LIVE REVIEW: Daughtry & Bon Jovi

TAMPA –- When you think about it, or drink about it, Chris Daughtry is basically a hairless version of Jon Bon Jovi. Both hunks excel at a slick brand of bar rock that is essentially, harmlessly, identically cut from the same chords and choruses. You come to their shows not to ponder, but to party, everyman escapism in its loudest form.

Of course, Bon Jovi, New Jersey's second-favorite rock son, has been selling-out stadiums for 25 years now. Daughtry, who famously did not win "American Idol," has only been around since 2006, his self-titled disc the fastest-selling debut rock album in SoundScan history.

So while their double bill at the St. Pete Times Forum Sunday was an inspired pairing, one that sent a humongous crowd of 20,537 into a three-hour tizzy, there was no doubt which act should be genuflecting to the other.

Flanked by four bandmates, the 28-year-old Daughtry first appeared in a cowboy hat. But his head wouldn't stay covered for long, as the dramatic reveal of his bald melon has become as crucial to his act as confetti is to Rip Taylor's.

His radio-ready music was pretty popular with the ladies, too, especially surly-sweet ballads "What About Now" and "Over You," both of which filled the arena just fine. For the latter song, he told the sing-along crowd: "If you don't know the words, it's real simple." Truer words have never been spoken.

Daughtry has a distinctive wail that can sell even the most corporate of rock. Case in point: his band's incredibly earnest, sweetly dorky cover of Foreigner's "Feels Like the First Time." As a lead-in to his smash hit "Home," he even played a snippet of Motley Crue's "Home Sweet Home." He may not be the most dynamic performer, but he treats every word like gospel.

With the beer lines mighty, and the venue's temps getting steamy, Bon Jovi took the stage and proceeded to live by the hits -- and die by the new stuff. The band opened with the title track from 2007's "Lost Highway," a country album that proved to be as dull live as it is on disc. Alas, they played great chunks of that, including the brutally dumb "We Got It Going On."

But the female-strong crowd would wait with googly-eyes and patient smiles until Jon, Richie Sambora & Co. played something they liked. And that the group did, alternating new songs with old faves: "Born to Be My Baby," "You Give Love a Bad Name" and the downright cheesetastic "Bad Medicine."

Bon Jovi has been doing this for a long time, and they certainly know their strengths. Even with crummy material, the 46-year-old Jon would flash some chest or shake his fanny and the moms would scream as if he were playing the best song ever. (He wasn't; he was playing "The Radio Saved My Life Tonight"). He uncorked a short acoustic set in the middle of the crowd (including "Bed of Roses") and slapped every hand on the way back. And in his most winning moment, he did a killer Mick Jagger impression during a winky cover of "Start Me Up."

Using the talkbox or a double-necked doozie, Sambora played for all the air-guitar goofballs in the house, unleasing every solo on "It's My Life" or "Runaway" or "Have a Nice Day" as if he were in great artistic anguish. (He should have been grinning ear-to-ear after getting off easy from a recent auto-and-alcohol misadventure.)

The band cruised into the finale with a couple of crowd-pleasers, including "Keep the Faith" and a "Livin' on a Prayer" that was better than it had to be. After an encore version of the new "I Love This Town" (ugh), Jon asked everyone to rise "for our national anthem": "Wanted Dead or Alive," a great country song that doesn't try too hard to be a country song.

In the end, as a rock show, it was fine. As a girls' night out, however, it was no doubt sublime.

Comments

[Bassnote]

Thank you for putting up something besides the picture of Kanye West that has sickened me for for the past three days.

[Marissa]

I'm with Bassnote. So nice to skip over here and see something new.
Ohhhh we're half way there...oh, whoa, livin' on a prayer...

[Marissa]

Right this moment "American Dad" is rockin' to Night Ranger's, "Still Rock in America" ~ Just thought you'd like to know.

[Marissa]

Do my eyes deceive me? Jon is letting the chest curlies grow back. He must have heard my pleas to stop waxing.

[Marissa]

You have the best job ever. Nice review.

I enjoy Bon Jovi's older stuff. My 13 year old liked "Have a Nice Day" and "Who Says You Can't Go Home," but this new twangy whatever you call it? Meh. Ech.

[jane]

Totally fab review. Quite a week hanging with Jersey Boys for you, Mr. Daly. If only Francis Albert were still touring (or alive, for that matter) to make it a Jersey Trifecta.

I'm intrigued by the thought of Mr. Bon Jovi cheekily handling "Start Me Up". Wonder if there's any YouTubeage on that one...

[Sonia]

My son spent his own money to surprise his mom with tickets and that he did. This concert was one of the best ones I have ever attended. You did not sit for a moment and you danced your booty off. They connected with the crowed the only way Bon Jovi knows how. It was great seeing a sea of die hard fans with their past concert t-shirts on already known that this will be a night to remember. They have a loyal following and Bon Jovi played to the sold out venue to show us how they get it done. They rocked the house and we will have a memory that will last a lifetime. Bon Jovi, thank you for a great night.

[Vanessa]

Thanks for the review. Despite being a huge Jovi fan, it made me feel much, much better, even while recovering from the bruises and heat and sun out at Coachella. I skipped the Jovi shows out here because tickets were crazy and I am not a fan of the new album. I mean, even "These Days" is better. So I'm glad to hear that those didn't get better live.

Back to sleep I go.