Here Today... Gone To Hell!

AXL WORTH THE WAIT

Grand show despite 10:30 start

When the NFC championship game went into overtime, the Guns N? Roses fans standing in the bar area of Copps Coliseum knew it was going to be a long night. They figured Axl Rose was probably doing the same thing they were ? watching the game on the nearest TV.

It was already past 10 p.m. and the opening bands ? two spirited Canadian cowbell bangers called Danko Jones and Sebastian Bach ? had finished their sets a while ago.

 When would Guns N? Roses actually take the stage?

The question had been at the back of everyone?s mind since the doors of Copps Coliseum opened at 7 p.m. It was a reasonable one, considering Axl?s notorious reputation for late starts and occasional no-shows. He has actually developed tardiness into a form of stage schtick. Real fans knew what to expect. But it was Sunday night, after all, and more than a few of devotees had made the mistake of bringing their bleary-eyed children. (What were they thinking?)

Mercifully, the Saints finished off the Vikings in short order.  Guns N? Roses fans downed their beers and proceeded back to their seats. It wasn?t until 10:30 p.m. that the lights finally dimmed and the rock ?n? roll spectacular known as a Guns N? Roses concert finally got under way.

All eyes focused on Axl as the band struck up the opening chords of Chinese Democracy, the title song of the album he inexplicably struggled for more than 15 years to complete.  Thank goodness his hair had been freed from the corn rows he had sported on earlier tours. His thinning hair poked out under a black fedora, red kerchief and dark sunglasses. His striped shirt was unbuttoned enough to show a large crucifix guarding his chest hairs.

 Axl looked good for a 47-year-old rocker. His trademark falsetto screech sounded even better.  So it was surprising to see only about 5,500 people in attendance for what turned out to be an outstanding two-and-a-half hour performance.  The upper tier of Copps was curtained off and there were empty seats in the back of the bottom tier. This band, in another incarnation featuring a guitarist named Slash, had once been at the top of world. Perhaps, 15 years is just too long for some fans to wait.

Naturally, Axl was the centre of attention. All the other original band members have long since fled to other bands.  But it didn?t take long to realize Axl had assembled a highly skilled seven-piece set of replacements to back him.

Three lead guitarists flashed notes around the hockey rink like there was no tomorrow.  Richard Fortus scowled through his greasy hair and slung his guitar low, ala Keith Richards. Ron ?Bumblefoot?  Thal  favoured a double-kneck model , a la Jimmy Page.  The band?s newist star on guitar, DJ Ashba,  sported a sparkly Gibson and crowned his head with a black top-hat (not quite as tall as the one Slash used to fashion with the GNR, but close). All three were granted spotlight solos, as did piano player Dizzy Reed.  Axl seemed to be proving a point. He could get by fine without the old band, thank you.

With the help of a pyrotechnic battery,  they burned their way through much of the Chinese Democracy album, interspacing it with old faithfuls like Sweet Child o? Mine, Welcome to the Jungle and Night Train, as well as a couple of covers (Paul McCartney?s Live and Let Die, and Bob Dylan?s Knockin? on Heaven?s Door).  Axl pranced and preened, tossing his microphone stand around like it was a drum major?s baton. He worked up a big enough sweat to force at least five shirt changes. All  the while, the guitar onslaught continued. It was a grand show.

 Still, it would have been better if GNR had started a little earlier.  The crowd wasn?t quite as perky at 1 a.m. for the Paradise City grand finale as it could have been. Maybe it?s time for Axl to change his schtick. His fans are growing older, too. And few can keep his privileged hours.

(http://media.hamiltonspectator.topscms.com/images/3e/31/0d77c52e491197070899c4b81093.jpeg)
Axl Rose and the latest version of Guns and Roses put on a powerful - albeit late-starting - show at Copps Sunday night.


Source: http://www.thespec.com/Entertainment/article/711289 (http://www.thespec.com/Entertainment/article/711289)

5 500 ?  :o  FUCK C A N A D A ! ! ! :rant:

Its a small venue man.

another positive review but...is starting at 10:28 still late?  :-\


what?!! :o

I know, they're going on EARLY for them this tour.  What do you expect with THIS band and 2 openers?  I guess there still is a long wait between Baz and GNR, so technically they could go on earlier.  Regardless though, Axl HAS changed his ways.  He used to go on at midnight, now it's 10:30.  Baby steps, people.  That's what it's all about.

yea but i'd get piissed if i tried to keep being in good time and made it and then got told off by someone who didn't even pay for their ticket for being not early enough for them.

also i'm still not convinced of the chest hairs.

Fair review, there were a lot of empty seats behind the mixing board

Fuck people whining about the late shows, a good GNR show should start when Axl feels rite, GNR is larger than life,people shouldnt care about the morning after the show  ;D

11-12 is ideal for a GNR show to start imo.

I posted this in another thread, but there was more than 5,500 there.  I'm in this arena a couple of times a month and given that the lower bowl was nearly full and the floor was full there had to be around 8,500.  And it is not a small venue, it can hold 18,000 for hockey and concerts.

sounds like there were a lot of empty seats which is a shame-but otherwise a good review.The main thing is that they perform well and get the acknowledgement for it.

For Axl -10.30pm isn't late and longterm fans expect these late starts,but here in the UK, most bands are onstage by 9.30pm-10.45ish.

Ya it is not that late.  I think that reporter needs to go to more club shows were the band does not hit the stage until 11pm. 

Good review! As much of a fan as I am of Axl and new GNR, the reviewer is sort of correct that 10:30 is a bit late especially on a worknight. If it's a Thursday, Friday or Saturday then it's a different story.  A lot of Axl/GNR fans are older, have families and jobs that require them not to stay out late as they used to.

it's not like GN'R is performing htere every month, it's once every 3 years! So take a f*cking day off!

Seriously this guy is complaining about the show time? He came on at 10:30pm. When I seen Guns in Toronto in 2006 it was almost fucking midnight. Big difference dude.

Nightfall, some people can't take off to see the band especially with this economy. Besides, sometimes there are other priorities in life other than GNR.

if you can't afford to take a day off, then you most likely shouldn't be wasting your money on any concerttickets.
Funny though that you hear this "complaint" every tour, you know by now he likes to start late, deal with it!

Nightfall, I have to disagree with you on this then. The reviewer has a valid point in the article. I know a lot of people who like to see GNR, but can't as a result of having families, needing vacation days for emergencies or not being able to take off as a result of work. Unlike Europe, the companies in the U.S. have far less vacation time. It just matters where your priorities in life are, occupation (if you are lucky to have a job in this economy as I am ) and what stage of your life you are on.

It's a shame  that the reviewer wanted to whine about the start time instead of the performance itself which sounded brilliant. As somebody already mentioned they are going on alot earlier now compared to the 2006/2007 tours. I never could understand how someone could leave a GN'R show to catch the last bus or train. It's a Rock and Roll show so you can't complain when a band you admire for being rebellious or on the edge, don't go on stage to your prefered time.

Just use your initiative, book a hotel, or even hit a bar until the station opens again. I know people have work commitments but I'm sure you could book 1-2 days off or even phone in sick.

It's definitely worth it to see GN'R live.  ;)

Lee

Is it just my sensitivity on the issue, or does it seem that every article written  about this tour, the writer is absolutely tortured by the fact that they can't find a good reason to bash the band?  It's almost as though they all had their 'concert sucked, Gnr is nothing anymore, slash sooooo awesome' articles written before they went, and are pissed that they can't use them.  Even when they are being as positive as they can, they still feel the need to temper it with some meaningless negative bullshit.  Like the little inuendo I keep picking up, about needing 3 guitar players to keep up with the ghost of slash-past. (edit - not so bad in this article as others)

This Gn'R, here and now, f--king rocks...and all the brainwashed, snarky, more-righteous-than-thou, blowhard, group-think 'press' don't want the train the roll, but can't deny that it is.

...or maybe I am just reading too much into their writing? : ok:

I think overall the reviews have been pretty positive (in Canada, I haven't really read any others).  I agree, they shouldn't expect Gn'R to go on early, but reviewers aren't fans, they're journalists.  Journalist write for the average reader, they don't write for diehard fans (i.e. the people on this board).  They average person has to go home (often via transit which stops running at a certain time) and get up for work the next morning.  The average person is not going to take a day off even for a good concert.

Thus, when a reviewer's only real complaint about the show is that it was late, I don't think it was a bad review at all.  Some have even been pretty good.

Very good point Lesley!

You know, on second thought, maybe I should just be happy they didn't print their 'concert sucked, Gnr is nothing anymore, slash sooooo awesome' without even attending, like they did with the 'early' reviews of ChiDem.  In comparison to some of the garbage they print, I guess this is 'good press'.

Look at me...I am taking out my disgust with the media in a Gn'R forum...I'll shut up now.  :hihi:

I am still so blown away by this tour, and can't wait for stateside dates.

Ok first GnR is touring Canada right now so that is a non-issue.

As for the late start time, my issue is when the show says 8pm start time on the ticket and there are 2 opening bands what time are people expecting GnR to hit the stage?  This is where some blame needs to go on the reporter.  They need to understand that expecting a show with 2 opening acts to start before 10 is nuts.  Then with GnR t least with the 2 shows I went to people were on stage making adjustments at 10pm still.  

As for the rest of it that is just to bad for them.  I think GnR understands there late start time does not work for everyone.   At the same time Axl and GnR are about Rock and Roll which is not designed for it to fit into everyone's lifestyle.  It always sucks to go to a rock show and be home at 10pm.  It's rather sad actually.  GnR gives you a true night of rock and roll.  

Thanks Draguns!

And for the record, I won't be leaving early when I see them in Toronto Thursday!  I don't have to work Friday!  :D

Lesley, you are welcome.:) TheSloth-I understand that, but for the casual GNR fan it's too late. For myself -who is a hardcore GNR fan- I  wouldn't go to a Sunday night concert as a result of work. It's just not for me at this stage of my life. I would definitely go on a Thursday night though in the summertime depending on my plans for the year along with the amount of days I have to use. At this point in my life, GNR is secondary to me. I have other things to concentrate on.... Also reviewers have to put something negative in their reviews. I work with food and music critics at my company and it's something that they have to do on a good or bad review.  This is just minor and a positive review.

Yes I've also seen very good reviews as well, but I hate it when I read a review where almost 30% of the rightup is about the start time. Maybe it's just because I've read so much of these kind of reviews over the years I've just started to resent the media repeating it as if it's out of the ordinary (GN'R have always been known for their late start times, it is what it is). The rest of the review seemed decent, so I know this guy wasn't bringing up the time issue just to be a pain for no reason.

I'm flying out to Toronto tomorrow from the UK for the show, so I sure as hell won't be leaving early.  ;)

The longer the better in my view.


Lee

I wish I had seen this guy.  I would of stabbed him in the throat for sure.

 :o

If it's any comfort, AdZ will be in Canada soon....




/jarmo

He already told me. 

I personally found it funny that he thought I would be happy to see him.

Poor guy, 'thinks people like him.

Everybody likes AdZ.

But every rule has exceptions.  :-X



/jarmo

lol thats funny.  :rofl:

I thought you said you weren't a hater.

Talk about bringing on the heartbreak.

Shattered.

Bitches....(Picture Hangover, little china man that masturbates the air and splurges all over your face.)

is that what you're going to do to adz when you see him  :o

Sucks that some have to throw backhanded compliments in instead of just praising what a great show it was.

review was positive for the show but this reporter sounds like a giant douche.

Exactly.

I mean seriously, the part about Axl's thinning hair under neath a bandanna?? His hair looks exactly like it did in 1989 cept for a bit shorter... whose hair thins for 20 years?

once again, review the show, what next? someone is gonna hate the show cause they don't like his mustache or something? drives me nuts reading stuff like this.

I can't believe some people are bitching about the band starting "late". Good point above -- tickets say 8 o'clock and there are 2 opening acts -- when do they think GnR will come on??  I remember seeing GnR when they didn't take the stage til midnite, hours after the opening band ended (saw lotsa nice boobies on the Jumbotron during that wait : ok:!) Granted, that's a pretty late start time, but I have never gone to a GnFnR show with the attitude that i have to get to bed early. To me, part of the fun of a Guns n' Roses concert is that anticipation of when they actually start. There's nothing like it for me when the lights finally go down and that music starts! Yeah, some bands go on exactly when they are supposed to -- but this is Guns n' Roses, baby! I mean, nothing against people who have to get up early, but... i really think 10:30 is a pretty reasonable time, especially for this band. And i think it's great that they are playing so long. What next -- should they only play for an hour??? I'm heading to Toronto (in just a few days now -- YAY! ;D) from Pennsylvania and I'm off work the next day, so the band can play til sunup as far as I'm concerned!

I guess it's a good thing you didn't see him!  ;)

Some folks know how to write reviews, then there's the rest. Although the part about the chest hair and cross, along with 10:30 being late were some pretty funny jokes. Zoinks!

10:30 is not late.  When I saw them in 2006 they didn't come on until midnight.

This is guy crazy, 10:30 is far from late to start a party. I hope at the Halifax show they play till 2-3am....then party till the sun comes ups  :beer:

I agree with you here. They seem to be trying hard to find a reason to bash the band when they got really nothing to say. Guns is making the haters run out of subject and specially the ones in the media (when forced to really attend the concert like this one guy) have to scratch down their "new GnR sucks" pre-made articles to be up umtil late at nite making something that disgusts them: a positive review. So they find their ways to avenge... It's Axl's hair, Axl's weight, the three guitarrists, the pyro, Ashba's top hat, and now the absurd of complaining about going on stage at 10:30 PM!

Where I come from, mediocre bands don't go on stage before 10. Big acts go on stage much later. And we wait all the time necessary because we love them and payed to see and hear them when they feel like playing for us. You see no fan complaining anywhere. It's just the reporter that doesn't like Guns, is pissed because he couldn't bash the show, and decided to defend the casual - unaware of what concert they were attending? Because everyone knows Guns is always late - audience's side. Fuck him.

I think the article overall was pretty positive.  You'd have to expect them to complain about SOMETHING.  The reviews so far have been pretty glowing from what I've seen, especially when they talk of the show itself.

I'm sick of people complaining about a late start.  I could get home at 3am and wake up at 6am and work a 12 hr shift that day. I probably wouldn't sleep at all.  It is ONE day out of 365 days that I have to rough it out.  It won't kill me.  I gaurantee it won't kill anyone.

now dj's tophat isn't tall enough for gnr... i can't help but laugh  :rofl:

talk about nitpicking

I don't actually think the 10:30 comments are the problem, its the 1 something am finishes that they are alluding to as the problem.  Most acts do a set of about 1 hour 40 minutes so around midnight finish is expected. I would guess that the reviewer is really trying to say, great show but you need to start an hour earlier... They want it both ways.

Wow...what a fucking asshole, whoever wrote this article.

The wait was actually perfect. The line up for beer and piss breaks was insane. By the time you left after the Baz set, did what ya needed to, and got back, there wasn't much of a wait at all.

Kinda early if you ask me.

And the constant references to everything that happened before CD came out? Getting a little lame at this point. I love how these overpaid, useless, live with my mommy writer types need to go back to 2002, just to slant Axl a wee little bit.

The rest of the original band is off doing other things?

What exactly?

Exactly.

Axl's back on top of the world, proving to all the haters that he's still got it, and GnR is better than ever. There isn't a single fuckin' thing these assholes can say about Axl to knock him now. So what do they do? Run off to point at the past, because they know in the future, Axl's gonna bury all their negativity and hate with a wail from the very pits of hell.

Read up on more recent material is all I can say to the fuck who wrote the article.

But other than that, thanks for posting it...haha

Douchey writer... agreed the backhanded compliments are getting pretty annoying.  Too bad more people aren't gettting to see these kick-ass shows.
but there's always thursday night, hopefully uncle axl has some goodies left for for the toronto show.