Guns N Roses @ EntertainmentCentre, Adelaide (07/12/10)

Sat 11th Dec, 2010 in Gig Reviews

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Guns n Roses make another return to Adelaide in relatively quick succession after their previous tour a couple of years ago. Whilst the band membership is a lot different these days the spearhead and focus is Axl Rose. Despite his diva like tendencies and demands theres no disputing the track record of this band. This show on the tour is quite the package with two great supports along for the ride with Shihad and Korn warming the crowd.

The ever reliable Shihad played like their lives depended on it with notable highlights being General Electric and Pacifier. Up next was Korn and I have to say that they were top notch with a few surprises in their set with a Queen cover We Will Rock You and to top it off with the mother of all covers by way of One from Metallica. Other big Korn moments included Freak On A Leash, 4U and Falling Away From Me.

Noted for his late arrivals Axl was only half an hour late this time and there was a touch of frustration starting to set in with punters wondering when the show would actually get started. As the house lights dropped it was on. The projection and lighting setting the scene for Chinese Democracy worked a treat from an album largely unappreciated. It didnt take long for the back catalogue to get a dust off with the first of many hits Welcome To The Jungle to excite the masses.

Interestingly enough there isnt a lot of interaction/banter with the punters who have shed out $160 for the experience but makes up for it with intensity and a spirited performance. Surrounded by some gun musicians including the likes of Ron Bumblefoot Thal, DJ Ashba, Richard Fortus, Tommy Stinson, Dizzy Reed, Chris Pitman and Frank Ferrer makes for one formidable line up.

Newish tunes Better and Sorry followed in quick succession in amongst Its So Easy and Mr Brownstone_. At times the solos were a bit much and seemed self indulgent but I guess the individual band members deserve their moment to shine. Live And Let Die is always a highlight and was no exception and Rocket Queen was another major highlight. Looking back at the set list I was surprised about how much was played from Chinese Democracy with the likes This I Love and Street Of Dreams getting set time before rocketing in to You Could Be Mine. The big roars were reserved for Sweet Child O Mine with the 7,000 strong crowd finding full voice for a sing-a-long. November Rain was right up there as a highlight featuring a grandiose piano solo from Axl.

It was a little frustrating seeing Axl running off stage so many times during the show going for an obvious, but disguised, oxygen fix which really begs the question why does he play so long if he can’t last the duration of the show. The covers kept coming with Knockin’ On Heavens Door and the AC/DC classic Whole Lot Of Rosie impressing the massive before finishing the mainset on Night Train.

The crowd chants were in full force before Axl and band returned for an encore starting with one of the all time GNR classic ballads Don’t Cry before rolling into Madagascar and winding up with Paradise City.

The show was great, fantastic even and Adelaide should think their lucky stars he made back this time round.