Bon Jovi Throws Impromptu 4th Of July Concert (AUDIO)

The 4th of July is a hit or miss holiday. I enjoy the parades and free pass to eat nitrates, but I'm kind of over fireworks (so sad) and therefore need another activity for the evening. That, predictably, turned out to be drinking with friends. We went over to the Blue Parrot in East Hampton for sour margaritas and sweeter conversation when Bon Jovi sauntered in with the editor of "Allure." We gawked as we drank and talked about stealing various parts of his wardrobe until he got up, grabbed one of the guitars off the wall and began playing.

After a brief period of tuning he put on an impromptu show that was the highlight of my sad sad life. You see, Bon Jovi was my third grade crush, the love of my young life, and considering I was just dumped, this was an excellent reminder that life has a sense of humor and we live it on its own terms or face peril (aka missing the opportunity to be five feet away from Bon Jovi).

He started off with "Who Says You Can't Go Home?" that had the crowd both gaping in amazement and singing aloud at the top of their lungs. He followed up with a short rendition of "Free Bird" before trying to hang up the guitar to massive jeers. He gave in to his now raucous crowd by playing a soft and sweet version of "Dead or Alive," that I may or may not be the person screaming the lyrics along loudly to in the audio below. Enjoy!

Who Says You Can't Go Home?

Dead or Alive

Follow Alex Leo on Twitter: www.twitter.com/HuffPostComedy

Comments

[Deb K]

02:57 PM on 07/08/2009

How very cool.....I am a huge JBJ fan.....I only wish I cud have been there....

[GardenerNorCal]

11:15 AM on 07/06/2009

How cool was that. Most of us can't afford the Hamptons but glad you had a good time.

[BrenDavis]

03:14 AM on 07/06/2009

I worked with him once on a movie; very profession­al and focused, reserved but friendly, and a gentleman all around. Regardless of his inner life and/or demons, if more people in show business were as outwardly decent as he is in public and profession­al situations then there would be far fewer therapists and dealers in Hollywood, I can assure you.

Anyone in the public eye - and most especially anyone who's been as successful as he has for as long as he has - is not a carbon copy of their public persona when 'offstage'­, but then again most of us don't fully reveal ourselves to the world at large, either: our best friends know our secrets, our family knows where we really came from, and everyone else knows what we want them to know - if we're lucky, and have a good publicist. And in addition to loads of talent and Herculean drive, JBJ has both.

[repugnicansfearme]

12:20 AM on 07/07/2009

That's some pretty stanky BS you are spreading there, Farmer BrenDavis. Does working with him on a movie mean you took his ticket once when he attended a movie. Smelly, real smelly.

[DelawareVol]

12:45 AM on 07/06/2009

Bon Jovi is a typical Northeast liberal that lives in his Ivory Tower and speaks about knowing about middle class Americans-­--THAT is a joke!!!! That being said, I like the song he sang about Iran, but he's just to big a phony to be taken seriously.­...

[Simone]

07:40 AM on 07/06/2009

I suspect you have issues that have nothing to do with Bon Jovi.

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

09:07 AM on 07/06/2009

You bet he does. I love the east coast and the liberals who truly care about the country and people.

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

09:06 AM on 07/06/2009

Wow, you are stupid. I know nothing about Bon Jovi or his music. But how dare you say something like that. I am sure he worked hard to get into that so called Ivory Tower all by himself. His fans must love his music. He comes from NJ, right? Where is parents rich?. Why is it alot of rednecks admire people like some of the country singers who by the way live in nice Ivory Towers in Nashville, they make lots of money and they have their causes too. You don't like it because you don't like his causes. Well that is your right. Whenever I have seen Bon Jovi on TV he has always been a gentleman never screaming or yelling at people. He has always been respectful­. I am sick and tired of people getting mad at actors or singers who are citizens like the rest of us. They have a right to speak. I don't care if they come from the right or the left these people have a right to speak just like you and me.

[TenThings]

12:19 AM on 07/06/2009

Did he pick up Your Tab?

[AlsoSarah]

08:48 PM on 07/05/2009

I was never a big Bon Jovi fan until recently. The guy is a great down home guy. He loves his wife, family, town and country. He does what he can for people in general. How can you not love the guy?

[karma namdak]

11:27 PM on 07/05/2009

I'm the same way... didn't care for his band growing up, but now I think he's a great guy. Damn good looking, too. I can understand why the ladies swoon for him, but he's happily married. Gives back a lot to the communitie­s he lives in, too I hear.

[Wiseronenow]

05:33 PM on 07/05/2009

Either times are getting tough for Bon Jovi or he had too much to drink at dinner.

[Itsmyland2]

09:39 AM on 07/06/2009

Or maybe he was just having some fun

[8journey8]

05:08 PM on 07/05/2009

What a great post! Your well written and funny account made me feel like you had brought me along with you to the Blue Parrot, and when I played the tapes, I could imagine sitting with your group singing at the top of my lungs too!! Thank you, Alex.

[oc mcboo]

03:20 PM on 07/05/2009

fun!

[SaraNader]

02:12 PM on 07/05/2009

I can top that! In June, I was in New Orleans to talk to and get a post-Katri­na tour from a native musician and local "disenchan­t."

We drove around for hours and he kept making and getting phone calls. After talking to one caller for several minutes, he hung up and said, "We're going over to Mac Rebennack'­s house."

If you have to ask who Mac Rebennack is, fugitabout­.

Let's just say -- I was in the right place, and it must have been the right time!!!

[jukesgrrl]

04:12 PM on 07/05/2009

You DID top that. Sign me up for your social life.

[GeorgeKaplan]

06:41 PM on 07/05/2009

The Doctor was in his house!

[Lexica]

12:56 PM on 07/05/2009

I'm fascinated by the previous posts, most of which reflect that JBJ has succeeded in fixing that cool, normal guy persona in people's heads. Having met him - through mutual friends - and having lived in his general neighborho­od until recent times, I think I can safely say the persona is not the person. He is talented and very business savvy, generous and calculatin­g, and he has secrets. That aside, however, it's great that he still has the ability to surprise and delight people just by walking into a bar and playing a few tunes. Very Springstee­n-esque.

A memory: I saw BS and JBJ when I attended the funeral of S VanZandt's father, back in 1998. BS was wearing dark pants and a dark grey sweater, looking somewhat rumpled. JBJ wore a deep blue suit with crisp white shirt and beautiful tie. Interestin­g contrast.

[jukesgrrl]

04:17 PM on 07/05/2009

I totally agree. JBJ is THE master of image manipulati­on. I just thank heaven that most of the time his motives are in the public's best interest. Because if he wanted to do something evil, he would totally get away with it.

[BobSacomano]

04:25 PM on 07/05/2009

I think I know what you mean since JBJ has been a Springstee­n wannabe most of his life (almost by his own admission) and imitation is one form of flattery. He comes off as being a generous, likeable guy but I've heard stories to the contrary. After all, you can play Springstee­n on TV but that doesn't make you the Boss.

Regardless­, this doesn't diminish the fact that she was in awe of her childhood crush appearing, and singing just a few feet away. I'm sure this was an unforgetta­ble moment.

[Jonnysdls]

05:30 AM on 07/09/2009

im interested in what stories you've heard 'to the contrary'.­?

[Sneakerface]

12:32 PM on 07/05/2009

The owner of the Philadelph­ia Stars comes into a restaurant and ....surely he was made to talk about arena football ??

[romwriter]

12:32 PM on 07/05/2009

This is just the coolest story of the day.

[t mout]

12:16 PM on 07/05/2009

When you got it, give it. Beautiful!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!

[jazzdork]

12:15 PM on 07/05/2009

I had the pleasure of meeting Jon Bon Jovi; he is an absolute gentleman.­..this impromtu concert doesn't surprise me in the least. He's grounded, generous and remarkable­. He understand­s that he's just "folks" like the rest of us.