Bon Jovi’s ‘Lost Highway: The Concert’ was actually a Live DVD released on November 13, 2007 where the band played the album in its entirety. This was the firs time the band had played any of their albums this way live. It was shot in Chicago, Illinois in front of an audience of around 2,000 people. And if you look at the picture below, it looks like the stage was set-up to look like a gas station as I see a couple of gas pumps. A much smaller stage and a more intimate setting. The band played an additional three songs at the end. However, I don’t actually have the DVD, but I do have a CD of the concert that was released as a Deluxe Edition of the album. In the UK and Germany, it was called the “Tour Edition”.

The big the DVD and the CD was that the DVD had the song “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” as the finale, but here, we end at “Wanted Dead or Alive”. I guess I will have to live with that difference…until I get the DVD. But there were no changes in the band. The regular band was all there including Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, David Bryan, Tico Torres and Hugh McDonald. But there were a few additional musicians on stage with them including Bobby Bandiera on rhythm guitar, Lorenza Ponce on violin (and vocals) and Kurt Johnston on pedal guitar and mandolin. I guess the band needs help making the songs sound country. I guess that is probably because they are a rock band not a country band. Sorry, off topic there for a second.

Since they are playing the album in full, you already know the setlist and first up is the title track “Lost Highway”. The band sounds great and Jon’s vocals are spectacular. The smaller setting let’s him sing for the song rather than for a large crowd where he might have to sing with more gusto. Richie’s solo feels more exciting and lively here. The crowd sounds like they are in to it and that makes the energy and vibe feel really great. “Summertime” is still as cheesy I remember but in a live setting with a fun crowd, I can see how this would be an exciting song live and they make it just that.

Things slow down and get serious as they start “(You Want To) Make a Memory”. Jon sings it so heartfelt and with a little Richie and his desperate sounding backing vocals it really takes the song to another level. I loved it on the album and even more so here. This still has that Bon Jovi magic. Then the go all country with the stomp of “Whole Lot of Leavin'”. A mid-tempo honky tonk vibe makes me want to line dance…and that ain’t something you want to see…from me or the band. It isn’t a bad song, it is too country for Bon Jovi. The saving grace here is Sambora’s solo is freaking awesome. Bon Jovi is still hiding in these songs.

They turn it up a notch with “We Got It Going On”. Richie is on the Talk Box, the violin is screaming and the band is ready to rock out…country style. Richie’s backing vocals are strong and he really gets in to it and almost out does Jon. The song is still cheesy like the album, but maybe even more so here live. Richie’s guitar work on this one is pretty freaking heavy and when he goes in the solo and tears that talk box up, he shows that Richie is still king for me of this band. “Any Other Day” takes the album version and turns it in to an 8 minute jam session with not only a solo from the Heavyweight Champion of the World, a Mr. Richie Sambora, but you get one on keyboards from David, on violin from Lorenza, guitar from Bobby and pedal guitar from Kurt. One of the best moments of the whole show.

“Seat Next To You” slows things back down and we get a ballad. Jon’s vocals are emotive and then we get some wonderful backing vocals by the violinist Lorenza Ponce. She adds a lot to it with just the little bit she does. Very nice. The pedal guitar/slide guitar is almost crying which we really gives the song some texture. Then we go in to “Everybody’s Broken” and it keeps the mood a little somber. There is still that “chu-chu” riff in the song that I love, but this is the first of the songs that didn’t feel better than the album. It felt a little flat despite another great Sambora solo.

On the album “Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore” is sung with Jon and LeAnn Rimes. Here we get Lorenza Ponce again and she holds her own and nothing is lost on the song. She has a great voice that compliments Jon nicely. She doesn’t take on entire verses, but heavily on the backing vocals. The song still is as heartfelt as the original. “The Last Night” picks up the mood and the tempo. Nothing extraordinary, but they don’t lack anything from the studio version either. “One Step Closer” goes heavily on the country sound and lacks any heart or soul felt in the original. It feels paint-by-numbers here.

The final song from the album is “I Love This Town” and it is too countrified for me. I didn’t like this song on the album at all and can’t say I like it much here either in a live setting. An over-the-top, cheesy, generic-filled lyrics is pure leftover track and proves it here. They can’t end the album here, so they bring two of their biggest hits starting with “It’s My Life” from ‘Crush’. We get more Richie Talk-Boxing fun, but let’s be honest here, the song is a high energy, exciting rock stadium anthem, but doesn’t quite fill like it here. It feels too reserved. All things are saved as Richie pulls out his trademark hat and you know what is coming next, “Wanted Dead or Alive”. They’ve been playing this one for decades now, they know how it goes and it shows. And you know how it goes too so no need to explain it to you. At least they went out on a high note.

I was only so-so on the studio album, but I will admit, I like the live version of the album a whole lot better. There is more character, more charm and more life in most of these songs. Yes, they are a little countrified, but Bon Jovi’s heart is still included. Some of the songs I didn’t like on the album, I like better here and some I don’t, but I would still pull this out more then the actual album and in fact, I have. The studio album got a 2.5 out of 5.0 Stars…not good at all. We will be more generous here and My Overall Score is a 3.5 out of 5.0 Stars. Bon Jovi as a Country band is not a good thing although they have always had some elements, but they are a rock band and too bad they forgot that for a little while.

NEXT UP: BON JOVI – ‘THE CIRCLE’ (2009)

THE BON JOVI COLLECTION SERIES:

1. Bon Jovi – The Albums Box Set (2017)
2. Jon Bongiovi – The Power Station Sessions (1980-1983) (2001)
3. Bon Jovi – Bon Jovi (1984)
4. Bon Jovi – Shot Through the Heart: Live in Cleveland, OH March 17, 1984 FM Broadcast (Bootleg)
5. Bon Jovi – “Burning For Love” – 12″ Single – Japanese Edition (1984)
6. Bon Jovi – 7800° Fahrenheit (1985)
7. Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet (1986)
8. Bon Jovi – “Borderline” – 12″ Single – Japanese Edition (1986)
9. Bon Jovi – New Jersey (1988)
10. Bon Jovi – New Jersey: Super Deluxe Edition – Disc 2/DVD (1988)
11. Bon Jovi – “I’ll Be There For You” – Cassette Single (1988)
12. Jon Bon Jovi – Blaze of Glory (1990)
13. Jon Bon Jovi – “Blaze of Glory” – Cassette Single (1990)
14. Richie Sambora – Stranger in this Town (1991)
15. Bon Jovi – Keep the Faith (1992)
16. Bon Jovi – “Keep the Faith” – CD Maxi Single (1992)
17. Bon Jovi – “I Believe” – 7″ Single (1992)
18. Bon Jovi – Cross Road (1994)
19. Bon Jovi – “Please Come Home for Christmas” – CD Single (1994)
20. Bon Jovi – These Days (1995)
21. Bon Jovi – Live From London – DVD (1995)
22. Jon Bon Jovi – Destination Anywhere (1997)
23. Richie Sambora – Undiscovered Soul (1998)
24. Bon Jovi – Crush (2000)
25. Bon Jovi – Live From Osaka E.P. (2000)
26. Bon Jovi – “Thank You For Loving Me” – CD Single (2000)
27. Bon Jovi – The Crush Tour – DVD (2000)
28. Bon Jovi – The Love Songs E.P. (Promo) (2001)
29. Bon Jovi – Tokyo Road: Best of Bon Jovi (2001)
30. Bon Jovi – One Wild Night Live: 1985-2001 (2001)
31. Bon Jovi – Bounce (2002)
32. Bon Jovi – Unauthorized: Rock ‘n Roll Legends – Bootleg DVD (2002)
33. Bon Jovi – Target E.P. (2003)
34. Bon Jovi – This Left Feels Right (2003)
35. Bon Jovi – Wild in the Streets: Unauthorized – Bootleg DVD (2003)
36. Bon Jovi – This Left Feels Right – DVD (2004)
37. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Part 1) – (2004)
38. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 1, Part 2) – (2004)
39. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 2, Part 3) – (2004)
40. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 3, Part 4) – (2004)
41. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 4, Part 5) – (2004)
42. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 5 & 6, Part 6) – (2004)
43. Bon Jovi – Have a Nice Day (2005)
44. Bon Jovi – Live from the Have a Nice Day Tour (Walmart Exclusive) (2006)
45. Bon Jovi – Lost Highway (2007)
46. Bon Jovi – Lost Highway: The Concert (2007)
47. Bon Jovi – The Circle (2009)
48. Bon Jovi – When We Were Beautiful Documentary DVD (2009)
49. Bon Jovi – Live at Madison Square Garden – DVD (2009)
50. Bon Jovi – Greatest Hits: The Ultimate Collection (2009)
51. Bon Jovi – Greatest Hits: The Ultimate Video Collection – DVD (2010)
52. Bon Jovi – Inside Out – DVD (2012)
53. Richie Sambora – Aftermath of the Lowdown (2012)
54. Bon Jovi – What About Now (2013)
55. Bon Jovi – Live E.P. (RSD – 2013)
56. Bon Jovi – Live 2 E.P. (RSD – 2014)
57. Bon Jovi – Burning Bridges (2015)
58. Bon Jovi – This House is Not For Sale (2016)
59. Bon Jovi – This House is Not For Sale – Live From the London Palladium (2016)
60. Bon Jovi – The Albums Box Set – The Extra LP (2017)
61. RSO – Radio Free America (2018)
62. Bon Jovi – 2020 (2020)
63. Bon Jovi – 40th Anniversary Box Set (TBA – I Hope it is out by the time we get here)

We’ve reviewed a bunch of pieces already over the years and won’t review again. They are as follows:

1. Bon Jovi – The Brotherhood Tour Book (1988-1990)
2. Bon Jovi – Bon Jovi Tour 2011 – Tourbook
3. Bon Jovi – The Rock History – Bootleg CD
4. Bon Jovi – “You Give Love A Bad Name” – 12″ Single
5. Bon Jovi – “You Give Love a Bad Name” – 7″ Single
6. Bon Jovi – Red Hot & 2 Parts Live E.P. – 12″ Single
7. Bon Jovi – “Wanted Dead or Alive” – 7″ Single
8. Bon Jovi – “Bad Medicine” – 7″ Single
9. Bon Jovi – “Born to Be My Baby” – 7″ Single
10. Bon Jovi – “I’ll Be There For You” – 7″ Single
11. Bon Jovi – “Lay Your Hands on Me” – 7″ Single
12. Bon Jovi – “Living in Sin” – 7″ Single