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Review
GUNS
N' ROSES ARE BACK!!!
By Ken Lau, concert-goer
Wednesday, August 14th, 2002 @ Hall 3 - HKCEC, Hong Kong,
China
I
may have just witnessed the best rock concert I've ever seen
in my life. With little or no promotion or press buzz about
the show, there were maybe at most 2,000 people in attendance.
But for all those that went, I doubt anyone would forget this
show anytime soon.
As
with tradition, the band came on late, maybe 90 minutes after
the opening band. There were actual rumours swirling down
in the audience that Axl was going to pull out last minute,
and I, for one, was as nervous as a train wreck. I've been
waiting 15 years to see him live, and of course, his reputation
preceded him. But at roughly 10pm, the lights dimmed, and
the same voice recording as the Rio show started playing.
Then the band got on stage and launched into the most badass
version of "Welcome to the Jungle" that I've ever
heard. Even though I'm a huge fan of the original band, Slash,
Izzy, Duff, and even Steven Adler, I have to say this new
band kicked fucking ass. Axl wore a black American football
jersey and a blue bandana, and surprisingly, his voice seemed
to improve with age. After "Jungle", it was straight
into "It's So Easy". In fact, I'm pretty sure he
played almost the entire tracklist of "Appetite For Destruction".
"Rocket
Queen", "Think About You", "Mr. Brownstone",
"Nighttrain", and "Out Ta Get Me" all
sounded fresh and exciting. "Sweet Child O' Mine"
was especially incredible, with Robin Finck handling Slash's
opening riff, and Buckethead playing the same riff for the
rest of the song. What was amazing was that all three guitarists
were beyond capable, each of them taking turns on Slash's
solos. Hate to say it, but can't say Slash was missed at all.
About
half-way into the show, the incredible Buckethead did his
solo. To the sound of heavy drum machine, he came out with
two knumbchucks, swinging around like Bruce Lee on acid. He
could actually do it! Then after throwing both knumbchucks
into the audience, he went on to do some crazy breakdancing,
like a serious loon. With a yellow windbreaker, white mask
and KFC bucket, he was unlike anything I've ever seen. Then
he strapped on his guitar and played choice selections of
the "Star Wars" theme, "Pirates of the Caribbean"
from Disneyland, a crazy computer-like solo that sounded like
a synthesizer, then a funk jam where he was actually slapping
his guitar like a bass, and various nutty solos. That might
of been the virtuoso highlight of the show.
After
his insane solo act, the piano was rolled out where Axl twidled
the keys like a classical solo. I never knew that Axl could
play! He wore the same red velvet jacket as in the video,
and changed his bandana into a red one. The band launched
into "November Rain", which though I never was a
big fan of the song, I loved the live version. Then they played
a much shortened version of "Estranged", really
only the final climax of the song. Besides these two, the
other songs from "Use Your Illusion" included "You
Could Be Mine" and "Live and Let Live". I never
thought I would hear a version of "Knockin' on Heaven's
Door" as brilliant as their '88 show at the Ritz in New
York, but the one they played tonight was just mind-blowing.
The guitars were incredibly soulful and moving, and Axl's
voice! Instead of the "Aye, aye, aye, aye, aye"
after the title verse, he instead went into this incredibly
high-key harmonizing. As a singer, I think he's unrivaled
in the rock world, and as far as this 29 year-old is concerned,
as pointed out by one of my friends there tonight, he may
be the "last great rock star" performer. No one
since has surpassed his ability and talent live on stage,
in my humble opinion.
He
played two new songs, the first one a slow number that he
didn't introduce. Before he played the second one, he told
a little anecdote why the new album is called "Chinese
Democracy". He said it was because he saw a photo taken
in Hong Kong, which he's using as the new album cover. And
then he showed it on the video screens, and it was a black
and white picture of a bicycle with a basket, and in the wall
behind it, someone had grafittied "guns n roses"!!!
He said "I didn't paint that myself, so one of you motherfuckers
out there must have did it!" The crowd went wild, and
he launched into the song. Despite what many people have reported
about them taking a "techno" turn, this song was
pure hard rock n' roll. Though being the first time I've heard
it, I absolutely loved it!!!
About
the band, new guitarist Richard was excellent, sporting a
goth look that I didn't expect, hearing that he formerly played
with the Psychedelic Furs. Tommy on bass provided much of
the backup vocals, and the only one that looked "normal",
coming onstage in sports jacket that was gone pretty early
in the show. If I didn't know that the drummer was Brain of
Primus fame, I would have sworn that he was Reni from the
Stone Roses! He wore the exact fisherman's hat (though I have
seen Beck's drummer wear the same thing), and he played just
like him! Very tight and just like Steven Adler on the record,
though he didn't play any solos so it was hard to gauge how
good he really was. The two keyboard guys banged their heads
and rocked out, though I swear to god, you could not hear
them on the mix at all! Which for me was a good thing...probably
the one song where you could hear them was the first slow
new song, which was had a bit of synthesizer sound, and a
drum machine beat for part of it (Brain just sat there not
playing for that part).
The
regular set ended way too early for this lifelong fan, though
it was probably a good hour and 45 minutes. The last song
might have been "Patience" (the only song from "Lies"),
though I can't remember exactly. Another beautiful rendition,
Richard and Buckethead both strapped on acoustic guitars,
with Robin playing the only electric. Axl did an insane job
on the whistling, and this might have been one of the best
received songs of the show. The end part of the song was incredible,
with the band rocking out and Axl belting out that part with
such power and beauty. The crowd just went nuts, and the whole
place was practically drowned by the audience singing along.
For
the encore, Robin came out by himself with a sunburst Les
Paul and played a very soulful, instrumental version of "Don't
Cry". Hard to imagine as soulful and beautiful guitar
playing from the guy from Nine Inch Nails. Then the whole
band came out and played the most kickass version of "Paradise
City". On the video screen, opening with a shot of the
China flag, they showed shots of Hong Kong from a car and
a helicopter, which were probably taken by Axl himself today
or yesterday. The song was pure energy, with Axl hitting every
fucking note and wail. It was also the visual highlight of
the show, with flames bursting that you could literally feel
the heat from, and then fireworks and red and yellow confetti
streaming down from the ceiling. I was right smack center,
maybe 14 rows from the front, and visually, it was as if I
took acid and shrooms in a Vegas casino. Just visually fucking
stunning!!!!
And
then the show ended, leaving I'm sure, every fucking person
in the audience blown away. We came in a big group, with hundreds
of shows between us, and no one could remember a better show
that they've seen. The big story of the night might have been
how incredible Axl's voice was, with none of the coarseness
from the "Live Era". Big, strong, high, and perfectly
in key did he sing all fucking night. His outfit was leather
pants and a black 99 football jersey for the first half of
the show, and then a white 80 jersey later on (besides the
red velvet jacket). Though the stage was relatively small,
he still did his share of sprinting around, and disappeared
backstage every so often for a minute or two, before coming
back out. Buckethead showed why he was the man, filling in
the very, very big shoes of Slash, and in his own way, probably
every bit a player as Slash is. And the band was just fucking
tight. All in all, it was a truly amazing fucking show, playing
every good song (that at least I fucking wanted to hear).
From a guy that was there, I'm telling you, Guns N' fucking
Roses are back!!!!
P.S.
Axl, if you're reading this, I was the guy in the green hemp
t-shirt right in front of you on the chair, swaying along
in synch with you during "Patience"!
Source:
gnronline.com
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