Jovi's!!

Mel's pics are better, let me put in a few for you!

This is one of my FAVORITES from the night! Look at that SMILE on Jon! And look at Dave in the background! He looks really GOOOOD--and happy!

We love you too, Jon.  We're feeling it right here in our hearts with you!

Here's Jon looking right at Mel. ROWRRRRR!!!!

I absolutely LOVE this pic of Dave that Melody took! 

Melody captured a special moment between Tico and Bobby on the circle.  Great pic, Mel. 

Those were Melody's pics.  Now back to mine! ;) 

This is from Jumpin' Jack Flash.  (Yeah, I know...Melody is CLEARY the better photographer!)

"You make a grown man cryyyyy..."

One last self-indulgent pic of me--me with my setlist! HOORAY!

That about wraps it up for now.  Until next tour, Jovi's!

Be well, and Always...Keep the Faith!!

Have a Nice Day!

Erica Basile

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