nikothebellic

Apparently, there is a room for innovations — Melissa was promoted to have a stool. This is a huge stage upgrade, worth every sold t-shirt. 

The new line-up has hit live rock bottom, and not only Axl — Slash butchered NV and technical crew was sloppy as well. But it’s not something you can’t restore or improve, honestly, it was expected, just not in such scale. The main thing is what the band will learn from this experience.

Maybe Covid break affected them too much (though they had long breaks before and sounded better), but, as far as I am concerned, they need to conduct official warm up shows, therefore, not to fail expectations of those who come on the first show of the tour. For example, I would never attend GNR 1st show of the tour, cause I know what it may be, so if its going to be Europe 2022, it’ll be at least 8th or 9th. And it’s not right. Maybe, general public isn’t bothered like that, but why even they should judge the band based on half-powered performance?

All thing considered, they must conduct 3-5 pre-tour warm up shows in small clubs and auditoriums. That’s gonna be a good news story, and allow to perform in more intimate atmosphere, play 10-15 tracks every night with no complex songs. So, basically they need to do Trobadour 2016 before every leg. Fernando, hope you’re reading this!

Too many dramatics. I also in some way pissed off, that Guns N' Roses can't release new music, but also I am sick of all this ideas that "band is dead without new music", "won't listen until they release something" etc. I genuinely hope that they will release a new album, but for 90% I am sure it is not going to rock the world. There will be no new PC, no new SCOM or WTTJ. And I hate the idea to release something just to release something because the industry dictates that. Modern pop-musicians stamp shitty records every year, but they are known only for several weeks on billboard charts, then they are dead. 

And the band basically can't go bankrupt any time soon because it still gets royalty from the tons of merch, CD sales, digital rents, etc - GNR is a huge money-making machine even without new albums. Yes, it can't match The Rolling Stones' empire in terms of scale, but it still has necessary buzz to keep sales only due to the band's name. Sad but true.

Houston, finally. A huge improvement from the last series, the best so far. A quick recap for this time:
1. Shots of Dizzy and Melissa — wow, they are in the band actually! 
2. Sound is still mediocre, the audience is barely heard and during OTGM there were level fluctuations (how is it even possible of professional level?)
3. ...however I liked cinematography and editing during Houston show with its long and always close up shots — give as the full show!
4. And, of course, we finally got Axl in form for the whole video.  
5. It was a little boring to watch Axl sitting and these static long-range shots from Mexico... Well, as for me, I don't need more shows of spring 2016 (at least on video).

Well, I think it would be an obvious logic, that if you can't mix it properly, then give us at least a proper image with large stadiums and decent play from Axl — therefore, we need more from 2016. And that is gonna be my prayer for Fernando, tell him please, if you gonna cross by. 

And well, now we know that there is a Houston footage (I mean, its existence was obvious, but we've just got a piece of actual evidence), so give us Houston. I am even ready to pay for it.

I thought a lot about set listing and has come to an opinion, that I am okay with the current songs' order and selection, especially after unveiling some deep cuts in 2019 / 2020. I mean, they play all the hits, what more could we ask? More deep cuts? Yes. More variability? Yes. But, after all, if it's not your 10th or 20th concert, probably you have come to listen to WTTJ or PC or whatever. But, anyway, here is how I wish to organize the thing (sort of):

1    It's So Easy (CD, SOYL seems to be OK opening, but given the fact that Axl doesn't give a damn about much preparing for the show, ISE seems the best fit for him at any case. Nevertheless, good choice, short, easy to listen and fast paced)            
2    Mr. Brownstone (fits perfect as a continuation of ISE)   
3    Chinese Democracy  
4    Welcome to the Jungle (with long solo in the beginning for Axl resting his voice after first 3 songs)         
5    Double Talking Jive (long solo after and a first big break for Axl after killing it on WTTJ)            
6    Live and Let Die            
7    Shadow of My Love            
8    Rocket Queen (solo in the middle to let Axl's voice to rest after basically 3 songs again)            
9    Slither / Wichita Lineman / Feel Good / or other boring cover-filler    
10  There Was a Time / Coma / Locomotive (Never was really keen or Coma or Locomotive, but I feel it's a good idea to have them and switch from a show to show. And with There Was a Time (another pretty long song) just fill the 3rd optional spot)
11   You Could Be Mine (almost 1-minute of song's opening and allows Axl rest his voice, before going full rasp on YCBM)     
12   Attitude / New Rose / So Fine (other Duff's choice, another big break for Axl)    
13   This I Love (Axl tries his best after resting during Duff's spot)
14    Sorry / Catcher in the Rye / Prostitute / some other CD democracy stuff nobody cares about, Axl may doom it. 
15    Civil War (Axl's trying to kill it as he will have a break after anyway)           
16    Speak Softly Love (big break for Axl after he's done well with TIL and CW (or not)           
17    Sweet Child O' Mine  (tries his best, but, ya know)   
18    Used to Love Her / Yesterdays / Dead Horse (Some not so important / easy to sing after trying his best at SCOM)   
19    Don't Cry (Long solo before the song to give Axl time to prepare for the decent "And please remember..." part) 
20    Wish You Were Here (Love Fortus and Slash duo, let them keep it) 
21    November Rain (rested and prepared Axl nails November Rain (ha-ha, actually not)
22    Better (Long opening solo allows to move down the piano without interrupting the show) 
23    Estranged (just think that Estranged should be in the second part of the show. Wish it could be exactly after NR to put so called song trilogy together, but this way its okay as well).   
24    My Michelle / Out Ta Get Me / You're Crazy (easy, high-pitched song for Axl)    
25    Knockin' on Heavens Door (OWB + solos during the song allows Axl to prepare for the grand finale) 
26    Nightrain (a perfect closer) 
       Encore Break            
27    Patience (jam as an opening solo)            
28    Madagascar  
29    The Seeker / Whole Lotta Rosie / Black hole Sun (depending on Axl's state: if he feels good, can try WLR, not so — The Seeker. Feels sentimental — BHS)   
30    Paradise City            
 

Download Festival? Really? The haven't found anything better? Beginning of the leg, Axl is still in "charging up" mode, and we've already seen footage from there. Seems to me it was just available from promoters. 

The times when you know more about band’s inner life from interviews (the first one from Mel was in autumn 2018) of a keyboardist and background vocalist rather than the lead persons. Guns’ has finally achieved the privacy of touring. For better or for worse...  

On 22.05.2020 at 6:52 PM, MaskingApathy said:

Then he wouldn't have messed up the lyrics in CD

Well, frankly he did’t messed up as during the whole NITL he changed the second lines of 1st and 6th verses to “Guess I‘ll keep it to myself”, so he was right on his own terms if we are talking about this case. Also I re-listened and didn’t find other deviations from the original lyrics.   

5 hours ago, MaskingApathy said:

 

Do you guys remember the Coachella stream? I think it was wttj and NR. Those looked and sounded great, and that's what this one should've been like too. Good effort this time around but I would expect better from a band of this size.

Yeah, I do! Actually, I even saved audio from Coachella pro-shots and keep it in iPhone for listening — they were mixed sound-wise with distinctive instruments and perfectly balanced crowd. And Nightrain from this show, which appeared later on SiriusXM, sounds perfect and is the best “Official” recording that we got from NITL. So, seems it depends on the venue — maybe festival teams are just more professional. 
 

Yet again, I’m not completely bitching the new release’s mixing...but it sounds like a video segment from a morning show. I think so anticipated live footage might have been treated better and produced to show all the mightiness of the band, not just to remind that they are still out there. 

There is no a single aspect which I genuinely liked about the video apart from the fact the it’s been finally released and the things are in motion now.

1. That would be a shame if they’ll ignore 2016 just because don’t want to look silly realising those videos only now. As the band was at its prime back then, I would rather listen most tracks from there plus some deep cuts from the following years. But I hope they just use 2017-2019 to fill the songs which Axl can sing in any state to create the visibility that they have covered all the years and more crucial performances will be taken from 2016.

2. No shots of Dizzy or Melissa (or did I missed them?) — are they in the band after all? Backing vocals and piano still play roles in given songs.

3. Not enough close ups at action moments — the experience feels too distant.

4. Too many shots from above the FOH, distant views — they are too static and useful only when pyrotechnics are in charge. Not great for arena shows.

5. No or low crowd noise — is it a live video or studio-live-Frankenstein? Return the audience! 
 

6. Transitions between songs were also a little lame — it is a live video from the same show, what’s the point of mini-intermissions? Use crowd shots, mix the audio and create a seamless experience.
 

7. Strange choice to use an arena show instead of a stadium one, as the latter is usually better for video Pro Shot. Hope they won’t choose a strategy to show songs which aren't on YouTube yet. I’m doubtful, that in the era of iPhones we’ve  not captured all the epic performances already. 
 

8. I’m not a sound engineer, so hard to tell objectively, but the sound also was not at its best. Okay, its a lossy YouTube track, but still it’s possible to make a good mixing with deep sound and all the instruments in charge. Sometimes, it felt like just Axl and Slash was in the mix. 

Glad to see the video after all and anticipate the next ones, but if they would be the same quality and not concert-wise, I’d rather return to fan-made pro-shots or first row videos. 
 

We should be careful with sharing the links! The vengeful spirit of copyright claims may accidentally take down the official footage as well and for sure that is the only copy they have. The management will deny everything for real this time.

6 minutes ago, Kranich said:

All jokes aside if you were to say the year of farewell tour for TRS what would it be ? 

I would personally bet on 2022

 

As The Stones is my #1 band, probably I would be bias and say that I'm hoping the farewell tour won't happen in the nearest future, but if to be realistic, it is up on the horizon. Still, I think 2022 is too early as there will be for sure a 60th anniversary tour and a show in London. Maybe even in 2023 as they did in 2013. Unfortunately, it hard to tell from this point as only Mick knows for how long he could keep his shape. He will be 80 in 2024, so probably 'Farewell+anniversary tour 2022-2024" is the most logical assumption. However, if to recall earlier interviews, all band members more or less agreed, that only death will apart them and are going to play as long as possible. Therefore, several tours after No Filter is still a possibility and 65th anniversary in 2027 and 70th in 2032 could actually happen. Most likely it will be one at a time shows with 5-10 songs in setlists.     

That's what GnR thinks about the subject. 

17 minutes ago, sl4yer said:

Even weirder is this super bowl festival. Like they don’t usually do single show and then nothing for two months

I think they just want to go for Super Bowl themselves and (maybe) they were offered nice stadium suite as a part of a deal. Or just want to spend time with pleasure and earn money as well. There is some scheme for sure.

There is still a significant gap between Landgraaf show on June 21st and Dublin show in June 27th - any ideas, rumors of an additional date? Logically, there should one more show on the 24th of June.

On 11/22/2019 at 8:20 PM, GNRfanMILO said:

They broke $10 million on five separate engagements throughout the run (London; East Rutherford, N.J.; Tallinn, Estonia; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Sao Paulo, Brazil)

I still wonder how did they broke $10 millions in Tallinn. I was at this show and it was not an arena, not a stadium, but a field, therefore the prices were cheaper than usual. We got a Golden Circle for somewhere around 110 EUR. Even if to take into consideration expensive VIP packages, most of the tickets were less than 100 EUR, so they needed at least 90 000 on that show, but from my personal experience and photos from the gig, the actual attendance was around 50 000 - 60 000. So, either it really was the highest attended show on the tour (excluding festival appearances) or they miscalculated something.  

I thought a lot about this actually, but, after all, ISE is a great show opener - energetic, lyrics starts fast and being short with smoothly turning into Brownstone. 

However, if to wonder, I think Chinese Democracy is also may be a good opener - energetic as well with iconic, but not too long opening solo. SOYL also may played out as well - it has a little bit too long opening solo, but fits as an opener. YCBM with the same concept. WTTJ is hardly can be opener these days - too iconic and too important to waste on the first song, when the audience and the band are not warmed properly. 

Nightrain is a perfect main set closer, doesn't see proper alternatives. And nothing will close the show as PC does.

1 hour ago, jamillos said:

Ok, but a few remarks:
- I’d love them to spend some time in the studio. 
- We do need new music. Slash promised new music. It’s a natural course of a band’s existence. 
- They might invest tons of money, but they made shitloads of tons of money in the last 3 years. 
- Album can’t flop; I honestly cannot imagine these people could even be capable of releasing something that wouldn’t be absolutely awesome. Seriously. 
- They have no reason to quarrel. They’ve been riding on the wave, having the time of their lives, getting paid like never before. They’re just sitting back, laughing and smoking cigars, man!
- The world does need new GN’R music. Besides, I don’t think they could tour this same playlist for that many years on. Maybe a few, with lesser numbers constantly decreasing. 
- A new album has been promised by Slash, no reason to doubt it (although I don’t believe for a second that "in 6 months" nonsense from whoever that guy on Reddit is). And it will be great. It doesn’t have to rewrite the books of rock n’ roll, it just needs to be great. And Axl will sound great in the studio, too. 
- Otherwise, I agree.

There's nothing I could severe disagree on! Indeed, the band needs new music as a logical continuation of their reunion, but I just don't see the rush in it as some people do. It doesn't bother me whether new album will be "on air" within a year or three, even more I don't give a damn about live premieres of new music - it will be done, when it is done. We owe the band some credit as I thought that even Led Zeppelin would reunite sooner. Of course, if after 5 more years of rumors and gossips nothing would be done, the questioning will be justified, but now I am just happy they are together, rocking the world and playing deep cuts. But some individuals act rather odd: after fulfilling their lust for seeing reunion Live 2-3 times, start to demand new music as if they are only listeners on the planet.   

2 hours ago, The Real McCoy said:

I WANT them to succeed. I WANT to see them take chances and do things outside of the box. I WANT them to release new music.

Sometimes "succeed" and "do things outside the box" are alternatives - and to keep a success you need to play safe. And ironically releasing new music for GnR was always a risk. And even if they'll release it today, I doubt that it would become a huge hit in terms of profits and quality - even for fans. Of course, now we can dream about whatever we want, however, this lust for "just releasing music" is one step from becoming a blind addiction. After all, I personally don't mind if they'll come to a city near me and play the same set - will see them for 4th time on this tour and I am perfectly okay with that, because I love GnR not for they could do in the future, but because of what they've done in the past. I'll be very glad if they'll release some new stuff, but don't want see them spending a whole year in a studio recording, probably, some shit just to fulfill the idea that "we need new music" - after investing tons of money, album will flop, band will be caught in an another controversy and quarrel between themselves - and it will be the end. Quite a negative scenario, but the reality is that the world at large probably doesn't need new GnR music. Fans do, but no the general public from billboard charts - no. Maybe, Axl and Co will pull it off and create a next step in evolution of rock, but i doubt that. And even from the point of adding new stuff to the set it also doesn't work - better to include more deep cuts. Yet again, I'm totally for the new album, but also I get why the things are going like they do. 

This autumn tour was quite a success, I think - we got Locomotive and Dead Horse - in terms of previous years it's a huge step forward towards more deep cuts from classical albums. Though, Axl sounded not at his prime, but, well, at least far from miserable. Long live GNR.  

Wow, that’s a decent thread - thought I was the only one being displeased with the latest videos, publications and overall attitude.

Firstly, I’d like to say, that I am a big fan lf the channel - in-depth analysis of stories and up-to-date news and gossips makes it an essential GnR source. However, there are some basics where the channel is becoming really annoying:

1. Hating every band’s misstep and mega-bias attitude towards GnR management. Of course, things might be managed better in GnR world, but bitching high ticket prices and boring setlists is just odd - music is business nowadays and its not surprising that money is above fan stuff. Though, must say, was on 3 EU shows and all of them was priced reasonably. The set is pretty much the same, but awesome at its variability. 
2. Blind biases towards Izzy and Steven - They are untouchable there and Axl & Co are the main villains at every dispute - c’mon, let’s not be childish or romantic - this page of GnR is already turned around - Izzy and Steven are not the part of the band now. And it’s not Axl’s or anybody’s fault - things just happened(or not). Nobody was fired or forced to leave the band as it is sometimes sold. 
3. Boring recent concert recaps and news - when I spend at least 5 minutes of my life on YouTube, I want to get some valuable information or insights, but reviews are basically the set and the news sometimes is so irrelevant - and quite often they are just hid under hot headlines. Preferred to have more scoops and theories (as it was in other day).
4. Just annoyed with “Hey Everybody, What’s Going On”. 
 

All in all, I still subscribed and not planning to leave... but the channel knew better times.

1 minute ago, IncitingChaos said:

Did he rasp the “while you’re breaking down my back...” part on YCBM? 

Widely depends on the show 

On 6/8/2019 at 4:26 PM, sl4yer said:

Double Talking Jive

Better

...

Estranged 

Live and Let Die 

Rocket Queen

You Could Be Mine

6 hours ago, fanfzero said:

Is it the fan4fan (you can see it on the menu) version or is it a new one?

Suppose it is not, as I hunted for the Chicago show for a quite some time a year ago and it was essential for me to get the best possible - therefore have found fan4fan version, where Pro-Short finishes shortly after Slash's solo, at the first verse or somewhere close, as I even edited together soundboard and audience for personal use and used a whistle as a transition between versions - I did it so early as there were no more complete verses or so. When I stuck at this one, was amazed how longer it is in terms what I saw previously. Maybe, it is some sort of Deluxe-deluxe edition, which I haven't seen, don't know, but for it is longer than anything I have seen earlier, including fan4fan's version. 

1 minute ago, djones1225 said:

Hows the audio on Houston?

A little bit "underwater", but still good - lyrics, riffs and backing vocals are distinguishable. The same it was on separate clips which were annihilated. With such a killer angle, audio is sometimes less important.