GNR Wrap Up...

I’ve been meaning to do my review of the Guns n’ Roses show for a little while before the details got foggy. I was waiting for someone to post a set list for the show because I don’t know some of the new songs and wanted to get the order right but that didn’t happen.

First off, I had read some of the reviews so I knew that the band wouldn’t be on stage until at least 11:15, so I arrived at 10:15 completely missing the opening act, which is no big loss because if Bullet for My Valentine becomes big, nobody will know I actually wasn’t there. I waited in line for security to get me into the venue, surrounded by what appeared to be 60 people on cocaine. I’m not going to say this is entirely true, but if they weren’t than there just happened to be a lot of waif-ish people with allergies around me. Once I got by a pat down that took a creepily long time, I was in got my wristband for the alcohol I ended up not having (its good to be prepared) and found my friends on the floor.

The crowd was mixed, more on the younger side, Appetite for Destruction came out in 1987 so I was 11, and I would think the target age for maximum GNR exposure would be a little bit older than me, then again those people probably aren’t spending 100 bucks to stay out to 3 am on a Wednesday. The sound guy was playing a medley of hard rock hits from the past 20 years. Billy Squire was a crowd favorite as was System of a Down, unfortunately they didn’t play any song all the way through, just enough to get the hook in. I found it really annoying, then again I’m a completist.

So 11:15 rolls around and I haven’t even seen a roadie, though a girl next to me did take her bra off for eventual tossing so that was exciting. The VIP sections were filling with people that looked like extras for a snuff film, I figured the band was probably due on soon. 11:35 the house lights go down, and the delayed guitar riffs of Welcome to the Jungle open up, the crowd goes nuts. HOLY CRAP PYRO. So right before the verse starts the flash pots go off, I’m in awe because I haven’t seen a rock show like this probably in 10 years. So Axl Rose is doing the crab dance 20 feet away from me and everything is right in the world. They tear into Its So Easy, then into Mr. Brownstone.

I’m not going to review the whole show, just some highlights. It’s been well publicized that Sebastian Bach was joining Axl on stage. My buddy actually saw him arrive at the gig, in a white 80s conversion van, it would be incognito until you realize that Sebastian Bach hasn’t changed one bit, so if a 8 foot tall guy with way to long hair jumps out of a conversion van and looks like he is going to front the monsters of rock festival, you can probably figure out who he is. He came on mid set to do My Michelle, displaying a stunning vocal range, and when combined with Axl’s high pitched whine, I think they actually combined to create the sound that Aquaman used to use to summon the creatures of the deep. Also Kid Rock came out to do Night Train after a false start with the band. I don’t particularly like Kid Rock, I’ve always had the feeling he is a poser, but it was exciting anyway.

Axl was vocally in shape, and they did my favorite GNR song Rocket Queen. I get misty eyed when they play that outro section. Now I had to wonder if it was worth paying twice face value for the ticket, because this really wasn’t GNR, it was Axl, it was pretty awesome I have to say, and they rocked. I’m not really up on the new songs, they have more of an Industrial edge I suppose, which is why Robin Finch the guy from NIN is in the band. There were 5 unaccompanied solos through out the show. Finch took the first one when they had technical difficulties before Sweet Child of Mine, and had an extra one before the end of the show. Both the other guitarists had one, and Dizzy Reed had a piano solo. I have no idea what purpose any of them served since they weren’t particularly good, I think what they did was give Axl a vocal break. A couple people didn’t like the fact that Slash wasn’t present. Izzy Stradlin did play on 3 songs which I thought was really exciting, I don’t think there is hope for a reunion, but could be a good sign.

As for the girl who took her bra off, she eventually got on her boyfriend’s shoulders and displayed her mammaries for the band, I’m sure they were happy, I however didn’t want to stare at her tramp stamp all show, so I was glad when she got down. I guess I’m getting older.

All in all, I got what I paid for, a heavy dose of classic hard rock, a close look at one of the better known frontmen in the world, and a lot of people watching. I paid the price though getting home at 3 AM, a half hour trip out of the city isn’t bad, but its still late. It’s my fault for being bridge and tunnel, but whatever I get cheaper sales tax.