Guns n' Roses Reunion: All Killer, No Filler (Seriously)

Written By Allyson B. Crawford

Here's a review in three parts. I attended the second night of the big Guns n' Roses reunion in Las Vegas. Attending with me were my husband Eric, Heather (her husband skipped the show but did everything else with us!), Kari, Brian, Christian and Johnnie Vrana. If you've been around BBG! for awhile, then all these names should be familiar to you. I joked that the weekend was my BBG! family reunion. All in all, it was just a great weekend with friends and great music. And it wasn't all about GnR. I also saw Britney Spears - (don't laugh, her residency is amazing) and Sebastian Bach with the Sin City Sinners.

On Thursday night, we all went out to eat and did some gambling. I even met longtime reader EddieLongHair - he and his wife went to the Friday gig. It was great to meet them both!

Heather and I, along with our husbands, saw Britney Friday night. It was all hits. The show started at 9:30 on the dot and went until 11. It was hit after hit and hard core dancing in heels. I loved it. Sure Britney Spears doesn't sing live - but I'm paying for the spectacle and I got it. Highly recommend if you like dance music.

After the show, Eric and I hopped in an Uber and traveled across town to Vamp'd to meet up with Kari to see Sin City Sinners and Sebastian Bach. It was just $10 and that included a drink, so really cheap. It was after 12 by the time I got to the venue and Sin City Sinners had already started. They sounded just okay. The real draw was Bach of course and the place was pretty full. Sebastian came out and did five songs, including a Rose Tattoo cover. He mentioned being excited for Saturday night and Guns n' Roses. I told Kari this meant he was joining the band on the stage for a song. She said I was nuts. Nope. I was right.

 

Ok, so while I was at dinner and then Britney Spears, Brian and Christian were standing in line for the barrier to the first night of Guns n' Roses. They bought tickets on the resale market for this extra night.

I must admit I was less than pleased when Kari looked at her phone Friday afternoon and announced Axl broke his foot. All of us just sort of stared at each other, waiting for horrible news that the show was canceled or something. Nope - the show went on and Axl was great, even perched on a throne in a cast.

Here's Christian's review:

I travelled from Australia to Las Vegas for three days to see Guns n Roses. On the first night, I was on the floor, on the Slash side, 2 people from the barrier. I had seats the second night. I have previously seen Axl's GnR (I found it boring) and Slash (I loved his solo stuff). Myles Kennedy did a great job, but it was nothing like this. For the first 5 songs I just kept looking from Axl to Slash to Duff, wondering if it was real.

During "Live and Let Die," as it takes off, Axl lets out a scream that blew my mind the first time. He's never sounded better. Duff looked like he was having a ball, and Slash was just Slash, playing great and looking like rock personified. Axl was seated of course, but he was still animated. Some moments, like November Rain, seemed orchestrated to create the money shot of the three men together, but it never looked forced. Richard Fortus still took a few solos and put himself out there, there was no feeling he was made to feel pushed to the back.

I question the need for three dancing girls on stage, that just seemed superfluous. The first night started at midnight, which was murder, but what band gives fans over 2 1/2 hours of show time in 2016? Overall, this was a once in a lifetime experience. Slash and Axl walked off together the first night. On the second, Axl made a dig about Fortus being in the band 15 years, Slash looked angry and they did not walk off together. My suggestion is, get to this before it implodes.

Here's Brian's review:

Having been lucky enough to attend both shows this past weekend, I can honestly say that I feel like I was able to be a part of something truly special.  This crowd was unlike any I have experienced before, because this meant so much to everyone there.  If you had a ticket for the show, it was because you needed to be there when it finally happened.  Tickets simply were not available to the casual fan who just wanted to go see a band that was in town.  Attendees had to sacrifice and work to make it happen.  Plane fare, hotel, ticket costs (including secondary markets), time away from your family…all sacrifices. 

I met people from all over the U.S. (Florida, New York, Wisconsin, Texas, New Jersey), and so many others who had travelled further (Australia, Peru, London, Canada, Japan).  It was an effort to be there, but it was also a privilege. The shows themselves where amazing.  A broken foot may have slowed down his movements, but Axl’s voice was dead-on all night.  But beyond that, the feel of the band was so much different than the Chinese Democracy line-up.  There really is something magical when those core three guys play together, and the difference is tangible.  It was clear walking out of the arena on that first night that GnR will once again be a stadium act. 

Certainly, everyone there was hoping for some form of an Appetite-era reunion with Izzy and Steven, even if only for a few songs.  That obviously did not happen, but from what I witnessed, NO ONE walked out the arena disappointed with any aspect of the show.  Axl, Slash and Duff accomplished what they needed to this past weekend.  They proved why they are worthy of all the hype and they delivered on the expectations of the fans that have waited 23 years for this to happen.  Long live GnR.

My review:

On Saturday night, we all went. Way back months ago, I was able to grab our tickets during the on-sale. It was some miracle, but I had six devices going. When I got through the virtual waiting room on my iPad, I just bought whatever the computer gave me. Turns out we were in a balcony, Slash's side. The new T-Mobile arena is beautiful but wow are the steps super steep! Literally EVERYONE commented on how steep they were up in the balcony. 

The beginning of the show was pretty anti-climatic. After all, there's no grand entrance when you have a broken foot. Stage hands just wheeled Axl out on stage and he said "Good evening" to the crowd and the band went to work. I felt a little sorry for him until I realized he was making millions of bucks for sitting on his throne while also wearing an emerald ring the size of my head. 

I was pleased that "Estranged" was so early in the set. "November Rain" was magical for me. My night also got "Don't Cry" which was not included Friday night. Of course we also got Sebastian Bach singing "My Michelle." Kari got so excited she almost passed out! After he sang, Bach went on a little rant about how GnR was back. The crowd loved it.

 

 

i agree with Christian that the dancing girls were pointless - it was too much like Motley Crue and after the first half of the set they just basically disappeared anyway. I also don't see the need for extra keyboardist Melissa Reese but that's just me. 

The Saturday show started at about 11:30 and went until 2:45 a.m or so. Seeing "Coma" live was something I didn't think would ever happen, but it makes sense to use the longer songs while Axl has to sit. All in all, it was one of the best concerts I've ever attended. I have to agree with Christian though: try to see this show early before it implodes. 

 

 

 

 

Allyson B. Crawford
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