No, it was not an April Fools prank. Guns N’ Roses did indeed play the small Hollywood Boulevard nightclub The Troubadour for a mere $10 admission last night (4/1). The reunited founding threesome of singer Axl Rose, guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan delivered a 17-song set studded with Gn’R gems and choice covers.
Though they are now promising “the most chaotic tour of 2016,” the gig that returned the band to the venue where they were seen and then subsequently signed by Geffen Records almost exactly 30 years ago – yes, it has been that long – came off without a hitch. As expected, more recent Guns band members Dizzy Reed (keyboards), Richard Fortus (guitar) and Frank Ferrer (drums) backed the trio of originals, augmented by new (and first female) Gunner Melissa Reese (keyboards).
Speculation that drummer Steven Adler might appear, if just as a guest, proved unfounded. A gig by his solo band Adler had been scheduled to play last night and was canceled in an announcement that teased the Gn’R reunion. Founding guitarist Izzy Stradlin remains uninvolved.
Although the venue tried its best to enforce a no cameras/recording devices policy, snippets of footage that were taken and posted on the Internet show a band in fine if not ferocious form, ready to be the rock music juggernaut on this summer’s concert calendar with the 20-date stadium tour they just announced. Titled “Not in This Lifetime,” it refers to a comment Rose made just a few years ago when asked if the original Guns N’ Roses might reunite. But for the 500 or so fans packed into the Sunset Strip club, just three out of five back together again added up to a show of a lifetime.
Troubadour setlist
1. “It’s So Easy”
2. “Mr. Brownstone”
3. “Chinese Democracy”
4. “Welcome to the Jungle”
5. “Double Talkin’ Jive”
6. “Live and Let Die” (Wings cover)
7. “Rocket Queen”
8. “You Could Be Mine”
9. “Speak Softly Love” (aka “Love Theme from The Godfather;” Andy Williams cover)
10. “Sweet Child O’ Mine”
11. “New Rose” (The Damned cover)
12. “Better”
13. “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”
14. “My Michelle”
15. “Nighttrain”
Encore
16. “The Seeker” (The Who cover)
17. “Paradise City”
