Guns n’ Roses: an hour-long display of rock power

Not that anyone in their right mind expected otherwise. But looking at him face to face, with the weight of the legend and all the emotions that the old fan stored in his youth, the thing doesn’t stop working. Guns n’ Roses are no longer the suicide band that walked on the edge of a knife in the late 80s, today they remember it with several children (his children? grandchildren?) on stage guarded by a security guard. In the background, an audiovisual production that digitally plays with its analog iconography. And below are some fans who look at the clock out of the corner of their eye, thinking to come to the office the next day as awake as possible. in the middle of it, The thought of a happy Axl, delighted to put on sneakers, wear silver pants and change into an endless array of t-shirts and shirts, brought a telling smile.. Probably the same one that old fans of the Rolling Stones painted on their faces when Satanic Majesties recreated their legend in 1989, while the opening acts were some very young Los Angeles musicians who were smashing everything. It was, of course, Guns n’ Roses.

34 years have passed since then, and yesterday in Balaídos the American band performed for the first time in Galicia. This time there was no fresh blood on the tables wanting to investigate his scream between the letters of his great name. Some veterans were the opening act – even more so than Guns n’ Roses – Pretenders. They revised the band’s classic repertoire with smoothness and fantastic electricity. chrissie hynde, in front, sang wonderfully well and remembered that not so long ago she was a star in Castrelos or in the northwest of A Coruña. That solvency made many think about the big Achilles heel of current Guns n’ Roses: the voice of Axl that cannot reach the impossible records of the past and that in some recent videos – specifically, the Rock In Rio 2023 one – he set off all the alarms because of his fragility. But with only a few songs – a great start It’s that easy and its continuation, with Bad obsession– Guns n’ Roses made it clear that what can be seen in the cell phone window is one thing. Another, to have them face to face sounding like a granite ball of rock materializing before the eyes of 25,000 people.

The band’s Guns n’ Roses gig started well, intoned and playing exactly where they needed to be played: in the heart of the fans, hard. Early reading Live and let die – after taking a bite out of Velvet Revolver’s repertoire and “Chinese Democracy”, which was more suited to sharing egos than needs – raised the tension even more. As people chanted “lo, lo, lo, lo” the devilish curve of the song and the group in the boiling, it started. The charismatic power of his characters soon became apparent. In front, a Duff McKagan with a bad face and which is excellently preserved; And slash making Slash better than everyone else; i.a Axl which, given the background, was pleasantly surprising. Not ’88 or ’91, of course. But, In general, he performed his role as the frontman of a rock legend with dignity and unusual cuteness.. And where he didn’t make it, Duff and the keyboardist helped him Melissa Reese doing choirs.

There were weak points created by his throat. Especially in the final part of the concert. While, for example, he played brilliantly cold rain it was heard how he entered with a heavy limp Knocking on heaven’s door. Not to mention the total absurdity of referring to a topic like prostitute, where the singer showed all his limitations in an irrelevant and out-of-place piece, which should not be in the repertoire. In this respect, the recital also showed another weakness, inflating the set list with covers, secondary themes and guitar solos that could have been salvaged. So they stretched out for about three and a half hours, when with a better selection they could have woven a round two-hour concert.

Because there was a lot of good at this concert. AND Welcome to the jungle to be inflated. electrifying Reckless life which is scratched like in the old days. A huge It could be mine connected with TV eye from The Stooges spitting punk rocker Duff. AND civil war invoking the war in Ukraine which has thrilled those who enjoy the group’s most epic side. And of course a Sweet Child O’Mine miraculous with hands in the air, fast heartbeats and an exciting reunion with the past. Encore, rescue patience -this, yes, is sung as in 88-, revision of yesterday and at the end of everything, the anthem of Mr heavenly city. But it is still true that everything it would be more satisfying to eliminate the straw that left more than one exhausted looking for time as a team worth the results.

It’s a shame because if Guns n’ Roses showed one thing last night, it was that their mythical songs must be played, preserved and passed down as the almost museum treasures that they are. And yes, within the limitations of their singer, they do it in a way that sets people on fire. In old and new fans. However, such an approach backfires, tires the audience and makes them want the end. “They play for me half the time, and they also charge me half. It would be a round concert”, was heard at the exit. It can be assumed that something similar was said in many cars that endowed Ap-9 with unusual density on the way back, at two and three in the morning.