Well, it didn't take long to hear either this time around.  After an hour wait, following a solid set by the revamped Alice in Chains, the house lights went down, then the opening riff of Jungle... followed by (in a wail that can only be done Axl) "YOU KNOW WHERE THE FUCK YOU ARE???????????"

 

The band tore into a blistering rendition that lit up the crowd, some of which had been there since 1pm watching the full festival.  Well, Axl and company was not going to let up one bit for the furiously pace first half hour.  Next came the timeless "It's So Easy", and the anthemic "Mr. Brownstone".  The sound was perfect, and the musicianship was flawless. 

 

Then came "Live and Let Die", and once again, not a single note was offkey.  Following a guitar solo, the band kicked it back up with "Sweet Child O' Mine".  Which then lead into another cover, which GnR has made "their own" Bob Dylan's "Knockin On Heaven's Door".  It was played a slightly different style than previous years, but sounded awesome nonetheless.  Concluding the wild first third of the show, was killer rendition of "You Could Be Mine".  All this time, (if you closed your eyes, you would not know that it's been over a decade since GnR ruled the world).  While Axl has aged a little bit, his voice certainly has NOT.  He was running around the stage with the same vigor and ferocity he had back in the late 80s - mid 90s.

 

To the young crowd, he was no longer a myth, he really existed.  To the older crowd, it was about time he righted the GnR ship and put them back on course to possibly kick ass in again in the coming year.

 

The next chunk of the show did not flow as well, as the first third.  Mixing in some newer songs, and several band "jams".  At this point, Axl lost some of the younger as many are not accustomed to seeing solos and jams any more.  Not to mention, everyone had been out in the 90 degree heat all day. 

 

Axl picked things back up with the help of Sebastian Bach (Skid Row, Damnocracy), and they ripped into the Appetite classic - "My Michelle".  Trading vocals, as if they were meant to have recorded the song that way.  After "IRS", they played "Nighttrain" and answered one from my "wishlist" with a killer version of "Rocket Queen".  I was not the only one who thought Axl's voice sounded better on this version than the recorded version.

 

To close this 2 hour set, they played another new track, "Madagascar", and closed with the timeless classic: "Paradise City", which concluded with the trademark "Goooood............... FUCKING................ Night" and Axl launched the microphone 50 rows deep.  I will never forget seeing them at Farm Aid in the late 80s and Axl saying that, and Dick Clark (studio host's reaction): "Oh my............."  So much so, that if you look in the liner notes of Use Your Illusion, he is thanked as Dick F-ing Clark.

Couple of other observations:

- Axl looked fit and sounded GREAT, and worked the stage like no one else.  He was spritning from side to side, going up and down the side ramps too.  Never sounded winded, even after playing for 2 hours.  So, to all the naysayers after the MTV appearance in '02 - "Take that one to heart - yowza".

 

- It would be cool if they could add Civil War to the setlist, it's an amazing song, and is still relevant today, both lyrically and musically.

 

- I thought there were a few too many band jams, and they lost the audience a little at times.  Especially the younger ones who are not used to seeing this kind of live show...  This was a true rock arena show, which very few current bands can do in this day ans age of downloaded one hit albums.

 

- There are a few rumoured Late Night Talk show appearances while they are in the Southern California area, maybe this will be when they announce a release date?  He has claimed over and over it will be out this year.  Well, it's just about October, time is running out for that claim.

 

- Richard Fortus looks and plays so much like Izzy that it's scary.

 

- This show blew away the one I saw in 1991, which is amazing to be that much better 15 years later!

 

- For all of your GnR fans that put up with all the delays, rumours over the last decade or so, it's cool that you have stuck with them.  Let's hope the new album lives up to the hype, even part of it!!!!!

 

DJ