#SPOTTED: GUNS N’ ROSES IN TORONTO AT ROGERS CENTRE FOR THE “NOT IN THIS LIFETIME” TOUR

Never in a million years would I guess I’d be able to attend an actual Guns N’ Roses concert.  Although I don’t look like what you’d expect a typical fan, I ADORE GUNS N’ ROSES.  The soundtrack of my youth was supplied by the 100+ million album-selling iconic Rock outfit from Los Angeles.  As close as it will ever get to the original lineup, Toronto fans were treated to the opportunity of a lifetime to see them perform on-stage tonight at Rogers Centre as part of their Not In This Lifetime Tour.  The Tour name of course pokes fun at notoriously troubled times the band has faced over the years and ever-shifting personnel.

Hitting the stage at 10:00 PM sharp, Guns N’ Roses played well past midnight in a City preoccupied with curfews and fines. The filled arena was more than game to continue rocking with them.  Their extensive catalog was zipped through, highlighted by hits like Mr. Brownstone, Welcome to the Jungle, Live and Let Die, You Could Be Mine, November Rain, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door and Paradise City.

Despite less than optimal sound for much of the first part of the show, the kinks were ironed out by the half-way mark and Fans truly got what they came to see.  Slash certainly hasn’t lost a step at all and was in fine form, playing his way through the show with an alarming degree of precision and swagger. Lead Vocalist Axl Rose‘s voice is a rare gem, his range still there as he danced – in what seemed like an endless supply of black t-shirts – and ran his way across the stage tirelessly, aware which moments were his and those belonging to his bandmates.

Even with the occasional lull with placement of more recent material, the show ended on the highest of notes, rivaling only those in Rose‘s upper-register, with explosions, pyrotechnics and confetti.  It is a rarity that you leave a concert where fans are screaming as they joyfully walk their way out the venue’s twisty ramps and this is the high you leave with from a Guns N’ Roses concert. A deep pleasure.

Watch Guns N’ Roses perform Sweet Child O’ Mine below:

Paradise City

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)