Review: Robert O’ Connor
Photos: Ciara Ní Dhoibhilin
First of all, what is with the Odyssey arena? No smoking area! Not allowed to keep your ticket! At least one security guard for every two attendees! No sitting on the ground 4 hours before start time! No standing outside the white lines and to top it all off, the standing area bar closes before the head-liners even take the stage! Not a crowd friendly place but any atmosphere, no matter how tedious and ‘break the law’ tempting is worth sticking through when Guns N’ Roses are in town.
Tonight’s support are Danko Jones, a Canadian band not worth going into too much detail for. The singer seems to emulate Metallica’s James Hetfield, Gibson Explorer included but the songs do little to inspire. Their set is long but each second they play brings us closer to tonight’s main attraction. The wait after their set is a mere 40 minutes, very impressive for Guns N’ Roses and the crowd merrily cheer, talk and replenish drinks in anticipation. As the house lights go black and the PA’s leak out Guns intro music, a sense of ecstatic jubilation fills the room
Guns come out with all ..ehm, guns blazing. Opening song, Chinese Democracy blows the arena to pieces and the mere sight of the iconic front man is enough to lift everyone to their feet and explode with delight that Guns are here, they are on stage and they are kicking ass. Welcome To The Jungle blitzes the Odyssey Arena as all fans, new and old, diehard and greatest hits folks jump for the ceiling with Axl dominating every corner of the stage. The claims that the singer was bloated unfit and unable to sing turn out to be total rubbish and became so laughable, few can even remember there ever was any negativity in the press. It’s So Easy and Mr. Brownstone only strengthen the audiences excitement and sheer joy that the band were firing on all cylinders, delivering an already highly memorable performance.
Sorry goes over exceptionally well for a new ballad after such an explosive start and Richard Fortus’ solo brings him closer to the crowds hearts, making that initial step to being accepted into the old fans hearts. Live and Let Die turns into a 14,000 strong sing along and This I Love is again warmly welcomed, before the classic Rocket Queen once again brings the crowd to its full force fighting feet. A piano solo from Dizzy Reed calms the now drink/breath starved audience before the band return to the stage to deliver a note perfect rendition of Street of Dreams, one of Chinese Democracy’s real highlights. Axl beams with happiness the entire way through the show, obviously ecstatic that the headlines from the weekend are behind him and Guns are back to doing what they do best, putting on the greatest show on earth. He looks great, sounds great and with occasional costume changes, he makes this every bit a Guns N’ Roses show the newcomers had heard about – without the controversy.
You Could Be Mine and Sweet Child O Mine rip through the arena like a tornado with the crowd showing pure excitement in every form. Moshing breaks out towards the front, crowd surfing starts, everyone with a pack of cigarettes in the middle breaks them out and for the first time in a long time, we know we’re at a real rock n roll show. Axl arrives on stage to a disco ball styled Roland piano for a nurturing solo before causing mass eruption with the opening notes to the classic November Rain, which on its own makes the ticket price worth every penny. The band are as tight as they come, the stage show is amazing with explosions, towering flames and visuals for almost every performance. Ron Thal’s Pink Panther solo adds an inspiring, comical touch to the night with the crowd singling along to the familiar themes before new song, Better turns up to fight Chinese Democracy’s corner…. and win. Knockin’ On Heavens Door and the amazing Nightrain finish the main set and see Guns temporally depart.
Returning on his own, Ron Thal again takes a solo, delighting fans with an instrumental rendition of Don’t Cry before the band accompany him for a truly spectacular performance of Madagascar. One final instrumental jam leads the way for tonight’s closing anthem, Paradise City which sees crowd and band alike explode enthusiastically as the arena becomes engrossed in pyro displays, red and silver confetti and the closing moments of one of the best shows most of us have ever seen.
Guns remain on stage to give three appreciative bows to the audience who stand strong to rousingly applaud the band for their incredible performance that delivered everything a fan could ever ask for from any live band. Guns leave as heroes, fans leave delighted, filled with adrenaline after more than two hours of classic anthems from one of the worlds greatest bands. Their performance tonight was immaculate, euphoric, rapturously well received and quite simply, amazing. It was a testimonial that the current line-up and Axl can come together so perfectly and deliver a nights entertainment that few can measure…despite the Odysseys imposing restrictions.