About 15 minutes later, Papa Roach came on. They did pretty good as well. They put on a good show. They played for about the same time.
So those going to the Halifax show may get a surprise visit from Mr.Bach (that is if your into him or Skid Row if not it doesn't matter 'cause it's not about him) Nobody knows what happened but after 7 songs he was like "they told me I had to play more that we had planned" and ask for request from the crowd 'cause they didn't know what to play. Of course this started rumors and jokes about Axl not showing and other stupid coments but the show went on and Mr. Bach and company left the stage around 9:30pm.
Then Papa Roach took the stage around 10:00pm. At this time I took a "break" cause my ears were ringing so bad from Bach's performance and i'm not into Papa Roach (although they sounded great) I returned to my seat for Last Resort and that song rocked the house. They left stage around 10:50 pm. And then the anticipation built even more. The crowd started to packed the floor and seats.
At 11:30pm, the venue which was half full for the previous performers, looked as if it had cloned the people already there cause it's was packed. Around 15,000 fans showed up for the first GNR gig ever on the island. It was around 12:00am when the lights went down, a chinese type of music played and the crowd went nuts when the riffs of Jungle were heard. Needless to say what happened when Axl appeared, it was like opening Pandora's Box unleashing 20 years of anticipation, hope, anger and every other feeling imaginable. I've been waiting my whole life for this moment that I tought was never going to happened even more when I traveled to DC in 2002 and the tour was cancelled. But It was really happening and it was more that I could have ever imagine.
Axl sounded great and was full of energy along with every bandmate. Did I mention Axl sounded great? Well, Axl sounded and looked fucking great. The best frontman ever. He wasn't short of breath, he was hitting every note and was dancing around stage with he's trademark moves. The band was tight as if they had been together for ever and the chemistry showed.
Halfway through "Used to love Her", Axl started ponting to security that something was wrong in the crowd that were jammed in the open floor. Some tought that it was someone with a camera taking pictures but actually there were two people passed out. Axl was really pissed 'cause it took security a long time to deal with the situation. At this point Axl was talking to security in the middle of the song saying "this is ridiculous, does anybody hear me, do I have to go down there? just pull them out of there goddamn it". Then, after the song, someone in the front of the crowd was screaming something to Axl and he was like "what?, hey man you can scream as loud as you want but I don't hear you" and ask security to get the message wich they reply with no answer to Axl. This is funny because Axl was like " what, you don't understand it either? This is fucking ridiculous" and then reply "well, I don't know what you want but my answer to you my friend is... Patience" and the crowd went crazy as the band started playing the song. While all of this was happening security handed out bottles of water to the crowd. Even Robin Finck joined in throwing bottles into the pit.
Axl's rant:
This is funny because it's been a long time since we had heard Axl lashed at someone. Even he said "it's been a long time since I have done this, but like all good things it must come to an end" He was talking about the people who are writting in the internet or wherever, negative stuff about him and the band. He said " I don't have anything against bootlegers or that's stuff 'cause I have come to terms with that but it's funny how some kid in Iowa or whereever the fuck it's bitching about we doing this and that. Oh they change the setlist is it beacuse the band doesn't know this song or that one, or the band didn't sound that good, Axl was this and that, bla bla bla and then we have every other little paper or site writing the same shit that a fucking kid that never comes to a show is bitching about ". And then concluded "Anyways, I just want to shove it up there asses. We don't care about those things we just want to have a good time right here, right now with you guys" Then they played "Roquet Queen" saying "this is for you motherfuckers".
The setlist was similar to the past shows for maybe the exception that for the encore they played "Madagascar" and "Paradise City. No "Chinese Democracy" and as mentioned before they played "Rocket Queen". Also, they included footage of parts of Puerto Rico in the visuals for "Madagascar" which had the crowd into the new song.
Anyways, it was a great show and I really recommend everyone who has the chance to go and see them. Don't be dragged down by stupid comments about Axl not showing or about the sound of his voice or the band's. I'm telling you this 'cause I did. I didnt' knew what to expect after reading some posts and hearing some downloaded performances. If you liked those, you are going to love them live 'cause they sound twenty times better. But don't just take my word for it, go and see them for yourself, you are not going to be dessappointed in any way.
Peace out!
A very satisfied fan from Puerto Rico
