Then I just hanged around Arena drinking beer and vodka (liquid rock spirit) and looking for the real fans (I mean the really freaky ones) there were few. I’m just ordinary fan but it is fun to watch the really crazy ones. The crowd was aged from baby to grandpa but I think that there were too many kids around.
The support band called Melrose started to play really late but anyway they were great too. Respects to Melrose’s singer Tokela who said in the end something like: “... ja kiitos suomalaiselle lehdistölle vuosien varrella saamastamme julkisuudesta...” (“... and thank you to Finish press for the publicity during these years...”) meaning that, Melrose is 20 years old band, a really good one and Finish press haven’t write about them at all.
So, after Melrose had played their set, started the long waiting for the main event. I read Wednesday night review wrote by Juha that they had started to play about 22.45. I went to floor about 21.20 and I was calm. People around was calm too. Along waiting people started to yell, shout, cheer and scream. In the lower and upper levels people was stomping floor and making waves. It was great and during the show Axl said that: “...I heard you stomping your feet...”.
At 22.50 lights went out and the Arena roof flied to the sky. First the intro and then: “Do you know where you are...” and if you have been there you know the rest. It was monumental!
The set list was almost same that Wednesday night, I think. They didn’t play My Michelle but they played 4 new songs and those were all great.
Band was really having fun on the stage. They were smiling a lot and throwing soft toys across the stage.
Axl was congratulating Mantia family about the baby. He talked few times and most of them were about how great it is to be in Finland and how great the audience was. Of course Axl mentioned the Sweden incident and whole time playing Out Ta Get Me there where little bit like “Fuck You Sweden feeling in the air” and for a reason. That felt awesome.
Axl still have the same great dance moves as in “the good old times” and his voice is the same or maybe even better.
Pyro effects were awesome especially in Live And Let Die. I mean the stage was EXPLODING and on FIRE.
In the end of Knockin’ On Heavens Door Axl put the crowd to sing and o’ boy we sang.
Set list, about. (Times in the list are times when I took a picture or video clip, just to get about order for the songs)
Welcome To The Jungle
It's So Easy
Mr. Brownstone
Live And Let Die
Better
Robin Finck Guitar Solo (Finlandia hymn)
Sweet Child O' Mine
Knockin’ On Heavens Door
Dizzy Piano Solo (Don’t you ever leave me)
The Blues
You Could Be Mine
Richard Solo
Richard & Robin Guitar Solo (Beautiful)
Out Ta Get Me
November Rain
Think About You
Bumblefoot Guitar Solo (Don't Cry)
IRS
Patience
Nightrain
Encore:
Madagascar
Robin solo #2
Paradise City
The End Bow
There were also few jam sessions.
Mr. Finck played Finlandia hymn in one of his solo
Mr. Reed played “Don’t you ever leave me” by Hanoi Rocks on his solo and people sang along
Mr. Finck and Mr. Fortus played Beautiful in their solo
Mr. Thal played Don’t Cry on his solo and people sang along
In the end of the show, end of Paradise City the crowd went crazy. The band was rocking and jamming, there was pyros, they were shooting red, white and blue chaff in the air, lights and strobes was flashing. Axl throwed his mic in the crowd. Some lucky one got it. The show ended about at 1.20.
Well, I can’t tell you everything. You have to see it yourself. If you are still doubting, is the Guns n’ Roses still the same Guns n’ Fucking Roses, stop that you MF and Get In The Ring MF
See you next time, KONDE.
