Concert Review: Guns N’ Roses @ Air Canada Centre

By: Curtis Sindrey –
Follow @Aesthetic_Mag

Guns N’ Roses. (Photo: Katarina Benzova)

Guns N’ Roses sent the Air Canada Centre to paradise city last night with a three-hour marathon performance in Toronto.

Led by the reunited trio of frontman Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash (who quit the band in 1996), and Duff McKagan (who quit in 1997), the group sounded as tight as ever with Slash’s mesmerizing guitar solos alone making the show worth the price of admission.

Guitarist Richard Fortus, who rounded out the lineup with keyboardists Dizzy Reed, and Melissa Reese, along with drummer Frank Ferrer, showcased undeniable chemistry with the beloved 80s rockers, particularly Slash, who he performed a guitar duet with on a cover of the Pink Floyd classic “Wish You Were Here”.

Looking like he never left the 80s with a red leather jacket, skinny jeans, and several crosses dangling from his neck, Rose exclaimed “do you know where the fuck you are?!?”, as Slash played the iconic opening notes of karaoke favourite “Welcome To The Jungle”, which prompted the first crowd singalong of the night.

While the seven-piece played many of their best-known songs, the night also played host of a bunch of covers, including a McKagan-led version of The Damned’s “New Rose”, Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door”, The Who’s “The Seeker”, “Speak Softly Love” from The Godfather, Wings’ “Live And Let Die”, and the aforementioned “Wish You Were Here”.

The band ended the nearly Springsteen-length show on a high-note as they launched into fan-favourite “Paradise City”, as fans enjoyed their most enthusiastic and final singalong of the night as bursts of fire, streaks of fireworks, and confetti showered the near-capacity crowd.

Set-List

1. It’s So Easy
2. Brownstone
3. Chinese Democracy
4. Welcome to the Jungle
5. Double Talkin’ Jive
6. Better
7. Estranged
8. Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
9. Rocket Queen
10. You Could Be Mine
11. New Rose (The Damned cover)
12. This I Love
13. Civil War
14. Yesterdays
15. Prostitute
16. Coma
17. Slash Guitar Solo
18. Speak Softly Love (Nino Rota cover)
19. Sweet Child O’ Mine
20. Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
21. Used to Love Her
22. My Michelle
23. Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd cover)
24. November Rain
25. Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
26. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
27. Nightrain

Encore:

28. Madagascar
29. Patience
30. Don’t Cry
31. The Seeker (The Who cover)
32. Paradise City