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And as the Canadian leg of the tour comes to an end..

Zint

By Zint
in 2013

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Zint LEGEND

Zint

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does this say it all??

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/07/16/plenty-of-hits-and-misses-in-lengthy-guns-n-roses-show

TORONTO - At times Monday night you almost felt sorry for Axl Rose even as he did his occasional snake-like shimmy and twirled about the stage.

Although the Guns N' Roses lead singer came on less than 20 minutes later than slated, the fact he's essentially passed the torch of asinine late starts to Justin Bieber is a plus. Sadly though the at best half-full Sound Academy demonstrated the group has seen better days.

Despite a marathon length set clocking in around 160 minutes, Rose and his hired hands couldn't quite hit a consistent level with an audience that looked overtly small. Perhaps the price point of $125 a pop (and $350 for some VIP areas) wasn't a huge selling point. Combine that with the group's 2010 Air Canada Centre show which saw Rose take the stage two hours late and fans might have been hesitant as to what to expect.

The ebbs and flows were largely in part to the fact Rose had a hard time hitting the high notes on songs like Welcome To The Jungle and the show starter Chinese Democracy. When the tunes didn't quite need the vocal prowess or gymnastics on the ensuing tandem of It's So Easy and Mr. Brownstone, it sounded like it was almost the old G N' R with Slash, Duff McKagan, Izzy Stradlin and Steven Adler circa Appetite For Destruction.

Almost.

While the group have released a new album in the last decade in 2008's Chinese Democracy, Guns N' Roses dove deep into their stadium-worthy ballsy rockers highlighted by Sweet Child O' Mine halfway through the main set. Here Rose might have been better off letting the crowd drown him out instead of trying to nail notes he simply can't execute strongly anymore. But one of the bigger highlights was seeing Estranged dusted off, the winding power ballad from 1991's Use Your Illusion II Rose and guitarists DJ Ashba, Richard Fortus and Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal fleshed out perfectly.

For every strong tune there was simply filler as Rose routinely fled to a curtained off area to perhaps rest, change attire or maybe go to confession. The majority of the group each had their own moment in the spotlight with bassist Tommy Stinson shining on his own punk-ish tune Motivation. Sadly other guitar solos or keyboard solos were essentially needless.

The elusive Rose said very little to the crowd outside of a few thank yous and referring to Neil Young after covering Don't Let It Bring You Down. He didn't have to say much with some very strong performances during November Rain, the still bombastic Wings cover Live And Let Die and the lengthy Bob Dylan staple Knockin' On Heaven's Door. And no, Bob Dylan, also performing in town Monday night, didn't join Axl on stage for the classic.

With some people heading for the exits as Nightrain brought the 24-song main set to a close, Guns N' Roses quickly returned with Patience before Paradise City wrapped up the night, er, morning. On the whole the show was a wide-spanning look at what once was one of the biggest acts in rock and roll.

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originalgnrnewgnr Junior

originalgnrnewgnr

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You know it's bad when the mods don't even deny that GNR is shit anymore.

I feel like Guns N' Roses barely died in RIR4 and is being kept alive by machines.

what a big series of let downs it has been since the end of the 2010 leg of the chinese democracy world tour. axl and management are now a joke more than ever. someone please pull the plug, this "band" needs to go away.

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Kapitch_77 GOD

Kapitch_77

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nice review. time to call it a day as a live band and focus on releasing songs from the vault and then finish the gnr legacy with some kind of respect.

Like releasing stuff from the real band: Ritz 88 on dvd, Paris 1992 on dvd, live cds, stuff that would interest the fans.

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Cosmo FRONTMAN

Cosmo

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You know it's bad when the mods don't even deny that GNR is shit anymore.

I feel like Guns N' Roses barely died in RIR4 and is being kept alive by machines.

what a big series of let downs it has been since the end of the 2010 leg of the chinese democracy world tour. axl and management are now a joke more than ever. someone please pull the plug, this "band" needs to go away.

I swear.... It's like Guns N' Roses is in vegetative state. I don't know why Beta and Team Brazil act like we should be grateful Guns N' Roses still exists. It was Axl who fucked it all up, it was Axl who refused to reunite, to attend the hall of fame, I just don't get it. We're not lucky Axl hijacked Guns N' Roses and turned it into a touring circus. It's actually a shame. They should be trying to desperately please the fans, gain some respect. Have something to be remembered by musically. I swear, it's like they all hate the hardcore fanbase.
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WhazUp LEGEND

WhazUp

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It seems that most on this forum now is tired of what it going on, that is pretty telling along with the review

yeah it is getting that way :lol:

Bacardi had it right - when the mods start with the negativity you know there is something wrong lol

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Zint LEGEND

Zint

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It seems that most on this forum now is tired of what it going on, that is pretty telling along with the review

yeah it is getting that way :lol:

Bacardi had it right - when the mods start with the negativity you know there is something wrong lol

How did I start with negativity?

I just asked a question. :book:

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WhazUp LEGEND

WhazUp

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It seems that most on this forum now is tired of what it going on, that is pretty telling along with the review

yeah it is getting that way :lol:

Bacardi had it right - when the mods start with the negativity you know there is something wrong lol

How did I start with negativity?

I just asked a question. :book:

Ha touche ;)

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Zint LEGEND

Zint

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I will say this though, I don't disagree with some of that review.

The bar was half full, at best.

what needs to happen to you completely lose your faith? honest question. i like to know the mods opinions.

Oh don't get me wrong man, it's hanging on a thin thread. :tongue2:

See, the thing is, at that show Monday night, I witnessed Axl Rose.

What I mean by that is, that guy can still turn it on, when he wants to, and when he does you fucking know it.

At times throughout the show, I saw some of the same Axl Rose that I first saw in Toronto in '91.

And that's why I still hang on. It's there to do something with and god damn it I'd love to see him pull something out of the hat, ya know?

I just don't understand the lack of productivity. :shrugs:

The cupcakes can bag on shitty youtube clips all they want, but standing in a bar Monday night watching Axl Rose, carefully, it was obvious to me that there is enough gas in the can to do something more, even if it was with the original line up, if he were to so choose. That is, if he isn't going to bother doing anything creatively new.

I'd love to hear new music, I really would, but man...if you're done with your muse, call up the lads and kick it up right, because you know you still can.

If all you're going to do is tour the classics, then burn this shit to the ground with the fuckin boys and exit stage left.

There's a gazillion fans out there who'd god love ya for it.

Or you can keep playing half filled bars. :popcorn:

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Montrealer OH MY GOD

Montrealer

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I will say this though, I don't disagree with some of that review.

The bar was half full, at best.

what needs to happen to you completely lose your faith? honest question. i like to know the mods opinions.

Oh don't get me wrong man, it's hanging on a thin thread. :tongue2:

See, the thing is, at that show Monday night, I witnessed Axl Rose.

What I mean by that is, that guy can still turn it on, when he wants to, and when he does you fucking know it.

At times throughout the show, I saw some of the same Axl Rose that I first saw in Toronto in '91.

And that's why I still hang on. It's there to do something with and god damn it I'd love to see him pull something out of the hat, ya know?

I just don't understand the lack of productivity. :shrugs:

The cupcakes can bag on shitty youtube clips all they want, but standing in a bar Monday night watching Axl Rose, carefully, it was obvious to me that there is enough gas in the can to do something more, even if it was with the original line up, if he were to so choose. That is, if he isn't going to bother doing anything creatively new.

I'd love to hear new music, I really would, but man...if you're done with your muse, call up the lads and kick it up right, because you know you still can.

If all you're going to do is tour the classics, then burn this shit to the ground with the fuckin boys and exit stage left.

There's a gazillion fans out there who'd god love ya for it.

Or you can keep playing half filled bars. :popcorn:

That's exactly how I felt about the Montreal show! Great post Zint!

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Nosaj Thing LEGEND

Nosaj Thing

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You know it's bad when the mods don't even deny that GNR is shit anymore.

I don't think Zint was calling Axl's band, shit. However, I think he's just being rational and telling the truth. He's not going to be another deluded, misguided, pathetic, psychotic, blind Axl fan.

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Guest NGOG

Guest NGOG

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If anybody is qualified to tell us the reality of things it's you Zint. Would you agree with the assertions of the Sun critic? It's the most snarly piece I've read about GNR in a long time.

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Guest cbgnr666

Guest cbgnr666

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That's too bad the crowd was small.Really negative reviews and the reviewer's point of view are always more popular too forum member's it seems.Good to great reviews,and there have been plenty lately that have positive mentions are largely ignored and barely acknowledged.

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downzy LEGEND

downzy

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125 dollars a ticket? goddamn.

It was actually $145 with taxes and fees.

Would have given more thought to going had they charged Toronto fans the same prices they were charging during the UCAP tour, but apparently Canadian fans got the shaft in that respect.

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