Guns N’ Roses Allstate Arena Review

Wednesday, November 15, 2011
By Aaron Keker

ALLSTATE ARENA, Rosemont – Welcome to Guns N’ Roses’ jungle! They’ll go on stage around 11:12 p.m. They’ll get on the bus shortly after 2:02 a.m. and feelin’ fine.

It was another five hour spectacle, but unlike the reputation that Guns N’ Roses is fashionably late, this time it was a myth.

The concert was ticketed for a 9:00 p.m. start, but Adelitas Way started their performance at 9:30 p.m. and ended at 10:30 p.m.

Guns N’ Roses commenced their evening with a little “Chinese Democracy.” GN’R’s performance started out shaky like a 5.0 magnitude earthquake. Axl Rose’s vocals could barely be heard and it seemed like the instruments were the focal point.

Axl Rose’s vocals definitely improved throughout the evening, but Axl sounded his best during “Don’t Cry” and “Patience.” 

If Axl Rose continues to battle the instrument level during the remainder of Guns N’ Roses U.S. tour, don’t be surprised if GN’R has to cancel some upcoming shows because of Axl’s vocal issues. This isn’t stereo wars against your dorm room neighbor. We’re talking about Axl Rose’s livelihood here. GN’R may lose some of their U.S. fan base, if they are forced to cancel any tour dates due to Axl Rose losing his voice.

Hopefully, people have laid the rest the notion of Slash and Duff McKagan joining Guns N’ Roses for a reunion tour after watching and hearing DJ Ashba (“Ash”), Bumblefoot, Tommy Stinson and Richard Fortus. They were either featured during a guitar solo or even singing a cover song of The Who’s “My Generation.”

Richard Fortus performed a guitar solo of the “James Bond Theme” right before Guns N’ Roses performed “Live and Let Die.”

Tommy Stinson was on deck with a cover of The Who’s “My Generation.” Tommy sang the song with authority.

Ash performed a guitar solo of “Mi Amor” right before Guns N’ Roses performed one of their biggest hits in “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” Ash reminds you a little bit of Slash as he performed with a hat and cigarette the entire evening while strumming the electric guitar.

Finally, Bumblefoot performed a guitar solo of the “Pink Panther Theme” right before Guns N’ Roses performed another big hit in “Don’t Cry.” You may or may not be aware of this, but there are supposedly three versions of “Don’t Cry.” Guns N’ Roses performed version 1 from Use Your Illusions I.

Guns N’ Roses barreled through their set list like a freight train, only momentarily stopping for an encore before they chugged their final engines with “Paradise City.”

Axl Rose soared like an eagle as he ran around the entire stage all night. Axl even managed to take several short breaks during each song. Axl Rose would run towards the back of the stage. Momentarily took his break and then he would run back and belt out the remainder of the lyrics to the song.

“Patience” was one of the most memorable highlights of the evening. At one point as Ash sat on the rail playing the electric guitar, Axl Rose ran away from Ash and his hat flew off.

Just like the entire evening, Axl Rose tossed his mic stand at the Lite-Brite lights that were part of the bottom stage below drummer Frank Ferrer. During “Live and Let Die,” Axl even managed to break a few lights that were quickly replaced by one of his crew members.

With the exception of those individuals either making a bathroom run or leaving because it was already too late for them, the remainder of the Allstate Arena had been shackled to their seats. Guns N’ Roses, welcome back to the U.S. jungle! Guns N’ Roses’s performance was a killer show that won’t be forgotten anytime soon!

Allstate Arena Set List:

1. Dexter Intro
2. “Chinese Democracy”
3. “Welcome to the Jungle”
4. “It’s So Easy”
5. “Mr. Brownstone”
6. “Sorry”
7. “Riff Raff” (AC/DC Cover)
8. “Estranged”
9. “Better”
10. Richard Fortus Guitar Solo (“James Bond Theme”)
11. “Live and Let Die” (Paul McCartney & Wings Cover)
12. “This I Love”
13. “Rocket Queen”
14. “My Generation” (The Who Cover) (Tommy Stinson on Lead Vocals, with Band Introductions )
15. Dizzy Reed Piano Solo (The Who “Baba O’Riley”)
16. “Street of Dreams”
17. “You Could Be Mine”
18. DJ Ashba Guitar Solo (“Mi Amor”)
19. “Sweet Child O’ Mine”
20. Instrumental Jam (Pink Floyd “Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2” )
21. Axl Rose Piano Solo (Elton John “Someone Saved My Life Tonight”)
22. “November Rain”
23. Bumblefoot Guitar Solo (“Pink Panther Theme”)
24. “Don’t Cry”
25. “Whole Lotta Rosie” (AC/DC Cover)
26. “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” (Bob Dylan Cover)
27. “Nightrain”

Encore:

28. “Madagascar”
29. “Shackler’s Revenge”
30. “Patience”
31. Instrumental Jam (Happy Birthday to Chris Pitman)
32. “Paradise City”