Here Today... Gone To Hell!

According to the Starland Ballroom website, VR will play a New Years Eve show in Sayreville, NJ this year! Tickets ($100 + fees) go on sale through Ticketmaster this Saturday, November 26 at noon. An all-ages to enter, 21 to drink event. Ticket includes open bar from 8:00 - 9:30, champagne toast at midnight for those 21 and over, plus party favors, continental breakfast and more!

http://www.starlandballroom.com/events/#1516

credit belowempty-vr

alright, so who is going?  I might actually be there.

I will be there you can count on that! : ok:

I was at the starland show last year and was shocked they chose to play such a small venue but that was way before they became huge now they are HUGE and its new years eve! It's going to be insane! I just hope I can get my 2 tickets! Last year they sold out in 8mins. This year problably in under 4mins!

Starland Ballroom holds like 100 people :hihi:  Tickets will go FAST.

I'd go but I don't have the 100 bucks for a ticket. :-\

I might be back in jersey for new years I am not sure yet.  My friends invited me up to boston, but if my brother wants to go to VR I might very well do that. 

I know $100 seems like a lot but it is worth every penny! anyone who is a fan and is from the area has to go! When will you see VR in such a small venue on new years again! And who knows they may even play some new songs and we'll be the 1st to hear it!

I am curious to see how this open bar works haha.  I bet you get one drink in that 1 and a 1/2 hour span. 

Wow... sounds like it will be quite the party.  Small venue shows are amazing!!  Hope everyone who attends takes a lot of pictures and posts of their many adventures one or two days later (taking hang overs into account :))

to me that is not expesive at all.. When you love an artist or artists and it's that close with such a small crowd on new years eve I say why not?

depends on your age and how much money you make

maybe slash will hand out drinks :hihi:

$100 is inexpensive in my opinion... for example, a few weeks ago, U2 and Aerosmith rode through town, and tickets for a stadium show were more expensive than this.

Paying $100 for an up close, personal and interactive concert... talk about a bargin!!  I'd pay a lot more. 

Wish I lived closer.....oh well.  Small venues are great, if you can get the tickets.  I wonder why, of all places, they are playing there.  They were in Vegas last year.  Oh well, should be a good show!

I wonder if they'll play any new material. I hope they at least change the set list, playing the same songs every night has to get old eventually.

My girlfriend and I got our tickets! Fuck yeah!

That's great!  Have a good time!  I'd get tickets, as well, if I lived closer.  I heard it was already all sold out.  Is that true?

Sounds like you shall see an amazing show. Enjoy : ok:

I was able to get 2 tix!

I just got 2 tix..... I don't even know if I am gonna go but I figured what the hell......

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!  Starland is pretty much my second home.  The first time VR played there I couldn't get out of work, and this time I didn't have the money to get a ticket!!!  I have seen them in a small benue before, but still AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe they'll debut a new song?

NO, they should do nothing cool or surprising at this show.  Then I'll be kicking myself for not getting the money together to go.   :hihi:   I keep worrying that something really cool is gonna happen like Izzy showing up or something.  My damn brother kept trying to convince me that Axl is gonna show and play with them.  We all know that's not gonna happen, but if something really cool and unexpected happens I'm gonna be pissed.

"I just got 2 tix..... I don't even know if I am gonna go but I figured what the hell......"


Hey tomass74, if you are unable to go are you willing to sell me your tickets? Let me know... Thanks!

Ill post if Im gonna get rid of them..

Thanks.

I think they still have tix now anyway...

"I think they still have tix now anyway..."

Serious? I read somewhere (here?) that the venue only holds like 500 people, and that, when they played at the same place before, that they sold out in minutes. I figured the same would happen this time, and haven't even bothered to look yet...

Starland is small, but not that small.  It holds a few thousand at the most.  The last time VR played there they totally over-booked the place and it was packed from wall to wall.  It did sell out in a matter of minutes.  Me and my brother got on line outside before the place opened and got tickets.

Why is VR playing their New Year's Eve show in a Jersey club and NOT in Duff n' Scott's NYC club Snitch?? :confused:

I think it's a bar with a limited capacity....

But I've never been there, so I'm not 100% sure.




/jarmo

Because Jersey is where its at, that's why.  Slash & Duff know.   : ok:

I wouldnt be surprised if they previewed a new song...

with all of the problems with NYC clubs (CBGB, Castle Heights, L'amour, Knitting Factory, etc.) almost ALL of the touring bands now who play clubs go to either Starland or the Borgata.  Starland is a great venue for bands to play at.  I remember back in the day I saw Soulfly there when it was still the Hunka Bunka Ballroom.  I encourage everyone to check out a show at Starland sometime. 

Right on, man.  Starland is my absolute favorite place to see a show.  Its a great venue.  I've seen more shows there than I can count.

I think Starland is more on par with Roseland Ballroom, Hammerstein Ballroom etc. Places that fit 2000-3000 people. Those places you listed are really small I believe. Roseland Ballroom is cool but Starland is a lot more intimate. You are so close to the band no matter where you stand!

Actually you are very right on that.  I listed those clubs because I know they are all having a lot of trouble nowadays and I know it is one reason why bands go to NJ now instead when touring.  There was an article in the Asbury Park Press a few months ago that discussed why bands are now going to the Starland to play as opposed to NYC. 

I know the bands/managers really like the staff of the Starland.  I remember them mentioning that security there is one of the best around.  But they also mention that it is becoming more and more difficult to play in NYC because the venues demand so much of the merch revenues.  (For those that don't know, clubs usually take a good chunk of merch sales).  I may be wrong on this one, but I think Starland gives the bands 100% of their merch revenues which is unheard of. 

Anyways, its a great venue and people should check it out. 

If you think the Staland's samll, you've never been to Snitch, that place is tiny, maybe 300 people tops

Since they announced it so late, i think those place in NYC were also already booked

i've been checking ticketmaster every other day or so, and sometimes there's no tix available and other times they are available. right now they are, i'm just trying to find a friend to go with. it's about an hour drive from my house (philly) and i don't feel like making the drive solo.

based on their website, i'm guessing Top-Hatted One is correct....probably holds about 2-3K people.

for anyone that has actually been to the starland, can you compare it to a venue in philly?  i'm guessing it's in line with the electric factory - which holds about 2K.

i actually saw VR at the EF back in 2004....incredible. so i was hoping this place would be even smaller. but either way, VR on new year's eve is gonna kick ass!!

Sandman, Starland is actually a little smaller than the Electric Factory.  Starland probably holds 2,000 max, but I've been to both and EF definitely holds more.  I was also at that VR show at Electric Factory...great friggin' show.  My friends and I actually bought fake tickets and almost didn't get in the show.  I prefer Starland though, its a bit smaller and intimate like someone's already mentioned.

thanks for the info!  : ok:

sounds like it will be an awesome time. i can't believe you can go on ticketmaster and still get tix. i'm still waiting to hear back from my buddy....i may just buy em.

F those scalpers, man. i actually bought fake tix in philly for the eagles-bucs nfc champ game a few years ago. 3 tix for $600 total. and they had the wrong date. luckily, the game was at the vet and they didn't have electronic scanners. we circled the entire stadium until we found a ticket taker that wasn't really looking at the tix. and the three of us split up a bit in line. LUCKILY, we got in. and our friends had season tix in the last row where there was extra room to stand. worked out great, except the birds loss, of course.

I think I read on the website that the place holds 3,000 people... The ticket also comes with open bar for an hour and a half.. That should be fun having 3,000 people fight for free drinks...

you're right, you'll probably be lucky to get 1 free drink.

i finally decided to skip the show. over an hour drive, and i'd be away from the family on new year's....already did that once (in dec. 2001).

Nice way to spend NYE!  :yes:

Yeah, those Philly scalpers are dicks.  Me and three friends bought tickets.  Me and one friend got in, and my other two friends didn't get in.  They went looking for the guy who sold us them so they could whopp his ass, but they couldn't find him.  Then they decided to try to get in again and this time they got in.  Looking back it was pretty obvious the tickets were fake though.  They don't look very real.

It sucks doesn't it? Years ago Ticketmaster thought that they found a solution to scalpers by handing out wristbands. Damn scalpers even found a way around that!

You'd think if they were so damn crafty they'd just get jobs.  I guess its easier to just illegally sell tickets tough.  Now the bootleg t-shirt guys...they rock.  There's nothing like getting a badass tour shirt for 10 bucks.

I always say the same thing about people who start a computer virus. :-\

damn, wish I could be  there  :-[

I heard the show was fucking awesome... Hot as hell but rocking : ok:

Best new year ever. The band kicked ass though the show could've been a bit longer. Maybe I'm just spoiled by memories of 3 hour G N' R shows from the 90's. My girlfriend and I were right in front of Slash about three people back. It was awesome to be so close to the stage (5 or 6 ft?). Everyone made it over to that side for a bit so we got to see the band up close. It sucks that some people were being assholes in the pit area behind us, but that always happens. I'm not against people dancing in the pit or crowd surfing... just be respectful of the other people around you. No one likes to get crushed. Overall the crowd in NJ is better than NYC for rock shows... people in NYC always act 'too cool' to really get into it.

I knocked one of Matts drum sticks out the air and my girlfriend caught it. She's stoked because she just started playing drums and felt it was a good omen. I snagged one of Duffs picks off the floor but gave it to a dude in front of me since he really seemed to want it and we just scored the drumstick. He was grateful and shook my hand when I gave him the pick, I think he was expecting me to keep it for myself.

Slash played his sig guitars for most of the show. He used a couple of BC Rich guitars (Sucker Train Blues and Sex Type Thing). For Fall To Pieces he pulled out the old 80's Standard with the three piece top. For Slither he played his tobacoo burst Norlin and then proceeded to whip it around on the strap and smash it into the mic stand towards the end of song.

Oh yeah... there was several bar locations in the club, so we both got a lot of free drinks.

 :beer:

Any surprises in the setlist?

Nope. It was pretty much the usual songs from the last tour. Still, being so close to the band is worth it. The last time I saw them at Roseland we stood back a bit to stay out of the mayhem. This time we were in the thick of it all.
 
: ok:

how did the band look?

Setlist, Atlantic City:

Sucker Train Blues
Do it For The Kids
Headspace
Superhuman
Crackerman
Illegal I Song
Fall To Pieces
Dirty Little Thing
Big Machine
It's So Easy
Sex Type Thing
Set Me Free
Wish You Were Here
You Got No Right
Mr. Brownstone
Slither


Setlist, Sayreville:

Sucker Train Blues
Do it For The Kids
Headspace
Superhuman
Crackerman
Illegal I Song
Fall To Pieces
Dirty Little Thing
Big Machine
It's So Easy
Sex Type Thing
Set Me Free
Mr. Brownstone
Slither

A review from sludge.

Hey! Happy New Year's 2006, everyone! Hope you all had a good time partying it up!

So, I went to the Velvet Revolver New Year's Eve show at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey. As you all know, I was extremely excited - so since I know you guys have short timespans, I'll keep my review as short as possible!   

The doors opened at 8 -- the band didn't come on until the ball dropped at midnight. That's right -- I waited four hours. They had these dancers inbetween dancing to 80's rock songs (Crue, Warrant, Aerosmith, Great White, etc etc), and like the loyal Sludger I am, I rocked out to the songs.

So when the ball dropped, Velvet Revolver took the stage. I was right up front on Slash's side and as soon as "Sucker Train Blues" began, the crowd surged forward. I couldn't breathe so I had this kid I became friendly with get security to pull me out. I was the first one out and I was ushered over to the right, now probably four feet from the stage. I still had a great view, though.

The setlist was short! They played from 12-1:30ish... nothing special about the set at ALL. I still had an incredible time, though. Slash jumped up on these cabinet things, sat down and I reached out and touched his shoe and his leather-clad leg. I DIED. Duff McKagan also came over my way and saw me and smiled a couple of times. When Scott came over in that direction, I was so mesmerized. He's beautiful up close.

Slash is a really little guy!! I don't know what you guys are saying about him getting fat and all; he is the tiniest thing ever! He's clearly not photogenic these days because I was so close to him and wow, yeah.

Overall, on a scale from 1-10, 1 being the lowest:
Crowd ettiquite: -395020
Setlist: 7
Energy: 10

I still had a great time though and I feel like I wasn't even there... and I got some great pictures too!

Anyone else go? Happy 2006!!

I'm guessing the reviewer is female  ;D

November Rain  :hihi:

Awesome show.. That was the 5th time I saw them and the energy was definately the highest of them all.. I almost didn't go but am glad I did... 

a little too much drunken energy which is why i left the front and moved back where people were actually watching the band and not trying to kill others. This was my 7th VR show and by far the most unbearable with all the pushing and moshing so it wasn't worth getting tossed around as I'm trying to watch the band. The setlist was originally longer. i looked at it and it was the same as the night before in Atlantic City but the venue choose to make us wait 4 hours so VR had to cut it short in order to obey the 1:30 curfew. YGNR & Wish You Were Here were on the setlist but didn't get played so they went with the energetic songs to appease the moshing lunatics

I think it was VR that wanted to wait until midnight...   Anyway, I was one of the drunken moshing lunatics... Just for one song anyway.  I was up pretty close most of the time and don't mind getiing knocked around.  At one point though I ended up in the pit, it was actually during It's So Easy.  I have never seen it that nuts at a VR show.. I mean people were straight up slam dancing like a Slayer show or something..

7 times? I have only seen them twice. First time in Sweden and the second time in Scotland.

Good review. But I think the setlists were pretty boring.

I think when you see a new band alot of times you are going to be let down by the setlist eventually.. So many people see bands once or twice per album lets say so everything is usually new to most out there... For whatever reason I doubt they will play anything new until the next album is about out..... I'm just glad they are staying busy and having a blast..  Happy to everyone that had a blast... I would have been so tanked by the time they came out... Kind of like myself at msg with new gnr and jones beach with vr this spring..

Yeah, I pretty much agree with you.

But they could have done the setlist better if they picked some other/more songs from "Contraband" and skipped some covers.

yeah they could have tossed in loving the alien or did some other covers but it seems like they just aren't going to switch until something comes out..  You know I could se afd gnr life a million times and never get tired of it.. Give me ritz 88 ten times over...

Hopefully the album will be sooner then later and they start introducing new material

I agree.

That's MY review! Haha, and yes I am a girl.  ;D

thats because seeing them over and over in 1988 is unrealistic and something you can only dream of. If you were seeing them all the time in 1988 you would problem start complaining about the setlist too and asking for new songs and disappointed that they didn't play Don't Cry at your show.

I really can't wait until they come back with new songs!

I guess but I must have listened to afd a billion times without getting tired of it, one of the few albums I can really say that about..  Also if I saw gnr on say the afd tour I can only expect so much during that one tour

I actually thought that was Daves review before "When Scott came over in that direction, I was so mesmerized. He's beautiful up close."
I checked his profile one more time and finally I saw it's from sludge  :D

Haha! Yeah, I was completely hypnotized by Scott. I mean... wow. You know when you're speechless and you sort of stand there? That happened to me. It also happened when Duff came over. I couldn't even lift my camera because I was just like, "WHOA." I got "used" to Slash being there for so long -- he stayed in the same place pretty much the whole time.

But Scott. Holy dear God.  :drool: