Dec 10th - Everett, WA @ Everett Events Center [discussion]

[conjurer]

Sorry for the late review, but here goes...
First some background...been a die hard fan since the beginning...have been watching this board for about 8 years...since 02, I come at least once a day...saw them live once in '92, had a GnR song as the first dance at our wedding, my daughter's middle name is Rose, and the next one we will be naming Bailey, and have about 20 gigs worth of bootlegs...wow...after reading that, I am pathetic :-)  So you can keep that in mind as you read my review...


BEGINNING

I arrived around 10:30, as I had no interest in seeing any of the warm up acts...when the lights went down, and the opening riff started, I have NEVER heard it that loud/felt that type of energy at a concert (stones, ac/dc, aerosmith)...it was unbelievable...the entire place was rocking HARD for WTTJ and the next couple songs...

AXL

Axl sounded UNBELIEVABLE from where I was sitting...stage right, pretty close up (was in the same section he threw his mike into...if only a few rows farther back!!!!!).  I think the BIGGEST thing I was surprised about was how much his voice sounded like some of the better bootlegs out there...besides not holding some notes as long as in earlier years (which is not a knock, but to be expected when comparing to vocals of 14 years ago), his voice was spot on for many of the songs... I went to a concert in '92 and all I remember was how scratchy and off his voice was... It was never off enough for me to notice it last night...in my personal comparison, he sounded better in Everett than he did many times in his "prime" in '92. His voice, to me, was one of the biggest suprises compared to how he sounded in '02.  He showed a lot of energy, dancing around the stage, and was smiling quite a bit...at one point he climbed on top of the piano to sing and I actually held my breath, praying he wouldn't fall off!

THE REST OF THE BAND

I gotta say, I walked out of there thinking that there is more talent on that stage than there has ever been for Guns n' Roses...I am sure many original die hards will disagree, but I am an original die hard and that band, imho, sounded more talented.  I should also point out that I would not be able to play one note on a guitar...so that is a "laymans" opinion...in any case, to me this band ROCKS harder than the original...there is more rock n' roll hard pounding than before...maybe because of the extra guitarist?  The one who stood out most to me was Pittman...he was bouncing and spinning around, and really in a groove...but everyone was spot on, and unbelievably talented...if this is a justification for such a delayed album (finding the right talent), than I think it's worth it...

THE CROWD

The biggest disservice Axl does at his shows, is waiting too long... (I know, quite the insight that has never been pointed out before!  ) Obviously not many are going to realize that when they arrive when the gates open, that it is going to be close to a 5 hour wait for the band...Once the original excitement died down, most people in my section and the section behind me stayed seated pretty much the entire time...I saw lots of yawns and, incredibly, two people asleep...or maybe passed out?  By the mid mark of the show, people were just burned out...which kinda took a bit of the excitement out of the building...obviously there was lots of applause after each song, but I was worried Axl was going to see how many were not reacting or leaving and cut the show short...I do concur though, that the fact people were leaving was not because of the band, but the time...

That is just the way it is, I personally think they should cut Helmet and SG, have a gates opening of  9:00, Bach @ 10:00, GnR on from 11-12...so at it's worse, its only a 3 hour wait for showtime...I think if they did that, the crowd energy would be MUCH better.

CONCLUSION

My respect for the new GnR changed radically after this concert...and my frustration for the 10+ year wait for the album somewhat (not fully, but somewhat) abided...if it took this long to put this amazing cast of musicians together, then it was worth it...although the "it will be out soon" we have been hearing for the last 5 or so years can not be forgiven (IMO)...I have been awaiting this album for years, and nearing the end of my rope (I even posted an outburst on another thread a few weeks ago but the thread quickly disappeared)...to me, this was worth the wait...I didn't wait all these years to see Axl sound like the VMA's with a bunch of second rate musicians...

In my opinion, it sucks that this tour is not promoting an album, but to me, in some ways what IS being promoted is more important...Axl is promoting the fact that yes, the wait has been long, but listen to what we are bringing to the table...we are going to clobber you with rock. I can't wait to see them again!

[Jim Bob]

nice review conjurer   I completely agree that this lineup is more talented than any previous lineup, and they fucking rock hard     chinese democracy will be worth the wait. 

[Scree]

Didn't see this posted after a quick search.

This is quite amusing:

http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/06/12/14/100loc_a1strip001.cfm

Strip show came as a surprise
Guns N' Roses' opening act gives a risque performance at the Everett Events Center.

By David Chircop
Herald Writer

Sherryl Kenney wasn't expecting Disney On Ice when she attended the Guns N' Roses show Sunday at the Everett Events Center.

But she wasn't expecting pierced and tattooed Goth women stripping down to G-strings and pasties and slathering each other with chocolate syrup, either.

"I've been to a lot of hard-core rock 'n' roll concerts, and they certainly don't start with strip acts," said the 45-year-old Lynnwood woman who shelled out $75 to attend the show Sunday night.

Since November, Suicide Girls, a burlesque troupe of women who model for the online erotica site www.suicidegirls.com, has opened for Guns N' Roses on its North American tour.

A phone call and an e-mail to the Suicide Girls' public relations contact in West Hollywood were not immediately returned.

Kenney said the Everett performance included seductive dancing and simulated sex acts as well as nearly naked women licking chocolate syrup off each other.

While the Suicide Girls were listed on event fliers, parental warnings of adult content were not.

Even so, were the scantily clad dancers pushing the envelope for a Guns N' Roses show, a band known for pioneering "sleaze rock"?

Yes, said Kenney, who decided to "boo loudly" at the dancers.

She said her objections to the nudity prompted members of the audience to lash out by shoving her.

"If I was outside stripping in front of children, I'd go to jail," Kenney said Tuesday, her voice still hoarse from the concert. "If they want to be sleazy, that's fine. But you better card everybody going through the door."

That didn't happen at the all-ages show.

It isn't clear whether the performance was in violation of city ordinances regulating adult cabaret performances.

City rules require businesses with nude or sexually oriented entertainment to obtain licenses and to follow strict rules, including barring the admission of minors to shows.

Global Spectrum, the Comcast-Spectacor subsidiary that manages the publicly owned Events Center, issued the following statement Wednesday:

"The support acts performing with Guns N' Roses are part of a national tour. As Operators of the facility, we don't control the content of the artists' performances."

Tammi Bryant Olson, Global Spectrum's director of marketing in Everett, said her office received about 10 complaints following the show.

The complaints are being forwarded to Guns N' Roses' management, tour promoters and the Everett Facilities District's five-member board of directors.

The special facilities district owns the ice rink and the arena, and oversees the conference center for Everett.

Earl Dutton, president of the district, was among the 5,300 people who attended the Sunday concert.

Dutton, 79, caught the Suicide Girls performance but left his executive suite at the arena well before the 11:40 p.m. appearance of Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose. That was way past his bedtime.

While he was shocked by the dance number, which he said was in "bad taste," Dutton said he thinks it would likely fall under protected speech if put to a decency test.

"A bunch of ladies got up on the stage that didn't have much on," he said. "As far as the upper part is concerned, I don't know because my eyesight isn't that good anymore. Damn it."

Kenney filed a complaint with the Everett Police Department, alleging she was assaulted by spectators who pushed her. Everett police are investigating.

Reporter David Chircop: 425-339-3429 or dchircop@ heraldnet.com.

[Scree]

For those that don't want to read it all.. the part that had me laughing was the 79 year old stating:

"A bunch of ladies got up on the stage that didn't have much on," he said. "As far as the upper part is concerned, I don't know because my eyesight isn't that good anymore. Damn it."

[Chief]

hahah that is pretty good. its too bad he was lame and left even before GNR started! he should have gotten more sleep the night before!

[Scree]

hahah that is pretty good. its too bad he was lame and left even before GNR started! he should have gotten more sleep the night before!

Ya.. the fact a 79 year old bought a ticket was cool tho

[GNR4L]

Yeah that lady needs to chill out you know what the Suicide Girls where advertised for atleast a month in a half advance, she should of done her homework.  Assault cause some one pushed her lol man I got pushed about 10 times and im not saying a word its a Rock Show.


Hightlights of my time at the show.

- Yelling at that lady

- Watching Axl Scream Do You Know Where The Fuck You Are

- Watching Axl Dance during Mr. Brownstone ( there where a couple of hot ladies by me and they where loving it)

- November Rain man what a song live

- Rocket Queen Axl Sounded Great

I hope they come back to Everett, Seattle this summer.

[Adam_Guill]

hahahahhahahahahahaha

"oooh, i was at the rock show and someone pushed me for booing.

waaah

i was barely able to hobble my children, for whom i feel almost nothing, to soccer practice the next day before returning home to give my white collar husband 48 seconds of unsatisfying sex while yapping on about the view.

boo hoo

i'm going to write angry letters to try and get the entire state of washington arrested because i have nothing better to do with my time whilst awaiting the next exciting dan browne novel to come out."


hahaha, sweet zombie jesus. lady, i love you, and i'm going to shit on your children. thank you and goodnight

[sofine11]

Ya know, a metal concert isnt a place I'd reccomend to people who are easily offended. ?These people have serious issues.

[snead hearn]

"A bunch of ladies got up on the stage that didn't have much on," he said. "As far as the upper part is concerned, I don't know because my eyesight isn't that good anymore. Damn it." 

79 years old. God bless that old f**ker. 

Hmmm, yet again, someone has a problem with the human body. But when Ol' Uncle Axl is dropping F bombs LIKETHISANDTHAT, then someone doesn't comment on it.

Man, that human body is such a dirty thing. Dirty Dirty Dirty.

[AxlisOld]

I think I saw that lady in the stands. To the right of the stage, she started booing, and the whole audience around her started chanting "We love tits! We love tits!" Fucking awesome.

[Scree]

Ya I found it online and posted it..  I'm guessing it was also in print?

[AxlisOld]

Was that the fat lady in the pink shirt? When she started booing, everyone around her started chanting we love tits or something?

[dallasgel]

That old-timer is so awesome

[victoriacanucker]

Oh man, yeah she was pathetic.

We all booed her ass real good, was good for a laugh. Did she get kicked out or just leave?

[jc524]

I remember that fucking lady!

Who else was waiting in the front of the line all day? That was some good times