FROM DARK!
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Ok, here's my attempt at a review. Keeping in mind that I've been up for almost 24 hours now and I'm uber-wrecked, but what the hell, I'll try.
A. Acoustics. I give this a B+. Mainly because it seemed there were some feedback issues with the mics early on. As the show continued, it got better though.
B. Axl's stage presence (not his voice, I'll get to that in a moment) A+++ - I am not kidding. The guy had so much energy its fucking ridiculous. In addition, he moved around a hell of alot more than he did in 2002 - and sounded loads better doing it, too.
C. The rest of the band's stage presence A+++ Also. These guys can play and they make it look good, too. Hell, even Chris Pitman actually looked like a ball full of energy up there swinging his yellow polaroid keyboard to the beat of the music (yes, I'm serious)
D. Axl's voice. A+++++ - There is no other way to put it. This is not the Axl of 2002. This is the Axl of .. hell... not even the 90's. His voice is stronger, he's got the rasp when he wants it.. he hits the highs without the 'helium' affect. This was especially apparent when he sang "The Blues" - and also, IRS. How the hell he manages those notes for those lengths of time, I have no clue.
E. The Rants / stagespeak.. ummm.... Incomplete? I guess I'm just used to Axl babbling alot more up there. He didn't really have much to say tonight. Called us a bunch of downloading motherfuckers, which I thought was funny. Said NYC is trying to "kill him" (as in because the city lets hm stay out and party all the time), Hand a mini-mini rant (like 4 sentences or so) about people who think they are informed about what goes on in GNR, but it never really went anywhere.
F. The setlist. A-, but for greedy reasons. Obviously I would have loved to hear another track that we haven't yet heard but it was great to hear him do songs like Out Ta Get me, Nighttrain (an AMAZING performance), and Its so Easy done with so much more... I can't describe it.. umm.. perfection than in 2002. Also, Axl seemed really happy which was cool. I rather wish Rocket Queen wasn't left off the setlist but trust me, when you hear that middle 'screaming' part in Better, it will make up for it.. Holy hell it will.
G. Overall experience A+++ All the way. I've now seen Guns live 5 times. This was my first experience with the post UYI lineup. I dont know if it was the closeness (the damn guy was like 5 feet away from me on the stage), the arena size in general,. the energy level, or what - but this was by FAR better than any of the 2002 performances I've seen. I would gladly pay bookoo bucks for a soundboard recording of this show - and I'd immediately play it to anyone who says "Guns is nothing without (insert x name here)" - Because, wow, would this show prove that statement wrong. Bumblefoot did fine.. he goofed the NR solo a bit.. but not horribly so.
A couple other quick review type notes.
A. Can someone please run Bullet for my Valentine's tourbus off the road and put them out of their misery? I don't mean to hurt them but to stop them from being able to get to the Hammerstein. I guesss they were 'ok' but the crowd was pretty much telling them to 'fuck off' the whole time. Probably not the best situation to be in for a band. In addition, I just didn't dig their performance.
B. Watching drunk people is funny. Watching drunk people fly into crowd members.. not so much so. If you're gonna drink, cool - but damn, please don't get so sloshed that you pretty much have no recollection of the show, anyway.
-darknemus
