Bon Jovi Shrine 2011 Retrospective

This is the last video filmed during Jazz Fest 2011. On May 8, 2011, I sent my thanks out to the neighborhood and those far away who sent love to Maurepas Street for me and Lupe.

Tomorrow, WGNO news is coming to do a story about the shrine. It will air at 6 pm Central (ABC) on Thursday, July 7.

Thank you everyone!

How They Heard About Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi

I love hearing about how pilgrims first heard of The Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi. Here is the story of their pilgrimage.

Bon Jovi Tribute Contest at Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi Jazz Fest 2011

Can you emulate Jon Bon Jovi by looking like him and singing like him?

Then enter the Jon Bon Jovi Tribute contest by singing a Bon Jovi or Jon Bon Jovi song AT the Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi.

To do this, go to 2943 Maurepas Street on April 29, April 30, or May 7 between 1 pm and 9 pm and make sure Tara Jill records your performance (if you come earlier, Tara Jill will not be able to record your performance, but you are welcome to practice as long as you do not wake her up before 11 am on festival days).

With your permission, video will be uploaded to YouTube.

Winners will be announced May 8.

1st Prize 

Personal Sacred Shrine miniature cigar box altar with handmade shrine memorabilia and DVD of winning videos 

2nd Prize 

DVD of winning videos and Sacred Shrine lighter and candle. 

3rd Prize 

DVD of winning videos and Sacred Shrine lighter.


Contestants need not be present to win.


Please contact Tara Jill if you are interested in being a judge for this contest in the event that a member of the band Bon Jovi is unable to or unwilling to judge this contest (or is unaware of it).

Note: Tara Jill does not have any guitars or microphones, so you really need to bring one if you will need it for your performance.

P.S. In the event that Tara Jill has to judge this contest herself, she promises not to favor contestants who sing one of her 3 favorite Bon Jovi songs.


Please inform all of your friends of this fantastic contest!

Have a nice day!

~Tara Jill

TJ's 3 Favorite Bon Jovi songs:

"Wild In The Streets"

"Lay Your Hands On Me"

 

"Bad Medicine" 

Tara Jill's favorite song performed by Jon Bon Jovi

"Queen of New Orleans"

Bon Jovi Please Play "Queen of New Orleans" April 30 Jazz Fest 2011 NOLA

Only 10 days left until Bon Jovi performs at Jazz Fest 2011. Please visit the Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi and share this video to urge Bon Jovi to perform "Queen of New Orleans" in NOLA on April 30!

How To Build A Shrine To A Celebrity

Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi Guestbook

Dear Readers,

The addition of the Richie Sambora Bye-Altar   to the International Sacred Special Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi prompted some research of shrines, so for the first time, I consulted the world wide web to make sure my shrine terminology was as comprehensive as is required. 

Here are a few shrine-related terms defined.

Shrine (from The Free Dictionary):

1.  A place of religious devotion or commemoration, such as: a place where devotion is paid to a deity or deities, the tomb of a saint or other venerated person, a location where an important event in the life of a holy person is thought to have occurred.

2.  A container or receptacle for sacred relics; a reliquary.

3.  A site hallowed by association with a revered person or object or with an important event: Independence Hall, shrine of American liberty (See also: April 30, 2011 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival).

Shrine (from Your Dictionary Dot Com)

1 b.  a niche or other setting for a statue, picture, or other object arousing or designed to arouse devotion

 
1 c. a small area or structure arranged for private devotion 

4 b.  a place or structure esteemed for its importance or centrality as in history or the arts

Grotto (from Wikipedia): 

1. Any type of natural or artificial cave that is associated with modern, historic or prehistoric use by humans. The I.S.S.S. of JBJ does not have a grotto (yet).

Reliquary (from Your Dictionary DOT COM): 

1. A case or other container in which relics are kept and displayed for veneration.

    

Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi Reliquary

  

Veneration (from The Free Dictionary):

1. a feeling or expression of awe or reverence

Note: Veneration is often shown outwardly by respectfully bowing or making the sign of the cross before a saint's icon, relics, or statue. These items may also be kissed.

This guest dropped to his knees upon first seeing the shrine.

Items the were kissed at the Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi

Bye-altar (from Wikipedia):

1.  A side-altar that is subordinate to the central or high altar in a church. 

Richie Sambora Bye-Altar

For the first time, I read an article "How to Build a Shrine to Your Favourite Celebrity" and agree with the list of "Things You'll Need."  Currently, I have about 50% of the required "things."

   * The Internet - Yes

   * Spare time - No

   * Determination - Yes

   * Money - No

I am not sure if the Internet is necessary to build a shrine to a celebrity, and I am not sure if I would have spare time if I were not so invested in this shrine. I am confident about the determination factor.  The money required is tricky because even if one had so many items related to a celebrity that he or she did not need to make any purchases, outdoor shrines require a lot of crazy glue, tape, and waterproofing substances. 

The article included the following "Warnings"

   * Don't tell too many people about this, or they might think you are obsessive.

   * Don't try and act like them.

   * Don't forget to put some jewelery or clothes similar to what they've once worn. It will really finish it off.

The writers suggest that a shrine builder "Try to put the shrine in somewhere dark and not frequented, like a catacombs or cellar. The hallway of your front door is not suitable."

Apparently, they have not seen this shrine. However, some Bon Jovi fans who post in the forums on the Bon Jovi Fan Website Dry County have suggested that the shrine should be kept indoors for my own private use, and others were afraid to visit this blog because they thought the "shrine thingy is just creepy."

If anyone has any suggestions about how I can get on top of my roof to advertise the shrine (I think it will be highly visible from The Grandstand, and I saw some Glow In The Dark paint at Home Depot), please email me directly at sacredshrinenola@gmail.com 

New Orleans Fairgrounds

My mother, who is from New Jersey, sent me some text messages today with photographs included. She did not include any actual written message, but it seems like she may have taken these photographs herself, which implies that she has acquired some Jon Bon Jovi memorabilia and may send it to me in the mail.  This would be wonderful, as these images are obviously in good condition.

Jon Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi

Thank you for visiting the blog of the Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi.

Very Truly Yours,

Tara Jill

But New Orleans Music and Culture Does Inspire Me

The results of the Creative Allies “How New Orleans Music and Culture Inspires Me,”
contest were announced today, and to my dismay, my entry - the photographs of the International Special Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi were not selected as finalists. Above is a brief video response from yours truly. 

"Shrine thingy is just creepy."

In an attempt to connect with some Bon Jovi fans who may be visiting The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, I joined the online Bon Jovi community Dry County and posted some information about the shrine HERE .

  

More than one Bon Jovi fan referred to the shrine as "creepy" and one even suggested that the shrine should be kept indoors for my own private use.   Others were afraid to visit this blog because they thought the shrine was creepy.  The members who actually did visit this blog did report back that the shrine did not seem creepy, and a few people liked it.

Shrines should be in house.

"Shrine thingy is just creepy."

The once again reminds me that even if Bon Jovi is not connected to New Orleans Jazz and Heritage, I suspect I'd have a hard time finding anyone living in New Orleans who honestly thought the "shrine thingy is just creepy" or refused to click on this website. So

This also relates to my ideas about inside and outside, North and South, and the way those of us who live in New Orleans sit on our stoops, pray and dance in the streets, and leave offerings at the grave of a voodoo queen. So sorry, Becky of Mississippi, but I think you'll be hard pressed to find a New Orleanian who thinks this "shrine thingy is just creepy."

And to quote Bon Jovi,  "You make me feel at home some how, right, now/That's why I, love this town!"

"I Love This Town" is the 12th song on Bon Jovi's album Lost Highway  released on June 8, 2007 and on the Island / Mercury record label.

Acura Stage April 30 Bon Jovi Jazz Fest 2011

Nola.com published The Cubes, charts that show the schedule and stages for different performers,  and Bon Jovi will take the Acura Stage on April 30.


Keith Spera,  of The Times-Picayune commented on the schedule in his article New Orleans Jazz Fest 30-day countdown contained a surprise or two.

The cubes clearly show us that Bon Jovi is performing after Irma Thomas on the Acura Stage.

Spera explains: 

This year's Bon Jovi sacrificial lamb is...Irma Thomas. In 2009, Dr. John preceded Jon Bon Jovi et al. on the Acura Stage. Some boorish fans of the latter booed the good Doctor. Here's hoping the crowd treats Thomas with more respect.

I understand Spera's criticism of Bon Jovi's "Twist and Shout" finale during his 2009 performance (although why Spera hoped specifically to hear "Runaway" over other songs is less clear), and I could not agree more that unless Jon Bon Jovi is coming to see my shrine, Bon Jovi should not end a performance early, as Spera describes:

At two hours and 10 minutes, Bon Jovi's allotted set time is the longest of the entire festival. Will Jon, Richie Sambora and the rest tap into their inner jam band and create something fresh and engaging, or simply rattle off the hits and leave early, as in 2009?

What I do not understand is why Spera referred to Irma Thomas as Bon Jovi's sacrificial lamb in this article.  My understanding of "sacrificial lamb" is that it's a term which metaphorically refers to a person (in this case) who is sacrificed for the common good.   

If that is the case, then it seems that some person or organization other than a member of Bon Jovi would have to identify Thomas as Bon Jovi's sacrificial lamb. Spera's description above almost implies that Bon Jovi and Bon Jovi's "boorish" fans are at fault.

Above all else, Spera disrespects Thomas, who is not a disposable sacrificial lamb. 

Spera, can you explain this analogy? 

Jon Bon Jovi Shrine Is Ready for Jazz Fest 2011 - Check Album

The International Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi is ready for Jazz Fest 2011.

In fact, the first people to sign the guestbook were visiting from Michigan!

A steel horse is on it's way too. Included here is a photo album of the shrine from 2009-2011, and it includes captions that explain its evolution and history.

Please let me know if you have questions about the shrine!


The Official Album of The International Sacred Shrine Slide Show

The Official Album of The International Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi

Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi Jazz Fest 2011 Video

Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi New Orleans Jazz Fest 2011

Please spread this video as much as possible!  These are new images of the New Orleans Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi. The shrine is ready for Jazz Fest 2011!


Also, check my YouTube Channel!

New Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi 2011

The constantly evolving Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi is evolving this week! 
The ISSSJBJ will be up for over a month before Bon Jovi's April 30 performance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

The shrine will continue to grow, hopefully with the support of its fans and 
visitors as well as a lot of spray paint.

 Jon Bon Jovi Dollhouse

Shrine T-shirt from 2009

The International Special Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi is back!

Candles and Fan Doll at Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi 2011

There is a map on the lower right hand side of this blog that shows the location of the shrine, and if you are serious about visiting it, email me at sacredshrinenola@gmail.com. 

- from a sacred part of town

Thanks, Bon Jovi Haters

Today I entered a photograph of the shrine in an art contest that I read about on the internet. 

Shrine 2010

If I win, The Creative Allies 2nd Annual Design Contest will display my artwork at The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (presented by Shell) and in the New Orleans Museum of Art. 


The theme for this contest is "How New Orleans Music and Culture Inspires Me."


According to the festival's own website, "The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell is the greatest music festival in the world. Headliners in 2011 include: Arcade Fire, Bon Jovi, Jimmy Buffett, Sonny Rollins, Kid Rock, John Mellencamp, Wilco, Robert Plant, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Willie Nelson, The Strokes and John Legend & The Roots, plus hundreds of Louisiana musicians."


Late last night, I was reading some comments on NOLA.com  that were written by some JBJ haters. 


According to mic, who commented on the article "New Orleans Jazz Fest looks to the future, even with Bon Jovi" that was published on NOLA.com on January 29, 2011, 

"People hate Jazz because they think it all sounds like Kenny G. New Orleans, the birth place of Jazz now chooses an artist over real emerging jazz artists in this city? New Orleans needs to take this festival back and have less money to not make such stupid decisions: Kid Rock? Bon Jovi? Tom Jones? Eddie Brickell? Cyndi Lauper? Kenny G? and many more. It's the most commercialized festival yet, Greed and capitalism showing through in spades. I would rather give my money to a local musician than support AEG in their endeavors in our great city."

Comments like the one made by "mic" are exactly what inspired me to build the 2009 International Special Sacred Shrine to Jon Bon Jovi to begin with.


Some people really like going to Jazz Fest, and while I don't identify with the desire to stand in the sun in a crowd, I understand that it's a social and cultural tradition for many New Orleanians. However, if I wanted to see really good New Orleans jazz, I would not go to Jazz Fest - not because Bon Jovi and Cyndi Lauper are performing there but because the festival is hot and expensive and New Orleans musicians play all over the city seven days a week.  I would prefer to see New Orleans jazz at Vaughn's or The Candlelight or in the street the way I usually do.


If one wants to appreciate New Orleans culture, there is no reason to go to that festival when wonderful live jazz can be enjoyed for free all over this city.  


If a local wants to go to Jazz Fest, his motivation cannot be simply to hear jazz. 


 Complaints about musicians who are not "New Orleans" enough to perform at Jazz Fest strike me more as petty gripes voiced by people who are looking for things to complain about than legitimate complaints about the availability and cost of New Orleans music. 


 If someone were complaining about the musicians themselves and the fact that they do, indeed need money, I would agree whole-heartedly, but complaining about having to listen to Bon Jovi while attending The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival makes me  want to respond with "Then just don't go to Jazz Fest. Nobody is making you give all that money to Shell oil when New Orleans musicians typically display tip jars."


The price of a General Admission One Day ticket is 45.00. A New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Big Chief Package Weekend 1 pass costs 925.00.  (I explained my feelings about the festival and shrine in my post "On Not Being a Spiritual Tramp - Bon Jovi to Play Jazz Fest 2011" on the old Shrine of JBJ blog before I got tired of using Wordpress). 


As far as the contest is concerned, despite the fact that I do not expect to win,  I entered photographs of the shrine in the "New Orleans Music and Culture Inspires Me" category because even if Shell oil does sponsor Jazz Fest, there is still no other city in which I would have built this shrine. The culture that permits shrines is what attracts visitors to this city, and if Bon Jovi is part of that package, I certainly welcome his fans.  




The Sacred Shrine to Jon Bon Jovi - which I built - is an absurd reaction to absurd complaints.


I am grateful to all the Bon Jovi-hating locals from 2009 who actually made me stop and wonder how a Bon Jovi fan - a fan who came all the way to New Orleans to see JBJ play in a city he'd always dreamed of visiting, a fan who probably dropped at least a grand on airfare, lodging, food, tickets, straw hats, and sunscreen and probably encountered local music inside and outside the festival - would feel if he knew some members of the local community were determined to criticize any enthusiasm about music that is not "New Orleans jazz."




Tom Harrison wrote a great article for Canada.com yesterday and explained Bon Jovi's popularity and that "Bon Jovi hasn't been fashionable except around the time of Slippery When Wet, when it was the fashion. In 1992, Bon Jovi released Keep The Faith. It's been true to its word."  This holds true for Jazz Fest too.


To anyone who loves Bon Jovi, or shrines, or porches, or mid-city and to everyone who needs a place to discover free and whimsical entertainment, I'll be there for you.


By the way, a neighbor who I don't think I have ever met made my day when he posted on my blog and said I could borrow his lawnmower to manicure the area around the shrine.  Some things just rock.