This time last week, the scene in and around Madison Square Garden was an entirely different affair thanks to a certain superstar’s wedding of the century. It’s back to regular programming tonight: New York Knicks regalia is hanging from the rafters again, and music has once again taken center stage as fans file in for Bon Jovi’s Forever tour.
The band’s nine dates at the arena this month mark their first outing in four years, after frontman Jon Bon Jovi underwent major reconstructive surgery on his vocal cords in 2022. (UK dates, including London’s Wembley Stadium, follow later this summer.) The extended break seems to be on the band’s mind as the singer begins with a taped message where he describes a recurring dream in which he holds a spotlight. “In that beam of light I saw your smiling faces. I saw the memories, I saw the songs come to life,” he says. “Our reward for all of this? We get to stand in the reflection of that light.”
