Paradise Better Late Than Never
When all was said and done at the Guns N Roses show on at 2:20 AM this morning you wonder to yourself, are you glad that you saw nearly 2 and half hours of Axl and the boys or do you lament to yourself that Axl started the show at the stroke of midnight. Well, with sets like the displayed last night (earlier this morning anyone) I would take the late night start any day. The midnight start was reminiscent of a time that Rolling Stones would pull that stunt regularly. Now that Keef and Mick are senior citizens, Axl and Company has to carry the torch.
When the lights dimmed the anxious (oftentimes-lame) crowd went to frenzy. Strange Orchestral music filled the Quicken Loans Arena as the backdrop displayed various Chinese symbols. A familiar guitar riff soon ensued. As 'Welcome To The Jungle' built up and the party was on. Although the Gunners experienced sound trouble all night (I think Axl told the guy running in a not so joking manner that there was no need for him to come in tomorrow night and added that the sound coming through his earpiece sounded like smashed up AM Radio) they managed to work through it. Playing the catalogue of hits that included 'Patience', 'Knockin on Heavens Door' (both which were singalongs), 'Live and Let Die (pyrotechnic speculator), 'You Could Be Mine', 'Nightrain', 'Out Ta Get Me', and many more including a duet with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach on 'My Michelle'. As with tradition, Axl also let his supporting band show off their skills with solo's. The highlights were Robin Fink going crazy on guitar (who seemed to be really enjoying himself while doing so) and guitar only versions of 'Don't Cry' and the Rolling Stones 'Angie'. Axl and the boys also managed to play 5 new songs off their new album which all fit well in the setlist. The band closed with 'Paradise City' and a rain of confetti flew through the arena.
Opening for GNR was special guest Eagles of Death Metal. Their set was awful and Axl let the crowd how he felt saying how happy he was that was the last night he had to see them on tour (Axl Rose called them the pigeons of shit metal) .
The Suicide Girls warmed up the crowd after the Eagles of Death Metal and had the crowd entertained with their topless act in variety of ways. As strange as it was it was actually enjoyable. Sebastian Bach started the night off after 8 O'clock but I did not see that because I still have painful memories of sitting through a Skid Row show in the early 90's waiting for GNR to come on stage. Won't make that same mistake twice. All and all a great Rock N Roll night (or was it morning?) in Cleveland.
1. Welcome To The Jungle
2. It's So Easy
3. Mr Brownstone
4. Live And Let Die
5. Robin Finck Solo
6. Sweet Child O' Mine
7. Knockin' On Heavens Door
8. You Could Be Mine
9. Dizzy Reed Piano solo
10. The Blues
11. Better
12. Fortus/Finck
13. Out Ta Get Me
14. November Rain
15. IRS
16. Bumblefoot Solo [Don't Cry]
17. My Michelle [With Sebastian Bach]
18. Patience
19. Nightrain
---Encore---
20. Chinese Democracy
21. Madagascar
22. Paradise City
Link to story at Cleveland Leader:
http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/802
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