Bon Jovi rocks Gillette.

BY MATT KAKLEY SUN CHRONICLE STAFF

FOXBORO - It's hard to think of a band more synonymous with summer stadium shows than Bon Jovi, and the band's performance Saturday in front of a sold-out Gillette Stadium did nothing to give that reputation a bad name.

Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and crew commanded the audience's attention for the 2-hour, 30-minute set with an ease that was awe-inspiring.

"This ain't television, baby! Get out of your seats! Get out of your seats! Get out of your seats!" Jon Bon Jovi yelled to the crowd before ripping into the band's mega-hit "You Give Love a Bad Name."

Throughout the set, the 51,000-plus had little use for those seats, with few choosing to use them.

Instead, they stayed on their feet, singing along to the band's anthemic tunes, including "Blood on Blood," "It's My Life" and "Lost Highway."

For someone who has been out on the road, playing sold-out stadiums and arenas the better part of decades, Jon Bon Jovi still seems to genuinely get a kick out the crowd's adoration, smiling at the cheers and catcalls whenever he cracks a joke or performed a dance move.

Playing with the Foxboro crowd's love of the New England Patriots, he employed his "football schtick," telling fans he had some inside info on the team, and then walking away from the microphone before finishing his sentences.

In one of the peaks of the set, supporting act Kid Rock joined the band on stage for a rousing rendition of Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll" that had the crowd dancing and yelling for more.

The band saved its best for last, however, amping the crowd up with "Dead or Alive," "I Love This Town" and "Livin' on a Prayer" to close out the encore and send the crowd out on a high note. Before the Jersey rockers could take the stage, it was Detroit's own Kid Rock who worked the crowd into frenzy.

In an hour-long set full of the rock and roll excesses of sex, drugs and fireworks, Rock showed just how great of an entertainer he can be, ripping through his own hits and covers, and keeping the audience on its feet.

Although the sun was still out when they took the stage, Rock and his backup band, Twisted Brown Trucker, left no doubt that the party had begun with "Rock N Roll Jesus," the title cut off his 2007 album.

Rock and company had the crowd eating out of their hands by the time they got to "All Summer Long," an homage to youth featuring a the guitar line from Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" and Rock's biggest hit to date.

Showcasing his love of a good party, Rock showed the audience he can simultaneously scratch records on a turntable and pour himself a shot of whiskey, much to the crowd's delight.

The Boston band Mission Hill got the evening started, opening the show with a short set after winning an Internet contest.

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