Estranged Reality Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Anyone here remember all the hype and mystery surrounding the Hammerstein gigs? They were seven years ago, which is crazy to my mind. On one hand it seems like yesterday; on the other hand, it seems forever ago. I decided to celebrate my day off work tomorrow by having a few drinks and watching the gig beginning to end. To place the show in context for people who weren't around the forums, people were excited because the band was back, period, and Axl's voice was better than in '02 in terms of rasp (I remember the live forum updates that night, and people were geeking out when the texts started coming in saying "rasp is back"). Axl looked physically fit, sounded good, the band looked good and a lot of people were happy that Robin Finck abandoned his goth image and people also thought Ron Thal's image suited the band better than Buckethead's regardless of your opinions on who's the better guitarist.But looking back in retrospect I'm surprised by two things, namely: the band isn't just good, the energy and positive vibes from this show are pretty much on par with what always made GN'R great. I'm not saying they're as good as original GN'R, there's something obviously to be said for back when they were a nitty-gritty rock n' roll group and Slash and Duff were still around, but at the same time it's like comparing apples to oranges, and that's a debate that will always live on; but if you can put that aside, the band as a whole is actually firing on all cylinders and capturing the spark that made original GN'R so much fun back in the day. There's a sense of EXCITEMENT (not just from the crowd, but from the band itself!) that I humbly feel has been lacking since they decided to start touring the same setlist for years on end.Also, Axl isn't just better than in '02. He's fantastic beginning to end. I remember listening to the bootlegs in 2006 and being a bit disappointed that he never managed to recapture the full depth of his voice from back in the '90s; but given the last few years, looking back now, I appreciate it way more, and think he actually sounds fantastic beginning to end. He may lack the depth he once had (the outros to songs like Patience will never be quite the same) and be using more of the thinner rasp and higher falsetto, but he's got a consistency and a power that has often lacked in the last couple years, and he sounds so much better than in 2002. He sounds conditioned and trained and looks hungry and ready to conquer the music world again. That may make it kind of sad to watch given what happened (or, rather, didn't happen), but it doesn't change the fact that he's delivering as an all-around performer here: his stage presence and voice are both tops.I have a tendency to ramble so let me get back to the point here. I thought it'd be interesting to post the show and see what people thought -- both then and now. Anyone have any cool recollections of the lead-up to the gig? It was the first time Axl or GN'R had really shown up in public in like four years. Was anyone here actually at the show? And looking back at the performance seven years down the road, does anyone else appreciate it a bit differently than they may have in 2006? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drtydane Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Great fuckibg time. I was at the 4th show. Tickets sold out in minutes. And the rumors floating around the lobby that izzy would b there (first time ever). Drove in from maine. Just an amazing experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estranged Reality Posted September 13, 2013 Author Share Posted September 13, 2013 Great fuckibg time. I was at the 4th show. Tickets sold out in minutes. And the rumors floating around the lobby that izzy would b there (first time ever). Drove in from maine. Just an amazing experience.He never showed up did he? I lose track. I thought his first gig was Download '06 but my memory is foggy.Oh yeah, I forgot to mention this in my original post, but I was mostly obsessed with The Blues/Street of Dreams as far as new material back then. I thought it was the best track the new band had written (I sorta still do). I remember downloading most of the '06 bootlegs if only to hear the different recordings of the song. Hammerstein is one of my favourite of all time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GNR123GNR456 Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 (edited) The day's when Axl was in shape, had a good voice, and had a passion for his new band and touring.Seeing Axl singing songs like Better and There Was A Time with rasp, power and energy. So much potential, wasted. Edited September 13, 2013 by GNR123GNR456 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbo Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Aww, lookie here...another dud to add to the long list of Axl's failure to launches."I think I can, I think I can, I think I ca...kerplop" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estranged Reality Posted September 13, 2013 Author Share Posted September 13, 2013 Aww, lookie here...another dud to add to the long list of Axl's failure to launches."I think I can, I think I can, I think I ca...kerplop" Look, if you want to constructively comment on Axl's failures, fine. There probably aren't many people who will disagree with you that he wasted a lot of potential. That's what is sad about it.But I'd rather not see more gleeful, mocking condemnations of his failures. This isn't the place for that crap. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbo Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 (edited) Aww, lookie here...another dud to add to the long list of Axl's failure to launches."I think I can, I think I can, I think I ca...kerplop" Look, if you want to constructively comment on Axl's failures, fine. There probably aren't many people who will disagree with you that he wasted a lot of potential. That's what is sad about it.But I'd rather not see more gleeful, mocking condemnations of his failures. This isn't the place for that crap.Guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.You only get what you give.He's earned every last word of my statement. Edited September 13, 2013 by Bobbo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan Rose Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 I was there on the front barrier, band in the middle for all 4 gigs. You're right. There's no doubt that he came mentally and physically prepared for the start of the long haul to take GN'R back to the top. In 2002 he was like a deer in headlights. What's interesting is that in 2010 he decided to sing even more like old-skool Axl than he did in 06-07. It's also the only time he's truly owned Twat and been recorded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Drama Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 I was there.I was also at the 4th show, and yes, Izzy was there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estranged Reality Posted September 13, 2013 Author Share Posted September 13, 2013 I was there on the front barrier, band in the middle for all 4 gigs. You're right. There's no doubt that he came mentally and physically prepared for the start of the long haul to take GN'R back to the top. In 2002 he was like a deer in headlights. What's interesting is that in 2010 he decided to sing even more like old-skool Axl than he did in 06-07. It's also the only time he's truly owned Twat and been recorded. Cool thing about TWAT in '06 is that it hadn't even been officially released yet, but the band had already lent it a different vibe when they played it live.The Hammerstein version of the song is a little bit more rock-oriented. The studio cut (including the initial leak) placed a heavier emphasis on the experimental (for GN'R, at least) hip-hop beat backing, but when they played it live they definitely transformed the song into one that could easily fit into a setlist of older GN'R tunes...imo, at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crash Diet Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 That TWAT end scream is one of my fav vocal performance from Axl...God i miss those days3 weeks after this performance i saw Axl for the first time live Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estranged Reality Posted September 13, 2013 Author Share Posted September 13, 2013 That TWAT end scream is one of my fav vocal performance from Axl...God i miss those days3 weeks after this performance i saw Axl for the first time liveYup! That scream defines spine-tingling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreCC Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Yeap! I was there on all the 4 shows! The first one was amazing! And i liked the one with Kid Rock, cause i wanted to see a Kid Rock show so bad and at least i got him for one song.Better was amazing live and damn i kept coming back for Jungle! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasted Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 did they film these shows? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAxlMorrison Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 I was there for the return on 5-12. I enjoyed the pre and post show gatherings, and the moment the lights went down, it was magic. Loved the show top to bottom, and left the building super hype for an impending single/album release in 2006... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amir Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 What's that he says about people claiming to be "in the know" about GNR at the end of Better, then he says it's a Robin song? Were some people claiming it was a Bucket song at the time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highvoltage Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 What's that he says about people claiming to be "in the know" about GNR at the end of Better, then he says it's a Robin song? Were some people claiming it was a Bucket song at the time?I think he was just giving context to it. I do recall the general assumption was that Bucket had a lot to do with it before he said that, but I don't think it was the reason that he said it.The song hadn't been around very long at that point and people already knew all the words... I think he was just giving Robin due credit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazey Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Not listened to this show in years and for a moment there it almost got me excited about this band again until I realised that the Axl in that video is long gone. Really sad to watch actually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Drama Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 I'm pretty sure we knew it was a Robin song before then. Because I remember being there, and as soon as he said 'This is a Robin Finck song', I knew it was gonna be Better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highvoltage Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 I'm pretty sure we knew it was a Robin song before then. Because I remember being there, and as soon as he said 'This is a Robin Finck song', I knew it was gonna be Better.Wasn't it Axl that told us it was a Robin song first though? If it wasn't there, when was it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amir Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 In this video he says it's a Robin song *after* they play Better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RussTCB Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 I was only at the first show but it was fucking amazing. Getting to hear Better, TWaT, IRS and so on live for the first time they were played was awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoolRanchDressing Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 (edited) I remember being excited that axl looked cool again. Was relieved finck didn't have the same stupid costume. And I was beside myself with joy that bucket was gone. Even though bbf was still playing the silly flying foot guitar and was kinda schluby then he was a massive improvement. as for the music, being able to play and sing the songs seemed like the minimum to expect from a musician, so I wasn't exactly dancing for joy over the fact that was slightly better than the last totally disastrous tour. I bet there was great excitement in the room though. Edited September 13, 2013 by CoolRanchDressing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liers Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 (edited) I wasn't registered on the forum at the time, but I was perusing.There was so much mystery because of how 2002 turned out. The 2002 band was a good band, but they couldn't do anything right really. CD was already years delayed, axl had gone into another reclusive state for the last 2 or 3 years, Buckethead had left, the 2002 tour ended early, and rumors were everywhere that axl had had plastic surgery, was bald, or had been in a mental hospital. There was still mystery. 2001 and 2002 GnR was mysterious, noone was really sure what to think of it, axl had become alien like.... noone knew anything about his thought process anymore.2006 axl seemed more subtle. He had gone back to his rock look. He got rid of the oversized jerseys, his voice was the best it's ever been, he had a rocker look, and he had a rock band. 2002 he had a mix of everything, techno, pop, industrial, this band was a rock band. Axl seemed to have something to prove, he seemed like he wanted to be here. I knew when I saw this show that CD would be out within the next few years. I actually liked the cornrows, they kind of had become his new trademark. Theres a picture floating around with the cornrows down and the goatee from sometime between 2004 and 2005, I think that look would've been a good one.2002 GnR was my favorite because it felt magical. The 2006 lineup definitely comes close though. Edited September 13, 2013 by liers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liers Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Only thing I didn't like about 2006 GnR is The Blues. They got rid of the guitar intro.. The 2001/2002 version could've been a hit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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