On Thursday night Guns N' Roses brought their current tour to the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Frontman Axl Rose decided earlier this year to head back out on the road with his latest incarnation of Guns N' Roses (only Rose and keyboardist Dizzy Reed remain from the early Guns N' Roses era) and the tour has been getting a positive response everwhere it has been.
Thursday's show saw a small crowd with the entire upper level of the Palace blocked off but those who made it out were treated to a rocking almost 3 hour set from the band and a solid set from New York City openers D Generation.
This was the punk rock band's first time in the Detroit area in over a decade and they seemed to be enjoying it.
Frontman Jesse Malin appeared to have been partying a little too hard before the set as he occasionally seemed to lose his train of thought and was staggering all over the stage, even falling at one point.
However, this did not stop him from ripping through songs like "Degenerated", "Capital Offender" and "Working On the Avenue".
The band did a nice job of getting the crowd warmed up for the main act inspite of the fact that it was guaranteed to be a long wait until they came on.
Malin actually opened their set by asking the crowd, "You guys ready for a long night?" which amused those in attendance as most people are well aware of Guns N' Roses' reputation for late starts.
In fact, Guns N' Roses last show at the Palace back in 2002 actually began just before 1 am with Rose greeting the crowd with "Good Morning!"
Knowing this, many of those who decided to come out for Thursday's show came late and spent much of their time sitting out at the venue's many restaurants watching football and waiting for the band to take the stage.
Surprisingly, Guns N' Roses hit the stage at a relatively reasonable 10:52 pm creating a mass rush of people heading back to their seats as the band performed "Chinese Democracy".
By the time Axl used his popular catch phrase "Do you know where you are? You're in the jungle baby!" as the band rocked "Welcome to the Jungle" complete with lots of pyro, the main floor had packed in and most of the lower seats had filled up.
Many of those in attendance came to see Guns N' Roses play the songs that they grew up with and they were not disappointed as the band went on to pull out everything from "It's So Easy" and "Mr. Brownstone" to "You Could Be Mine" and "Sweet Child O' Mine".
In between they pulled out some covers like "Live and Let Die" and "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" and played a number of songs off of the band's last album Chinese Democracy included passionate performances of "Sorry" and "Madagascar".
Certainly the band's original lineup including Slash will always remain its best and most popular but the group that Rose has assembled this time out is a solid band of great musicians who clearly enjoy playing together and seem to be a cohesive unit.
In between every song Rose went to the back to take a break and change his wardrobe which allowed each member of the band to shine on his own solo with bassist Tommy Stinson even getting a chance to showcase his vocals on the Dead Boys' "Sonic Reducer".
Reed has his moment to shine on a epic piano rendition of the Who's "Baba O' Riley".
Rose himself seems to have finally come to a place in his life where he is just enjoying the opportunity to be playing and his vocal acrobatics are in fine form as showcased early on with "Estranged" and reinforced on songs like "Patience".
During "Patience" lead guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal held up a sign given to him by a guy in the audience asking his girlfriend to marry him.
Rose's piano solo followed by the classic "November Rain" and a lively performance of "Nightrain" were the set highlights.
After exiting the stage, the band returned for a encore of "Madagascar", "Better", a cover of AC/DC's "Riff Raff", "Patience" and "Paradise City".
By the time the confetti flew just before 2 am during "Paradise City" the crowd had thinned out a bit but those still there were still feeling the energy and it appeared as if the band could keep going as well.
Guns N' Roses setlist:
Dexter Intro
Chinese Democracy
Welcome To The Jungle
It's So Easy
Mr. Brownstone
Sorry
Shackler's Revenge
Estranged
Rocket Queen
Richard Fortus Guitar Solo James Bond Theme
Live and Let Die
This I Love
Sonic Reducer introductions]
Dizzy Reed Piano Solo Baba O' Riley
Street Of Dreams
You Could Be Mine
DJ Ashba Guitar Solo Mi Amor
Sweet Child O' Mine
Instrumental Jam Another Brick In The Wall
Axl Rose Piano Solo Good Bye Yellow Brick Road/Someone Saved My Life Tonight
November Rain
Bumblefoot Guitar Solo Pink Panther Theme
Don't Cry
Whole Lotta Rosie
Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Nightrain
Encore:
Instrumental Jam
Madagascar
Better
Riff Raff
Instrumental Jam
Patience
Instrumental Jam
Paradise City
My Way
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