Well its 1:16 am and I have just witnessed the new juggernaut that is Guns N' Roses. First off, rumors off terrible sales at Minneapolis were way off. The floor and ALL lower lever seats were sold out, and I truly believe I am being completely honest when I say it was 3/4 full. Very eclectic mix of fans, and incredible array of ages here to witness GNR.

CKY opened to a mediocre response, as they were unable to get the crowd into their performance at all. Mix Master Mike then came on, to an actually rather good response. For me the novelty of the DJ ran out after about 10 minutes, and his 45 minute set was definaetly not warranted in my opinion, as the act became rather repetitive. But nonetheless, many people in the crowd were very into his show, much to my suprise. Now the wait began, and a bitch of a wait it was. From 9 25 - 10 35 Axl Rose built the tension to an unbearable level, that was made somewhat fun by the large breasts being shown on the jumbotron.

But with the piercing Welcome to the Jungle riff Guns N' Roses took the stage to an amazing response. From there they covered the usual ground seen in a GNR concert nowadays, though they mixed up the set list a bit. The band is definaetly starting to hit its stride. Its So Easy, Brownstone, and LALD all smoked. The best version of The Blues and Chinese Democracy were played tonite in my opinion, with the Blues incredibly majestic. Honestly, the crowd when nuts for CD and The Blues, and seemed a bit in awe of Madagascar. This is the show where it sounded like it was all coming together. Musically the show sounded great, though Robin had his usual flubs but clearly won the audience over with his charisma that has to be seen to be understood.

Other interesting things that happened at the concert. Axl got a paper cup thrown at him and in the middle of Rocket Queen yelled up at them "Real smart asshole." Axl also screwed up the beginning lyrics to RQ. He caught a bra from a fan and pretended to put it on. He gave a speech explaining the meaning of "Rocket Queen" and "Nightrain", and also mentioned the new songs, saying they were still withholding, but they'd be back soon with a "shitload" of new songs. He also had a little wrestling match with Tommy.

Robin flubbed LALD, the 2nd slow solo in November Rain, and parts of Out Ta Get Me. His solo before Paradise City was AMAZING though, truly fascinating to watch him play.

Buckethead passed out toys after his solo and was truly weird in a cool way, but Robin was clearly the favorite in the crowd. Fortus rocked, Tommy clearly enjoyed being in his hometown and said hi to his parents. During Paradise City a fan jumped on stage and a security absolutely leveled him. Well thats all I can remember, I'm about to pass out....Peace.

Pete

Thanks to Farelli @ the gnrbar

With help from smeagol2124

Guns N’ Roses:  (10:35-12:30)

Axl:  Came out wearing a #35 no-name Minnesota Vikings jersey with black windbreakers.  He had on white tennis shoes.  He had no bandana or sunglasses, which is not how I’m used to seeing him.  During “Paradise City” he switched to a #27
Minnesota Wild jersey.
Buckethead:  Dressed in all black.
Robin Finck:  Dressed in all black.
Tommy Stinson:  Plad suit.
Richard Fortus:  Black shirt with red, white, and blue writing on it.  Dark blue jeans and black shoes.
Brain:  Flannel shirt, with blue cap.  Brain is now sporting a goatee.  
Dizzy:  The same as at the MTV Video Music Awards pretty much.  
Chris Pitman:  Long blonde hair, Blue jeans, blue jean jacket, white shirt.  

Stage Setup:  Eight long vertical banners with Chinese writing on them far back.  A screen to both sides.  A red Chinese “sun” with one big black Chinese letter on it served as the floor.  There was a teleprompter to both sides.

1. “Welcome To The Jungle” There was no “Do you know where the fuck you are?  You’re in the jungle baby…wake up, its time to die”  à Pretty standard WTTJ
2. “It’s So Easy” Straight into ISE from Jungle.
3. “Mr. Brownstone”  
4. “Live And Let Die” Pyrotechnics start in this song.  Finck put on a black shiny helmet during LALD.
5. “Think About You”
6. “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” They actually started “You Could Be Mine” real shortly, but quit to play KOHD instead.  Before KOHD, Axl says something like “Balls of molten steel.”  During the song, someone throws a bra up on stage.  Axl swings it around a couple of times before throwing it back into the crowd.
7. “You Could Be Mine” With Pyrotechnics.  Finck is amazing in this song.  If you’re going to a show, watch him close.  After YCBM is over, Axl says “Ladies and Gentlemen…Mr. Robin Finck.”
8. Finck Solo
9. “Sweet Child O’ Mine” Always the crowd pleaser.
10. “Out Ta Get Me”  Some asshole threw a beer cup at Axl and hit him dead on.  Axl, calmly handled the situation.  “Fuck you asshole” in the middle of the song.  He put the beer cup down and ignored it.  After the song, he says “I mean seriously, who throws a fucking bottle.”
11. “Rocket Queen”
12. Axl talks about the history of “Nightrain,” “Rocket Queen,” and “Don’t Cry.”  Axl said Nightrain was fun to write.  Just lyrics like “one for you two for me…” were fun to write.  Rocket Queen (if I remember) is about someone in a band Axl knew.  He and her would switch and trade clothes.  He said it was easier to write “and you’re a rocket queen” than “and I’m a rocket queen” because he was the one wearing the women’s clothes.  He also said he got the name from an English Harley Davidson.  When he said “Don’t Cry” the crowd cheered, but he said “We’re not playing that.”  Don’t Cry is apparently about Izzy’s girlfriend (Yes, he mentioned “Izzy”) who became Axl’s girlfriend who became “Rocket Queen’s” girlfriend.  Then Axl whispered something to Tommy.  Tommy whispered something back.  Axl said “Yeah, okay, we’re gonna need a piano.”
13. Piano Solo
14. “November Rain” With a shower of sparks.  Buckethead was missing from the first part of NR, because he was having trouble keeping his mask on.  He was having trouble the whole night.
15. Before Madagascar, Axl says “My name is Fat Bastard and these are the “Yes” men.”  
16. “Madagascar” Played beautifully.  The solo was closer to Rio’s version.  The same imagery as VMA’s, except during the solo there were Martin Luther King Jr. shots.  There was also an unidentified girl near the end.
17. Axl introduces Buckethead “…found a man in a chicken coop…”
18. Buckethead nunchuka/robot dance and then Star Wars Theme/Solo.  Buckethead starts to play a rotation of three notes, and then stops playing.  But the music does not stop.  The pre-recorded three notes keep going as Buckethead went behind the left stair of the stage to pull out a Christmas bag.  He threw out gifts to the crowd, gifts such as a Barbie dolls.

19. “My Michelle”
20. “The Blues”
21. “Chinese Democracy” with pyrotechnics.  Here’s something interesting—the lyrics are changed from “It don’t really matter, gonna find out for yourself” to “It don’t really matter, I guess I’ll find out for myself.”  Minor difference, but weird.  I don’t know if that has been mentioned before.
22. Band Introductions, in this order:  Pitman, Dizzy, Tommy (Ax mentions its his homecoming), Brain, Fortus, Finck, and Buckethead.
23. Axl says “We will be coming back very soon with a shitload of new songs.  Until then…you just need a little…patience.”
24. “Patience”
25. “Nightrain” Buckethead is incredible in this song.  If you are going to a show, watch him here.
26. Finck Solo
27. “Paradise City” with pyrotechnics, shower of sparks, fireworks, and confetti.  Buckethead fell down here, but continued playing and got back up.  There were some sound problems at the beginning of the song, but a roadie quickly switched microphones with Axl.

The entire band was moving around a lot.  And anyone who says that Axl has lost his voice had better come to a show first without making a judgement.  They played a perfect show.  It was unbelievable.  It was my first gnr concert, and as you can imagine, I was pumped.  I can’t really speak right now, as you can imagine why.  I really pissed off anyone within four rows of where I was sitting, because I was hopping around like a crazy person.  But I don’t care.  I had a good time, the greatest.  This band is completely perfect.  You cannot criticize them in any way.  Compared to the “new” Guns N’ Roses, the “old” Guns N’ Roses are like the Backstreet Boys when the Backstreet Boys were little girls.  

Security really depended on who you would go through.  The person who checked me didn’t even touch me.  The person who checked smeagol frisked him down pretty badly.  

Merch is good.  Three unisex t-shirts, the dog, the globe, and then one with a gray star and bullet holes.  There are shirts just for girls, and a long sleeve shirt.    
Sweatpants, long sleeve shirt:  $60 a piece
Any other shirt:  $35 a piece
Bandana:  $15 a piece
Stickers:  $10 a piece
NO PROGRAM

Thanks to gan7676 and smeagol2124 @gnrx.com