Jump to content

My top 10 moments of the North American leg of the NITL tour and what we learned from it


Recommended Posts

29 minutes ago, Oldest Goat said:

A good time and forum to be sure. T-Minus 5months and counting!
 

 

:headbang:

1 hour ago, KeyserSoze said:

(So i have to write a top ten list for my creative writing class, and i figured what better top ten to write about!) 

 

Okay guys, now that the first part of the NITL tour is over and done, i figured this would be a fun thread to talk about the top ten moments of the tour up till this point. This is just my opinion, and feel free to contribute and add your guys top 10 or even top 5 if you can’t think of 10 things. Not only will i be talking about major moments, but i will also include some of the most controversial parts of the tour up until now. For the sake of keeping things concise, we will include the first couple of shows (Vegas, Coachella and Mexico). Any ways, lets get started.

 

10-Top Notch Promotion

Does anyone remember how after the initial tour announcement, billboards started popping up what seems like everywhere? Not only that but we had trollys, buses, cars and even full buildings wrapped in the the classic GNR bullet logo. While this may seem minute for some bands, for GNR it seemed over the top. I feel as if who ever was in charge of those initial billboards and advertisements made them as if to leave the audience in suspense. Yes, it was a Guns N’ Roses advertise i just saw, but what does it mean? I dunno, i guess ill go to the show and find out!

Cf8g097WIAAT54p.jpg

 

9- Something for the collectors: GNR show specific Lithos and T-Shirts

One of the best and most exciting things about this tour was show specific artwork. I’ve been seeing this trend blossom lately, and I’m glad GNR got on board! Im happy for all those who were able to get a poster from a show they went too this summer, and even more excited for those who were able to get a shirt with the artwork and extra wording on the back. I got posters from all the shows i was able to go too! Hopefully they continue this trend into Latin America with different/more artists. I know towards the end of the run people were buying these in bulk to try and sell for 5x the price. Fuck people like that. Let the real fans have something they will remember the show by!

image.jpeg

 

8- This ain’t the 90s! This tour pretty much went off without a hitch!

Besides a few minor problems associated with large stadium tours (long lines, sound, drunks, a “couple” arrests here and there, etc etc) and a few minor late start times, the band was well behaved considering they were once known as the most dangerous band in the world! You can chalk it up to old age, or lack of drugs and booze, but many of us here and many casual fans i have talked too believed the tour would implode before it even got started. While i was never one to think these things as i always thought there was a method to the madness, i quickly remember Axl use to cancel shows with stadiums full of people not even 14 years ago and i fully understand the stigma of a "Guns N’ Roses" tour. Besides a piano basically committing Hari Kari, i would venture to say, GNR gave 100% in terms of fully cooperating with everyone, and the tour was as smooth as a baby's bottom.

CoNIBt3WAAAM4Yo.jpg

 

7- Not just boys fun: A girl?? in GNR??? 

After the Troub show ended, we were all in the dark. Pictures were surfacing of a girl with blue hair on stage in the spot where Pitman usually stands. A girl? In GNR? Hmmmm. After some investigating and some six degrees of Kevin Bacon type shit, we come to find out that it is none other than one Melissa Reese, composer and producer who had worked with Buckethead and Brain up until that point.

Say what you will about her, but i think her backing vocals add a lot to the sound of GNR and not only replace the harmonies of Tracy and Roberta on some songs, but make them better. Especially on the Chinese material. I hope there is a new album in the works because i can’t wait to see what she brings to the table. 

Cgfid1sWIAAFduQ.jpg:large

6- Axl and the gang were on point!

Holy crap! These shows were something special. You could tell the band had their groove back with Slash back in the fold. And you could also tell that on some nights Axl had a fire under his ass and was really going for it on most of the songs. I personally could not believe that Jungle scream when we got those clips from the Troub show! What an exciting time to be a GNR fan honestly. Here are some examples of what I’m talking about: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFYpXVYbf0g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwgYOeIMb2I

13661940_1270226232989900_15243578244423

 

5- GNR are back! And Relevant!! The tour sold over 1,000,000 tickets

It’s funny. Years ago on this forum we talked about how the vast majority of people don’t care about GNR and life would continue without a new album or reunion. I think the amount of people who showed up for these shows proves those previous statements wrong. Shows in South America are already selling out. I feel as if GNR are becoming a household name again!

a94a71501470862308_1024.jpg

 

4- COMA

I know many people believed that this would be a regurgitated tour of the greatest hits, but who would have expected this little gem? 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqdQHbQ0GfM

 

I’m glad we got to not only whiteness Coma but it stayed in the setlist for pretty much the entirety of the tour. Some nights Axl struggled to get through it, while during others he totally and utterly murdered it.  

 

There has been plenty naysaying and a bunch of hating on the Setlist, but i really enjoyed all of the songs that were played on this tour! Speaking of setlists: 

 

3- Slash played “Chi Dem” songs

 

Now its time to get into some controversy. Some of us here love Chinese Democracy, while others believe that it and everything associated with Guns during that era should be thrown into a fiery pit while we all laugh and drink a beer while saying “good try Axl.” We all have our differing opinions, but it is undeniable that Slash playing Chinese Democracy songs on this tour was quite a surprise. Months and months of anticipation and questions came from those mysterious Coachella posts. Obviously we knew Slash was rejoining the GNR ship, but would he dare play anything off of Chinese Democracy? Even after the Troubadour show rumors where swirling. “I think i heard Chinese Democracy from outside the Troub” etc, etc. We finally got our full proof answer at the first couple of Vegas shows, and even later into the tour. Who would have thought we would ever see Slash play “Sorry?” Not only were Chi Dem songs played, but they quickly became common place in the 2 and a half hour set. Even some of the songs for rotation were Chinese songs, for better or worse in some peoples opinion. 

image.jpeg

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiZITJ_dQJ8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWBuT7u032E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJFFdD6MAgA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbxmAoWGqzk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KVu5rBcuok

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jfXX3TYZSE

 

2- “April Fools.” GNR play a surprise show in LA at The Troubadour, first time Axl and Slash share the stage in 23 years. 

On the night before April 1st, otherwise known as April Fools day, crazy things started happening close to the Sunset Strip. The old Tower Records started having work done on it late into the night and with the impending Vegas and Coachella GNR dates, some fans caught on early and started lining up late at night on March 31st, into the early morning April 1st. As time went on and information started coming in, we come to find out that Tower Records has become a pop up shop for GNR for the next couple of days, but more importantly GNR are to play a surprise one of show for a select number of fans that night at the Troubadour. I believe the first 200 people that were in line that day received a ticket. Upon arrival at the Troub, fans phones were taken away and put into a bag, so we have very little video of the night. It does appear that the show may have been pro shot, so hopefully it will be released at some point. I know for me personally i remember that night like it was yesterday. Staying up all night trying to figure out what the hell was happening and searching for videos and pictures, anything to see Slash and Axl on stage for the first time in decades! 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oBb-bxdwO4

 

12670823_1039814896092478_3263330067089479022_n.jpg

 

1- Steven, Axl, Slash, and Duff share the stage for the first time in 26 years.

 

On July 6th, 2016 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, much to everyone’s surprise, Steven Adler jumped up behind the skins for GNR for the first time since Farm Aid in 1990. 26 years ago. Although he only played 2 songs, it was a surprise that pretty much no one saw coming and kept the fans in the GNR universe on their toes. Steven would appear a couple nights later in Nashville (glad i got to witness that one!!). He would not reappear till almost a month and a half later in Los Angeles. Seeing it in person was an amazing moment and one that i will never forget! 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqhQl9ewcE0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3nO-KBTOQg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoxOM8IMT4U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eXLmjPYv7U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij1AfxqIDTw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrQPmSbsAZw

a94a67191468275041_1024.jpg

 

So what did we learn ?

In the long run i think on this leg of the tour we learned that the band is really giving 150% every night and actually having fun! Axl and Slash are back to being "buddy buddy" and i think we have one Duff Rose the king of beers McKagan to thank for that! While the setlist may not change much every night, we found out Slash and even Duff were willing to play Chinese Democracy tracks, and Axl is considerate enough to even think about playing Slither, which would be awesome by the way! Steven is in the fold some how, and i think we have some time to wait before he becomes the full time drummer. What im really trying to say here is, what do we have to complain about? Everything has been awesome and only continues to get better and better with each week! 

 

What's Next?

Next we wait for Axl to kick ass with Axl/DC in the states, and i can't wait to see what Duff and Slash cook up in their off time! Slash is already scheduled to play a B.B. King Tribute in September by the way. Those men are work horses and cannot be stopped. Hopefully its a new Guns record, but anything at this point would make me happy. After that the boys return to Latin American where the crowds will no doubt be bigger and better. Hopefully some more surprises will be in store, but i can't wait to see them all back up on the stage together. Until then though, this was a fun ass time to be on this board! You guys make being a GNR fan fun! 

FB_IMG_1460331078045.jpg

 

great post, totally on point :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Firstly great post -

 

secondly - I really hope something is released for the troub show... that would be epic.. id not... then a pro shot with one of the shows where adler featured would be nice.

 

Cant wait till they swing down to Oz.... :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great post, sums it up for most of us I think.

the first moment where I realized they were actually on stage together again is in Detroit during live and let die, I went to Vegas and saw them there but I remember watching the periscope of Detroit and when they did live and let die it hit me...months of the ACDC being more important, and Axl and Slash just doing it for the Money, but this moment was the switch for me where I was like oh wait there they really are together again.

and I thought they sounded better on live and let die here than they did towards the end of the tour but this moment would be in my top 10...I think we all have that moment when it hit us.

mine was at 1:51 when Axl leans on Slash and the crowd goes crazy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for a great post.

It summed up what a great time we have all had, either watching on Periscope or at the gigs. Thanks to Downzy running the ticket competition I was lucky enough to win two tickets to the Metlife and managed to get tickets for the second night which prompted a first time visit to New York for me. I had a blast, the gigs were amazing and it was great seeing Axl, Slash and Duff on stage together again since the last time I saw them together in '93. I can't wait to see them in Europe next year and if you get the chance to see AXL/DC do it you wont regret it. Rock n Roll history, one man fronting two of the biggest bands in the world. This has truly been a wonderful year for the fans.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...