* October 25th, 2006 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum ** DISCUSSION **

[dolphin]

elizabeth,you were there,for your opinion how many people were there?

When Baz was on stage...the floor was full

When PR was on stage...the floor was full and more people started to fill up seats in 1st and 2nd levels.

I had a floor tix but our lightening play there and it was freezing in there and they have a game tonight so the floor had ice beneath it.

So, I talked to this usher and said I wanted to sit and he said don't sit here or I'll have to ask you to leave so I said what if I sit over there and he said if I don't see you then I can't tell you to leave..ha ha  so I said cool and sat down 11 rows up from Richard's side of the stage.  The pyros were fkn HOT...actually warmed me up for 10 sec.

I did see Ron watching Baz on stage and Dizzy checked out PR.

I'd guestimate 9,000 ppl when GNR hit stage.  A friend of mine had the nosebleed seats and they actually told his section to go down to floor to make arena look more packed.  That is what he told me this morning.

[dolphin]

Wee Hours For Paradise City
Skip directly to the full story.
By CURTIS ROSS The Tampa Tribune

Published: Oct 26, 2006


TAMPA - A concert review isn't really the place for a lecture on tardiness but good grief. Guns n' Roses' set didn't start until almost midnight Wednesday night/Thursday morning.

Is singer Axl Rose that unfamiliar with the real world that he isn't hip to the whole job-responsibility-up before noon lifestyle? Or does someone need to point out that even the pre-teens who bought "Appetite for Destruction" in 1987 are now in their 30s? Whatever. If you can get past the time element, the show was about as good as one might have hoped and at times considerably better.

The two-hour plus set relied heavily on songs from "Appetite ? " and it's likely few in the crowd of 10,522 would have complained about that.

Few seemed bothered by the fact that Rose is the only member of the "Appetite ? " lineup currently in the band. That took away some of the potential excitement since the old Guns was a band of loose cannons. Now it's one loose cannon and eight hired guns.

Excellent hired guns, mind you. Most of them got solo spots which gave Rose a chance to catch his breath, change his shirt and do whatever else he needed to away from the spotlight.

Rose remains a natural front man, sprinting around the stage, baying and howling and expressing all the rage and fear that made the band so intriguing when it appeared 20 years ago.

His voice, though, was erratic, mostly strong and true but occasionally pinched and thin. In contrast to his old rabble-rousing image, Rose was unfailingly polite between songs, telling the crowd it was "very, very nice to be here" moments after telling them they were in the jungle, baby.

Such is the dichotomy of Axl Rose: charming and possibly insane.

The band was almost too reverent in its treatment of the older material, replicating each solo and fill with a classicist's touch. Only on "Out ta Get Me" did the players make the song their own, and that one left the "Appetite ? " version in the dust.

However, new material, from the oft-delayed "Chinese Democracy" album, sounded vibrant and raised hopes that the disc may one day actually be released.

In the end, despite any longing to see the original lineup back together, Rose established his new Guns as a vital, exciting force and threatened to once again inject some excitement into a stale mainstream rock scene. If only he could do it a couple of hours earlier.

I already posted the link a few pages back

[JeRrYFaR]

If only he could do it a couple of hours earlier.

Apparently this person doesn't realize Axl is known for showing up late at shows.. "'Show usually starts around 7.. we go on stage around 9".. hmmmmmm

[Khalista]

Did anyone manage to get their camera in and get some good pics of GNR?? If so, please contact me if you wouldn't mind sharing some copies through email.... I'll love you forever and ever. I got turned away with mine at the door and had to go put it in my car but I noticed a lot of people managed to get theirs in.

I was on the floor, about 3-4 people away from the front-center. The show was great! Unless it had been 10-15 years ago (when venues were a little less security dramatic) or if it had been the original GNR it couldn't have been better... unless they had played Rocket Queen, possibly my favorite GNR song. So, to the person who asked back on the first or second page, no, they didn't play it.

P.S. I would like to send out a big thank you to anyone who might be on this board that was on the floor last night helping the small girlies like me not get slammed around and crushed by the jerkoffs that FINALLY got kicked out right before GNR went on. HAHA! I think I can speak for all the short girls in front... We really appreciate you making our night that much better.

[MisterSaintLaurent]

No setlist?!?!?!

If I remember correctly...

Welcome To The Jungle
It's So Easy
Mr. Brownstone
Live And Let Die
Robin Guitar Solo
Sweet Child O' Mine
Knockin' On Heaven's Door
You Could Be Mine
Piano Jam
Dizzy Piano Solo
The Blues
Band Introductions
Richard & Robin Guitar Solo (Beautiful) [yes, it did return tonight]
Out Ta Get Me
Better
Piano Moving Jam
November Rain
I.R.S.
Ron Guitar Solo (Don't Cry)
My Michelle (with Sebastian Bach)
Used To Love Her
Patience
Nightrain

ENCORE:
Chinese Democracy
Paradise City

Better was played before Out Ta Get Me. Also, I.R.S. was played after Used To Love Her. Hopefully this can be fixed on the tour section of the site.

[Demon Wolf]

and why did they add used to love her and not madagascar

My guess would be maybe that song did not make the album, but that is just a guess and i would bet that is why twat has not been played in a while.

They have not played twat because ron could not play it live

Ron can't play it live, eh? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKPVQhKhduc

He rocks in that version!

[D]

I always admire people who can remember the set list.

Every concert I have ever attended I usually get mixed up and forget the order about 5 songs in.


Sounded like a great concert, I hope I get to see this tour.

[Dont Try Me]

and why did they add used to love her and not madagascar

My guess would be maybe that song did not make the album, but that is just a guess and i would bet that is why twat has not been played in a while.

They have not played twat because ron could not play it live

Ron can't play it live, eh? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKPVQhKhduc

He rocks in that version!

exactly. I asked why dave-gnfnr2k made such unfounded statement but he hasn't replied yet. He said that (in my view) stupid remark also on chinesedemocracy.com. I asked him about it back then but he didn't reply to it. Dave, I'm realy sorry but sometimes you really say unfounded shit man. At least try to back it up but I know you can't. Ron can perfectly play TWAT. 

[Demon Wolf]

^^ Exactly.

Anyone who says Ron can't play Bucket's parts is way outta line. But let's not turn this into a Bumblefoot/Buckethead-thread. Glad to see the show went well!

[SLCPUNK]

What an absolutely crazy night.

We go to the venue around 8 o?clock. There was a real mixed crowd there; a little bit of everybody. We got right in our seats as we didn?t want to miss Bach start out. Kujo was one section over, while Mrs. Punk and I were on the side, right next to the stage. Staring at the people in GA caged up like farm animals did not make me jealous by any means.

Bach really did well and the crowd response was very strong. Even at this point the venue was about (I?m guessing now) 80 percent full. He played mostly older Skid Row stuff with a new one thrown in there. The new song was a ballad, but very nice. (He says it?s on you tube so I?ll certainly be checking that out later.) His band was tight, Bach was???.well Bach. Not much as changed. His voice was great, and really let out some howls.

Now, it is important for me to backtrack a bit here. My location was right next to the corner of the stage, where I could see people coming and going that worked the venue, with the groups, or in the groups themselves. In Las Vegas I had run into Robin twice before the show. This time, it was my wife who saw Finck first and grabbed my arm. He had come up on my right, climbed the railing down and began to walk around the GA floor. This was about two songs into Baz?s set when he walked past me. At this point I am looking back towards my left down at the floor waiting to see if he will return the way he went. About two minutes later he returns and climbs back over the rail right beside me. I give him a big handshake and he looks right at me and smiles. Totally cool. It was so loud he probably could not have heard what I said, so a handshake was all that was needed. He went on his way and disappeared behind the stage right after.

About 2/3 of the way through Baz?s set I look over to my right and there is Frank. His hat on top of his head, turned a bit sideways and his 50?s style looking glasses on. Leaning against the rail and watching Bach turn it out. I went over to shake his hand, but the security guy blocked me from going over. He sat for a good 15 minutes watching, and then slipped backstage once again.

When Bach ended his set, we bolted outside for some fresh air and totally skipped Pappa Roach, who we were not interested in watching.

Around 11 we strolled back in, and realized at this point that PR had just ended. So there was no way, that there was going to be an 11 go time for Guns. I figured, maybe 11:30, but that seemed pushing it. The security guy (that I had been joking with off and on all night) looked at me and said ?Ready to wait? He?s not even in Tampa yet.? I laughed, but he said ?He just left now.?

I?d call that bullshit on any other day, but as time went on (and it went on), another guy would come up and say ?He?s in Tampa now.? Then a few minutes later ?He?s on his way now.? He kept getting reports of Axl?s whereabouts so I had to actually wonder if this was legitimate or not. Eventually the guy came back and said ?Put in your earplugs, he is coming out.?

The security guy looked at me and said ?If they say put in your earplugs to me, it means he is here and about to start.?

Of course then another 5 minutes passed, and a surprisingly patient crowd still had not begun to get pissed yet. It was about 11:40 or so and people were still pumped it seemed. I joked to Mrs. Punk that we needed to hear booing. It was booing that often preceded the start of a show in our experiences. It almost was a formula of the new band at this point: booing = should be on any minute.

Another five minutes past and in an almost rehearsed moment the entire arena began to boo simultaneously . It lasted about 5 seconds and the lights dropped. Again, Mrs. Punk pushing at my arm, telling me to look to my right. I glanced over to see the band walking, almost in single file, towards the back of the stage in a hurry.

Boos turned to cheers, as the lights dropped and everybody was now standing. Dry ice was pushed over the crowd and the ominous opening music played before that first riff of Jungle rang out.

Then, the place went absolutely insane. Almost midnight now, with a second wind, this crowd was more than welcoming to the band that made them wait so long.

The set list remained the same pretty much. They did interject ?I used to love her? near the end of the set, which I liked.

My view was astounding as Bumble, Robin (lots of Robin) and Axl constantly were right in front of me. Near the middle of the show I extended my hand out to Axl and he ran up and shook my hand, sending the girls behind me into hysterics that reached ear piercing decibels. He then reached past me to shake one of their hands as well. In an act of selflessness one could only hope for in a mate, Mrs. Punk snapped a photo of my outreached arm and hand pairing up with Axl?s  for a handshake. A killer moment captured on my cheap cell phone to remember forever. I received a text message from Kujo about two minutes later and all it said was ? FUCKER.? HAHAHAHA! Love ya bro!

It is even  more important to address the people who spend so much time spinning negativity about this tour and band. Standing there I noticed a few important things that should silence these crybabies (although I doubt it will). One is that the place was pretty much full. Not bad for a band that still has no album, few remaining members, and so-so promotion. Two is that the crowd was absolutely positive about this band. Excited to see them, cheering every song, singing along, jumping up and down, and LOUD. People can cry, bitch and moan about all the little things they whip up into a frenzy online. Pathetic ramblings in a pretend internet world are just that: pathetic ramblings in a pretend internet world.

There is however, only one real litmus test: real time crowd reaction and turnout. Both I witnessed last night to be very strong. In the middle of the frantic yelling, screaming, guitar riffs, smoke, sweat and energy, I realized that this album will probably do great when it is released. My prior doubts were pushed aside after last night and I am now confident. A venue like Tampa is not The Joint in Las Vegas, and it is not the Ballroom in NYC. It is not filled with hardcore internet geek fans who fly from around the country/globe to see their hero band. It is an arena that brought the general public out to see a band they obviously still have an enormous amount of interest in.

Encore began with  Chinese Democracy, and I could feel the heat from the flames shooting up into the air during the song. Ending of course with Paradise City, bumble foot walked along the front of the GA crowd and let everybody touch his guitar and shook their hands.

What an amazing night, absolutely 100 percent incredible.

Thanks.

Edit: I am reading a lot about Frank. Axl introduced him as the "newest member." I can only guess that Brain is taking time off to be a dad.

[Demon Wolf]

Awesome post ^^. They're back and better than ever! And to think I actually wasn't a Guns N' Roses-fan when they were in Sweden earlier this year... 

[WARose]

great review SLCPUNK

i share a lot of your feelings after having seen gnr two times this year in europe

all these whiners are pathetic assholes who won`t give the band a chance anyways....  i guess it`d help some of them if they`d actually go to a gig themselves instead of sitting in front of their computers and bitching about the set list or the promotion......

for the most part, i stopped reading the posts of certain members here ( and on other boards.... they mostly are the same persons anyways..). some people really need to get a life. i mean is it fun to spend your free time on a message board of a band you liked until 1990???

[NickNasty]

awesome review SLC

question: how was the moshpit-or was there really one? just curious to know what to expect when i go.

[MisterSaintLaurent]

For both 10/24 and 10/25, there was some moshing for Papa Roach, but not really any for GNR. The moshers last night were a lot more dangerous than the ones in Sunrise. This one idiot kept causing massive pile-ups on the floor last night and people really could have gotten hurt. I got out of there after he made it clear his only agenda was to make sure people kept falling on their ass. Not cool.

[NickNasty]

For both 10/24 and 10/25, there was some moshing for Papa Roach, but not really any for GNR. The moshers last night were a lot more dangerous than the ones in Sunrise. This one idiot kept causing massive pile-ups on the floor last night and people really could have gotten hurt. I got out of there after he made it clear his only agenda was to make sure people kept falling on their ass. Not cool.

yeah, i figured that there would be some for PR, but hopefully people chillax on it for guns.

[1badapple]

Great post SLC. Glad you had a great time! I'm SO fucking ready for the Chicago show!

[kriss_boy]

Yea gnr in London and Glasgow felt like you felt last ntie...

For me the wait just makes the whole thing even more awesome!! Xmas would suck as a kid if there wasnt a month to wait on it... gnr jus crank it up n up for us fans!!!!

[jbenzz]

Great review SLC! 
Was there any banter or anything else memorable that was said or that you noticed?

[ppbebe]

Brain is out?!!! Nooooo!!!   I can hardly accept it! whine whine whine
(=Yay this is something to moan about!  )

It's only natural that the forum members at the show shouldn't have bothered to spare their precious whale of a time to feed those armchair critics.

@ Good read SLCPUNK. I'd love to hear the newest version of Chinese democracy live.
so, kindly share the pic of the handshake moment with us, would you? 
I always love the tidbits of the shows.

@ Demon Wolf, so you're a new fan? GNR will very likely tour europe next year again for you although they're unlikely to be playing this set then, I bet.

For me the wait just makes the whole thing even more awesome!!

Snap! No actually my wait starts when I hear the release date.
I believe it to be this year.  I hope things go smoothly this time for the sake of the fellow fans who have been longing for this album from the last century and for those who have been working on this thing with fortitude for ages, esp axl.

[Jim Bob]

great review SLC.