David Bryan rocks the Stone Pony with Bon Jovi hits and more in big anniversary show

David Bryan has seen a million faces and he’s rocked them all in his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame career

Now make that 1,000,800 faces.

Bryan , keyboardist for Bon Jovi, delivered nearly two hours of Bon Jovi hits, original material and classic covers backed by the Matt O’Ree Band in a fun and upbeat night Saturday at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park.

Bryan has a lot of personality on stage and in case you were wondering, the affable Bryan can sing quite well. His vocals on “It's My Life” had plenty of oomph and Bryan was suitably emotive on “Bed of Roses.”

“That made me cry,” said a fan.

“That made me cry, too!” Bryan quipped.

Yup, Bryan, an Edison native who lives in Colts Neck,  delivered plenty of Bon Jovi hits.  Adding to the Bon Jovi factor the Matt O'Ree Band’s O'Ree played guitar with Bon Jovi during the band's 2015 tour of the Middle East and Asia. Also, longtime Bon Jovi photographer Mark Weiss was in the house.

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“This is one you're probably going to know,” said Bryan, who expanded the piano intro for “Livin’ on a Prayer” on Saturday.  “You know it. The whole world knows it!”

The big Pony crowd sang along.

Saxophonist Michael Ghegan dueted with Bryan on “Memphis Lives in Me” from Bryan's Tony-award winning Broadway musical “Memphis.”

“Imagine being in a band from the time you were 17 years old,” Ghegan said “You don’t live on the accolades of the band you got famous on, you just keep writing, you keep grinding and I've I’ve always been impressed by the fact that he does stop grinding.”

Alan Manzo, singer for the Moroccan Sheepherders, came out for a cover of the Doors’ “Break On Through” and Michael Vanderweerd sang “Long Train Runnin’“ by the Doobie Brothers. Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls was supposed to also be a guest performers but he stayed home due to COVID, said Bryan from the stage.

The night was part of the Stone Pony's 50th anniversary celebration. Bryan and the pre-Bon Jovi bands, including Atlantic City Expressway, were more associated with the former Fast Lane in Asbury Park, but they had their nights at the Pony, too.

Comedian Don Jamieson preceeded Bryan with a set of comedy.

"Bon Jovi is my favorite band from New Jersey and my favorite rest stop, too," Jamieson said.

Bryan and Bon Jovi recently released the new album, “Forever,” and starred in the Hulu documentary, “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story,” which detailed Bon Jovi's vocal problems. Bryan said in an aside that he and Bon Jovi will be getting back to work soon from the stage.

“Look at how many great bands have come out of Asbury Park,” said Bryan during “Bad Medicine.” “How many great bands have we've seen? So let's celebrate with a big thank you to the Stone Pony. Thank you!”

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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: David Bryan rocks Stone Pony with Bon Jovi hits and more