Review at Canoa Jam! Music, January 14, 2010:
Concert Review: Guns N' Roses
MTS Center, Winnipeg - January 13, 2010
By DARRYL STERDAN - QMI Agency
WINNIPEG - There might be better ways to kick off your 2010 concert schedule.
But right off the bat, I can't think of any. Guns N' Roses' Wednesday night show at Winnipeg's MTS Center wasn't just the first date of the band's latest North American tour. It was also their first concert in these lands (and only their fifth performance overall) since the release of Chinese Democracy in 2008.
And although Axl Rose had us all waiting nearly two decades for the album, and another year and a half to tour, by the time he took the stage, just after 10:40 pm, all was forgiven. Backed by their latest iteration of GN'R - guitarists Richard Fortus, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal and DJ Ashba, keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman, drummer Frank Ferrer and bassist Tommy Stinson (ex-The Replacements) - the 47-year-old musician The singer treated 7,500 fans to a fiery (in every sense of the word) three-hour set that ended at 1:30 am and repeatedly rewarded fans (along with almost everyone in his backing band) for their loyalty and patience to the along the way. Here's how it went down:
chinese democracy
After the intro music builds up the tension in the dark, one of the guitarists - not sure who's who yet - is lit up as he kicks off the opening chord riff. As the band springs into action and Axl snarls the first verse, sparks resonate across the stage and we get our first look at him. He's wearing a black fedora over a red bandana, a pair of thin glasses, well-worn jeans, and a striped work shirt open to his belly to frame a large silver crucifix. Oh, and he has a mustache! It's halfway between pirate, biker, bandit and Morgan Spurlock. Kind of weird. But at least he lost the dreadlocks or cornrows or whatever they were. When Axl laments the final worlds, "All I have is precious time!" there is an explosion of pyrotechnics and the lights disappear, leaving you lit from behind. Two points for a killer opening.
Welcome to the Jungle
As another guitarist (still mentoring me there) works the petty little riff, Rose jumps the gun and goes, "do you know where you are? You're in the jungle, baybeee!" line. In fact, it's more like we're at the circus - and not just because percussion bombs and fireworks are exploding in time with the music. The stage itself is a huge structure with three walkways - in fact, it's so wide that it extends beyond the first five rows of stands on either side. It's covered in some sort of black vinyl or fabric and lined with glow-in-the-dark tape - seen from above, it almost looks like one of those chubby Keith Haring figures with their circular hands in the air. The circular theme is carried throughout the set. There is a cat's eye shaped drum riser at center stage, with a lighted ladder going up and turning on either side. Behind that are two pods for the keyboard players. Hanging overhead is a series of concentric lighting trusses festooned with VariLights and wrapped in lighting curtains (or whatever you call them). More of these lighted curtains flank the stage, hanging in half columns in front of vertical lighting trusses and some of the many video screens around the venue. Say what you will about Axl, he does great things.
It is so easy
Another song from Appetite for Destruction. So far so good. Axl has already lost his fedora and sunglasses. He runs up to the microphone, grabs the stand and hurls it about 10 meters backwards to the drum lift. Just to make it clear he's not kidding I guess. I have to admit, he looks fit. Sure, he's a little beefier than he was 20 years ago. Who is not? But he didn't slow down. He's running from one end of the stage to the other and pumping his leg hard enough to make Angus Young look calm. More fireworks herald the end of the song.
Sr. Brownstone
"Meanwhile, back in the jungle," says Axl as Ferrer throws in a heavy tom-tom beat to accompany the rasping guitar riff. As Rose does that snake hip move he used to do back in the day, those circular lighting fixtures descend from the rafters at opposite angles. Interesting. Also interesting: every time there's an instrumental break or a solo - even if it's just for 30 seconds - Rose runs offstage. I'm not sure why, although it seems like he's making sure the rest of the band has time in the spotlight.
Shackler's Revenge
After a few pleasantries from Axl - including a simple "Nice to be here with you tonight" and a joke about the weather (which is actually unseasonably warm) - Chinese Democracy's electronic rock kicks into a groove. White spotlights begin to spin as if there has been a prison break, and the latticework of light separates into arcs and piles up on different levels. Between the eight guys flying around the stage and the show, there's plenty to grab (and distract) your attention.
Richard the Strong stood up
After introducing Fortus, Rose takes a walk while the Izzy Stradlin-style guitarist plays a vibrant guitar-rock instrumental reminiscent of James Bond and Peter Gunn themes. See what I mean about sharing the spotlight?
Live and Let Die
Flames and more grenades decorate and punctuate Paul McCartney's cover of Use Your Illusion. Axl has switched to a sleeveless shirt and the fedora is back. His rusty siren vocals are strong and he's hitting every note solidly, though the PA isn't doing him any favors - if he's not singing, you have to strain to hear him. After the song, bassist Stinson hurls some rage at a guy who apparently threw something at him. "Don't throw shit at me please; I'm gone!" He complains. I think he's had enough crap thrown at him on the mats to last him a lifetime. Anyway, he gets on the drums for the next song.
Sorry
This slow grinder isn't one of my favorite Chinese Democracy cuts, but guitarist Ashba (now that I can tell him apart from Fortus, I'm fine) serves up a blistering solo.
if the world
Still in Chinese Democracy lands. Bumblefoot opens this slow-burning funk cut with the album's flamenco licks. I have to give the band credit; they're doing a decent job of recreating Rose's insanely detailed tracks. The sound is obviously nowhere near as crisp, but hey, you can't have everything.
Dizzy Reed Spotlight
A grand piano pops out from under the drum lift so the frizzy-haired keyboardist can drop some solos. The music is familiar, but I can't place it - maybe because I'm too busy trying to figure out if it's toes or fingernails or what's painted on the piano lid. The sides, in turn, are covered with small mirror ball tiles. It's like hippies invaded the Liberace museum or something.
street of dreams
Dizzy takes the piano on this power ballad Democracy. Rose comes out with jersey number 3 - a shiny black number. No bandana. After the song ends, drummer Ferrer goes 'Boom, boom, boom-boom' on his kick drum again - he's doing it between songs. So I get it: it's for people to sing: 'Guns N' Roses'.
To improve
The lighting trusses do more aerial ballet over the stage as the band works through another of Rose's rock ballad numbers from Chinese Democracy. His right leg is kicking like Stompin' Tom in high gear.
You could be mine
Finally, another classic. Or at least an old one. This barnburner from Use Your Illusion II gets a solid treatment, with more concussion bombs for emphasis. And a silver-plated .45 spinning on the video screens just to, um, I don't know, threat? Flames shoot across the stage during the last chorus. Oh, Axl has a new bandana: it's blue and white, FYI.
DJ Ashba featured
After a few more pleasantries - including a belated, "Happy Holidays to you" - Rose vacates again so Ashba can deliver a rousing solo on his black sequined ax as the band lays down a slow, "There Was a Time"-style background beat. I'm not sure which is more impressive: his playing or his long-sleeved tattoos.
My sweet child
The crowd has been behaving well so far - no moshing and little surfing - but this hit brings them to their feet. As red and white lights bathe the stage, Rose debuts shirt #4: a red plaid v-neck pullover that looks intentionally dirty. I've just noticed that he also has a red ribbon wrapped around his left hand - whether that's because of an injury or just because it matches the red mic, I have no idea. Bumblefoot handles the wah-wah pedal guitar solo deftly.
I.R.S.
If I was writing the set list, I might have put another old one in here instead of this slow-paced grinder from Chinese Democracy. Especially since it sounds disturbingly muddyer than the album version.
Axl Piano Solo
That weird looking keyboard rolls over again - to the front of the stage - so Axl can clink the ivories. He is wearing a long-tailed burgundy coat with large buttons and a black leather fedora. You know, most people wouldn't be able to do that. Most people aren't Rose, of course.
November Rain
Rose remains at 88 to lead the band through the epic Use Your Illusion. The three guitarists split the solos, as the lighting trusses split and descend, and sparks shoot from the back of the drum lift and down the stairs. Not sure how rain and sparklers go together, but it looks good either way.
grated
Instead of the layered vocals on the album, the Chinese Democracy cut opens with tribal drums. The rest of the song is pretty much the same - but Bumblefoot's solo on the fretless half of his double-neck guitar is impressive. Axl has a different blue and white bandana. How many of these things does this guy own?
Foco Bumblefoot
The other guitarists showed off. Bumblefoot plays to the crowd - first he does a Hendrix-style version of "O Canada", then he does a rock version of the "Pink Panther theme". It's nice to see a rocker with a sense of humor.
Get outta get me
Back to the old ones. More fireworks and sparklers light up Rose's latest ensemble: a black and red lumberjack number. This guy changes more often than Beyonce does—and it looks like almost all of her clothes came from Mark's Work Warehouse. The spotlight does its prison break thing again, and the concussion blast at the end of the song makes me jump. You'd think I'd be used to them by now.
Knocking on Heaven's Door
"This is dedicated to the people who hate us," is what I think Axl says before the Dylan classic. Though I'm not sure which antagonists he's referring to, or who exactly they hate. Anyway, he starts a long furry dog story (which is actually about a dog named Mojo) halfway through the song. I only take about half of it. Not sure if I missed anything important. We're past the two hour mark.
Nightrain
A train whistle (natch) features cowbell's rock ode to cheap wine. Bumblefoot launches another solo without frets, the band fires on all cylinders and advances until the end - which is marked by yet another explosion. "Good night," says Axl and runs away - as does a good portion of the audience (it's after midnight on a school night).
Madagascar
The encore kicks off with this ambitious Chinese Democracy number, which features Rose's sonic collage midway through the music of Martin Luther King, Mississippi Burning, Cool Hand Luke, Braveheart and more. Video screens show MLK graphics and footage to go along. Thankfully, I don't see any footage of Braveheart.
This I love
The piano rolls one last time for another Chinese Democracy ballad. In the end, Rose confesses that he: "sort of screwed up at first." I'm too tired to notice.
Drum solo by Frank Ferrer
Mercifully brief. Nothing against him; it's getting too late.
rocket queen
But it's not late enough to miss out on this Appetite for Destruction gem. Axl stretched the microphone below his waist and took two steps as Ashba performed the slide solo. Just like old times. Almost.
my generation
Bassist Stinson tackles The Who classic for his standout song. His vocals are suitably cocky—and he doesn't shy away from John Entwistle's solo, either. For the record, everyone but second keyboardist Chris Pitman has already had a solo. Sorry Chris; his goofy straw hat is the problem.
Patience
Rose draws applause as she begins to whistle the opening. But once he starts singing the soft part, his voice sounds a little ragged. Which is no surprise given that he's been full steam ahead for over two and a half hours. Maybe they need to move that in the set list. Oh, and now he's changed into a white T-shirt with a filthy slogan on it. I officially lost count of his clothes. And I'm pretty sure I lost at least one there.
Paradise city
All the stops happen: the lighting trusses dance, the bombs explode, the lights are triggered, the confetti cannons explode, colorful mini fireworks explode - and as the music comes to an end with a final explosion, silvery streamers are released over the crowd. Shorts. "Oh, won't you take me home?" sings Rose. Well, no - but we'll go home ourselves. And we will be satisfied. And very, very tired.
Define list:
chinese democracy
Welcome to the Jungle
It is so easy
Sr. Brownstone
Shackler's Revenge
Richard the Strong stood up
Live and Let Die
Sorry
if the world
Dizzy Reed Solo
street of dreams
To improve
You could be mine
DJ Ashba featured
My sweet child
I.R.S.
Axl Rose Piano Solo
November Rain
grated
O Canada / Pink Panther (Bumblefoot Spotlight)
Get outta get me
Knocking on Heaven's Door
Nightrain
Bis:
Madagascar
This I love
Drum solo by Frank Ferrer
rocket queen
My Generation (Tommy Stinson Spotlight)
Patience
Paradise city