Here's my review;
The Suicide girls came out at 8PM, quite possibly the most entertaining opening act I've ever seen at a show. I'm kicking myself for not catching the act at the Night Gallery when I had a chance. Helmet next, finally get to see Page Hamilton and company. Opened with Unsung, played Wilma's Rainbow and closed with In the Meantime. Vocals were fine but that material does not come across in an arena, even when you're up close. Too much space, too much air, the guitars were not heavy enough to do the riffs justice. Love that band, just happy that I finally got to see them.
Sebitchian Bach, very fun to watch since he was so comical and full of energy. He played 3 new songs which weren't that bad except for the line "cruising down the avenue with my first in the air!". The slow number was alright. He played up the whole Canadian thing a bit much. Heavier set than when I last saw him 2 years ago in a small club, but that's probably due to having two of Rob Halford's guys with him. Oh yeah, that guitar tandem have to be the ugliest combo I've ever seen on stage but they could play. Did every Skid Row song you wanted to hear, no complaints.
11:45PM and the lights drop, the noise was deafening. I was suprised, the guy hasn't put out a proper new album since September 1991 and hasn't toured Canada since 1993 but here we are in a sold out Saddledome and people were losing their minds.
The band is simply incredible, complete professionals. I've been a huge GNR fan since Appetite was released when I was 14 years old, Slash and Izzy were my favorite members but I simply did not care that I wasn't watching the original lineup. Axl wrote a bulk of the material, owns the name and he's found some amazing musicians to back him up. Get over it. I had no idea that Robin Finck was that talented, the new stage persona was entertaining and his playing was jaw dropping. The sound crew had his guitar way up in the mix everytime he played a solo and it crushed everytime. He nailed eveything. I had no idea he was that good. But like a friend mentioned, he's spent his career playing for Trent Reznor and Axl Rose, a couple of control freak perfectionists. The guy has to be good.
Axl came across quite well, talked to the crowd a bit and held back on the bull**** ranting he was known for in the day. Stopped the show for a bit out of concern for those against the barricade and thanked everyone for coming out. Starting the show that late was bull**** and achieved nothing but wear people out and make them tired for work the next day. But if he brings the show to town once every 13 years then I guess you have to put up with it, besides you can't expect an insane millionaire ******* to relate to the working man who has to be up at 5AM on weekdays.
In my opinion the new material sounds very relevant, I've heard all of the demos for Better, IRS, Madagascar and The Blues and loved them. Especially "Better", one of the most effective and catchy songs I've heard in a long time. Great show, well worth the money and actually got me excited to be watching a rock band again.
Setlist;
Jungle
Easy
Brownstone
Live and let die
Better
Robins solo
Sweet child
You could be mine
Piano jam / dizzy
Blues
Heavens door
Richards solo /richard and robin "hendrix bonanza
Out to get me
Piano jam ax
November rain
Rocket queen
Liquor and whores with bubbles
Irs
Bumbles solo / canadian anthem / yyz/ don't cry
My michelle with bach
Used to love her
Patience
Night train
Chinese
Madagascar
Paradise
Last edited by Engine09; 12-08-2006 at 06:47 PM.
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saw them last year...
