Axl worth the wait (Hamilton article)

[Spirit]

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.


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

[IvayloSC]

5 500 ?    FUCK C A N A D A ! ! !

[willow]

5 500 ?    FUCK C A N A D A ! ! !

Its a small venue man.

[ppbebe]

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

His striped shirt was unbuttoned enough to show a large crucifix guarding his chest hairs

what?!!

[faldor]

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.

[ppbebe]

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.

[Fingers]

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

[MYWIFEMYLIFE]

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 

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

[BFD]

5 500 ?    FUCK C A N A D A ! ! !

Its a small venue man.

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.

[juadlu]

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.

[thesloth]

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. 

[draguns]

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.

[Nightfall]

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

[F*ck Fear]

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.

[draguns]

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.

[Nightfall]

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!

[draguns]

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.

[One.In.A.Million]

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

[IKnowWhereIAM]

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?

[Lesley]

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.