PHOTOS: KATARINA BENZOVA | They said it would never happen … certainly not in this lifetime … but Tuesday night found tens of thousands of people packing San Francisco’s AT&T Park for just that. It had been nearly 24 years since original Guns N’ Roses members Axl Rose, Duff McKagan, and Slash shared a Bay Area stage and no one was going to let the opportunity to see them together again slip by.
The late announcement of The Struts as openers didn’t seem to help get too many folks in the door early and their 6:30 pm set boomed through a lot of empty seats as most of the crowd appeared to be busy with getting their drink on. Even 10 minutes of incessant gun fire from the prepped stage failed to get the revelers moving and it wasn’t until the band finally strolled on stage to “The Equalizer” (miraculously within minutes of their scheduled set time) and launch into “It’s So Easy” that the mad scramble began.
The crowd went appropriately crazy for the Appetite for Destruction classic which was followed by “Mr. Brownstone” as one-two punch that was more-than-adequately punctuated by fireworks and flames.
Thankfully the days of Axl traipsing around a stage wearing only spandex short shorts and white Reebok high tops are far behind us and he instead he opted for torn jeans, leather jacket, and a flannel shirt around his waist. Looking none the worse for wear after his broken foot which kept him sitting on Dave Grohl’s throne during his stint with AC/DC, Axl strutted and snaked his way around the stage just like the old days. And while the vocals felt a bit off at first, his voice quickly found its groove by “Estranged” at which point he was actually caught smiling on the big screen as he perched himself at the end of the stage extension looking down at the general admission pit. All was clearly good in GnR Land.
As a whole, the band (including Dizzy Reed/keyboards, Richard Fortus/rhythm guitar, Frank Ferrer/drums, and Melissa Reese/keyboard) sounded amazing together. Clearly these shows went far beyond showing up and cashing a check, and while there was limited interaction amongst the band members, they collectively sounded tight as can be and the nearly three-hour set and minimal talk provided ample space for everyone to show their chops.
Never a band to shy away from mixing up the setlist, the Appetite and Use Your Illusion tunes were shuffled with a number of covers (including Duff on vocals for the Misfits’ “Attitude”) as well as a surprising selection of three tunes from Chinese Democracy. Who would have ever expected to see Slash playing “This I Love?”
What made the evening truly special were the unexpected arrangements such as Slash’s masterful execution of a seamless transition from a solo performance of the Godfather theme song into “Sweet Child O’ Mine” as sweat dripped from his hair onto his Les Paul. Then there was the “Wish You Were Here” Slash/Fortus guitar duel that was unexpectedly handed off to Axl behind a grand piano for “Layla” and “November Rain” during which the wind picked up noticeably.
The encore successfully picked up the missing classics and a Who cover before the field was blasted with confetti, leaving the crowd sated. While it would be easy to be cynical about the financial motivations that come with such a reunion, there is no doubt that one of the biggest rock bands of all time still has it.
SETLIST
It’s So Easy
Mr. Brownstone
Chinese Democracy
Welcome to the Jungle
Double Talkin’ Jive
Estranged
Live and Let Die
Rocket Queen
You Could Be Mine
Attitude
This I Love
Civil War
Coma
Love Theme From The Godfather
Sweet Child O’ Mine
Better
Out Ta Get Me
Wish You Were Here
Layla
November Rain
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
Nightrain
ENCORE
Patience
The Seeker
Paradise City
