Style Symmetry

As mentioned previously, I went out to Calgary for a Guns N Roses concert last weekend.  I apologize for the delay in posting as I thought it was going to be post swapped.  Before the show we went to the bar attached to The Saddledome for some drinks and time killing.  There were a few groups dressed up in 80s rocker gear, somewhat like Lizzy as well as a dude in full on Slash getup.  A waitress let us know that he was told he’d have to change before going into the show, I guess Axl doesn’t want to see that in the audience.  This was the concert to live up to expectations, first off our seats were incredible!  They were club seats, which are cushy, close to the stage and very la-di-da.  I forgot the binoculars, but I didn’t need them.  I skipped Danko Jones (it’s not the first time, sorry Danko) but did make it to see Sebastian Bach’s set, he also opened in 2006.

Axl ran out on stage to some intense explosions starting their set at 10:15, he looked great in tight jeans and an open collared shirt starting with Chinese Democracy and his band a tight unit of professionals looked and sounded sharp.  What I noticed this show is how often Axl ran off stage, between every song and even in the middle of some.  Each time he returned his tshirt, bandana or sunglasses was changed or removed and a clearer pitch.  I was keeping track of the wardrobe changes along with the set list but it was quite daunting, his two best looks were the Easy Rider vintage tee (the only time his hair was set free) and when he wore a long purple velvet coat for November Rain which also included playing the piano with his foot.

The iconic moment of the show was when there were two Bubbles on stage as the band surprised the real Bubbles with a lookalike contest winner, from the distance of our seats it was hard to tell who was who.  Then Bubbles played an appropriately inappropriate song he wrote ‘Liquor & Whores” with Axl cooing sweet background vocals, it was hilarious.  Yes, we did sing along as requested but there was much giggling involved on my part.

The show went on and on and on 3 hours of solos, epic high notes, pyro and a lot of chatting with audience, apparently Axl was left at his hotel and had to take a cab to the gig and I’m pretty sure they were staying 30 minutes away by the airport.  At 1:15 in the morning they capped it off with a round of Oh Canada, which brings out the patriot in all of us.  Thanks Guns N Roses for an amazing night, can’t wait to see you again!

Guns N Roses January 16, 2010 Calgary Saddledome

Chinese Democracy
Welcome To The Jungle
It’s So Easy
Mr. Brownstone
Sorry
Richard Fortus Guitar Solo
Live And Let Die
If the World
Rocket Queen
Dizzy Reed Piano Solo
Street Of Dreams
You Could Be Mine
Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
My Generation (The Who cover)
I.R.S.
Axl Rose Piano Solo
November Rain
Instrumental Jam
Bumblefoot Solo (Pink Panther)
Shackler’s Revenge
Liquor & Whores (with Bubbles)
Out Ta Get Me
DJ Ashba Guitar Solo
Sweet Child O’ Mine
This I Love
Nightrain

Encore
Madagascar
Better
Instrumental Jam
Patience
Paradise City
Oh Canada

*Warning more long lists below*

Lets looks back at My Dream Set List made back in October, Axl did sing 25 songs like I wanted woop!

First off NO Sweet Child O’ Mine – too bad they always play it lol
Nightrain -PLAYED
Shacklers Revenge -PLAYED
Bad Apples
Madagascar -PLAYED
Garden of Eden
It’s So Easy -PLAYED
Sorry -PLAYED
Patience -PLAYED
Dust N Bones
Nice Boys
Catcher in the Rye
Street of Dreams -PLAYED
Civil War -I wish, and the guy in front of us kept screaming for it!
Double Talkin’ Jive
Live and Let Die -PLAYED
Yesterdays (yeah right)
It’s Alright (not gonna happen)
If the World -PLAYED
Riad N’ the Bedouins
Mama Kin
November Rain -PLAYED

Encore
Welcome to the Jungle -PLAYED
Rocket Queen -PLAYED
There Was a Time
Slash comes out to play guitar for Estranged (ha! Double yeah right)

Madison Square Gardens New York on November 10, 2006
The only songs they played in ‘06 that they didn’t play last weekend were My Michelle and Used to Love Her. 3 years go by and the set is still so similar.

Welcome To The Jungle
It’s So Easy
Mr. Brownstone
Live And Let Die
Robin Finck Guitar Solo
Instrumental Jam
Sweet Child O’ Mine
Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
You Could Be Mine
Dizzy Reed Piano Solo
Street Of Dreams
Better
Richard Fortus & Robin Finck Guitar Duet
Out Ta Get Me
November Rain
Bumblefoot Guitar Solo
My Michelle (with Sebastian Bach)
Used To Love Her
I.R.S.
Patience
Nightrain

Encore
Chinese Democracy
Paradise City

We showed up early enough to see four songs from the opening act The Ettes and they were awesome, definitely will be checking out their music.  It was easy for us to move up to right behind the fans on the barricade at center stage so obviously I was ecstatic, this is the closest I’ve ever got at the Commodore!  45 minutes later Juliette came out like a bat out of hell in a feathered shoulder piece, black lace Victorian blouse and sequin pants (photo via Brittany Kwasney on flickr).  She started softly playing Ghosts before busting head strong into Purgatory Blues.  The crowd started to go crazy for her, these people were all huge fans like me!  Three songs in this pushy girl comes out of nowhere and starts trying to edge in front of me even though the spot she is in is equally as amazing as mine, just a tad to the left.  I don’t think much of it as this happens time to time and I just need to hold steady.  A song later she decided to elbow me in the ribs and step on my foot.  Of course I said something to which she replied, ‘if you don’t want to get crushed move to the back’.  I have to say I wasn’t really sure what to say, we are all here to have a good time and clearly she is here to make trouble so I switched places with my husband (thanks honey!).   I ended up in her old spot which I must say was also a very lovely view, I mean Juliette is still right there.  A few songs later a beautiful girl on the right of them (used to be the right of  me) got fed up at the pushy gal and punched her and then punched pushy gals friend too and left the pit.  Of course they start whining ‘why did she do that?’.  I could have responded with the line she initially gave to me about moving to the back.  Then Juliette decides to move down and get closer to the crowd, I remembered  that from the Richards on Richards show that she likes to create these personal moments for her fans.  Flashback to that show; we were in the front row, she put her face right in front of mine and I had the opportunity to reach out and touch her cheek.  In fact all four of us got to touch Juliette that night.  Now back to tonight, Juliette was telling us to kiss the people around us, then she moved in front of me and I motioned to Juliette by pointing at myself and then at her so she leaned forward and I got to kiss her on the cheek!  I was now quite happy to had been pushed over into this spot.   They played a few more songs, I sang along to every single word and then just like that it was over.  An amazing and unforgettable night.

Set List
Ghosts
Purgatory Blues
Cold Wind
Fantasy Bar
Romeo (not positive of placement)
Pray for the Band Latoya
Hard Lovin’ Woman
Sticky Honey
Uh Huh
You’re Speaking My Language
Suicide Dive Bombers

Encore
Terra Incognita

Set List Richards on Richards November 23, 2007
(For the files since that show was preblog)

Inside The Cage
Hot Kiss
Bullshit King
Pray for the Band Latoya
Death of a Whore
Got Love to Kill
Sticky Honey
This I Know
Get Up
Purgatory Blues
So Amazing
Hot Stuff (cover)
You’re Speaking My Language