itsy

ok so im back home now, still fucking hot outside, and i had to attend 2 apartment inspections before i could actually put my feet up.  but here is my review:

First time I saw Slash was in 2005 when he toured Sydney with Velvet Revolver.  That was my first ever actual gig as a punter.  I still remember the high I felt just being there in the mosh pit even though im petrified of crowds and it was sweaty as fuck and during the entire first song (Sucker Train Blues) I legit thought I was going to die.  2 years later I saw Axl with Guns N' Roses when he came to Sydney in 2007.  For this show I gave myself a break and bought a reserved seat in one of the wings.  Not the best view but Axl sounded great that year regardless.  In 2012 I filmed Slash when he came here with Miles Kennedy and the Conspirators.  God damn sensational show (and available in almost real HD, we shot it 1080i).  So thats where I was at with my live experiences.

Fast forward to last night.  Arrived at my hotel at 2pm in the scorching heat and checked in.  Fell asleep on the bed with the air con as cold as i could get it.  woke up around 4 and left to collect some merch.  was even hotter outside but i managed to trudge to the merch tent.  picked up 2 shirts then headed off to the other tent for lithos and a program and another shirt.  they appeared to have complimentary sun screen but i didnt take any.  i hauled my loot back to my hotel room and chilled out till about 5:30.  way more people now in the lobby.  glad i checked in early.  walk to the stadium and find my line.  luckily i was only lined up outside for about 5 minutes before we started moving inside.  got inside only to get stuck in a bottleneck security point getting into diamind GA standing zone.  they are taking everyones tickets and giving us orange wrist bands.  im kind of disappointed i wanted to keep my ticket.  i still have my axl ticket from 07.  finally get into the area, not too many people there yet.  sun still raping my face and arms with no remorse.  i start spotting beer and i figured i could go and get some so i did.  left my spot and strolled up the steps and easily purshased 2 beers and a bottle of water.  strolled back to my spot with my water bottle cap intact.  we had to remove our bottle caps but i managed to disguise mine.  crowd very slow to build up.  

started chatting with this italian dude, he was super pumped for the show.  we talked about gigs we have seen before, and our height difference.  i fully appreciate my height and it lets me view gigs a lot more easily than short people.  rose tattoo come on.  Angry is on fire.  they put on a great show.  Can't Be Beaten my favourite of the set.  No Nice Boys but maybe saving it in case Axl invites him on later?  Angry makes several references to embryos having to google things.  They finish.  there is a tall dude near me and his much shorter presumably girlfriend.  minutes before Guns came on, 4 or 5 jerkwads arrive and push their way past us and squeeze in right in front of tall guys girlfriend.  there really wasnt any room but that didnt stop those cunts just barging their way in forcefully.  they are all very loud and obnoxious compared to the general demeanor of the rest of the crowd in the area.  the poor short girl in front of me looks clearly unhappy now.  i see her record a short video showing her view of the show.  her phones camera only picking up large mens backs and heads, and their loud probably high or drunk alpha male voices polluting the air.

Guns N' Roses take the stage.  everything is forgotten.  I wont go into detail about the gig, you all saw it, but ill mention my favourite bits.  Live and Let Die, always loved their version of it.  Axls scream, and all the guitar bits.  I absolutely loved when the centre rear video wall had Axl, Slash and Duff in black and white each with their own camera on them in a separate one third box as they all performed/ran around during the shreddy guitar parts.  was so awesome.  I also loved This I Love.  I have said it before on these forums but when Axl finishes singing his bit then Slash steps up with his solo, it isnt just a solo, its a reply to Axl.  i love it.  to me its 100% a song about bromance and just fucken loving playing together again while being mindful of the last 20 years.  I loved Slash playing his guitar behind his head during the Paradise City solo ending with confetti flying in the air and fire shooting up in the background.  Killer moment ill remember for the rest of my life for sure.  I loved Slash and Richard up the back on the riser doing Wish You Were Here.  Such respect between these two incredible musicians.  Also Estranged, Axl intros Dizzy and his whole piano solo was epic and just like ive always heard it.  Duff's Attitude was awesome.  Civil War was fucken great.

After the gig I waited around in the middle for the crowd to diminish so i wouldnt get stuck in some cramped space for ages trying to get out.  I get outside and holy shit I have never seen so many people.  I am sooo glad i got a hotel room and didnt have to trudge like cattle toward the train station.  just so many people..  on my way to the hotel the mcdonalds on site was absolutely wall to wall people, and massive long lines going all the way outside.  hilariously enough once i got into my hotel lobby i find out i have to line up just to get into an elevator to get to my room!  didnt want all that long but it was still pretty ironic.  Get to my room, air con still on, fridge pre-filled with my now nicely chilled beverages including several cans of Dr Pepper.  do not judge me.  Ren & Stimpy is on tv and i ordered room service.  toasted sourdough chicken breast sandwich, and minced beef nachos with sour cream and avocado, and a choc fudge brownie.  

a fucken killer night.  something that did surprise me, despite the floor plans for this gig, the 'Welcome To The Jungle' area right up front seemed to have access to both sides of the stage at the venue.  had i known this was going to be the case, i would have forked out the extra cash for one of those tickets.  looked like they had a decent amount of space to move around too from what i could see.  Can anyone verify what it was like?

The End.  looking forward to tonights show on the forums.  \m/

In my hotel room on site with air con cranking, fuck it's hot...  Here's my loot so far.