August 31st: Belfast, UK - Odyssey Arena

[blueheart]

August 31st: Belfast, UK - Odyssey Arena
Opening act: Danko Jones

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Board members attending: sean, blueheart, king bumblefoot, slashof, 2nafish, mooney, irish_rose, Casbah, JBlue,  thistle


* Please, post in this thread if you are attending and want to be added to the list. Also, do the same for any other useful additional info and any pre-party ideas.


Live updates from the show should go in the news section but please, post your reviews and pics from the show in this thread. Please credit any borrowed reviews/pics.

[King bumb.l.foot II]

Soon is the word

[Sean]

i'm there - look out

[King bumb.l.foot II]

im there-if found return to the nearest bar

[irish_rose]

Can any northern Gunners recommend a hotel near the venue for the night of the gig?? Gonna make the trek up

[mooney]

Where's good for pre drinks that is close??

[Casbah]

Belfast isn't a big place.. most things are close to everything else!

http://www.gotobelfast.com/
http://www.belfastbar.co.uk/
http://www.odysseypavilion.com/

I'll be at the gig hope Axl will be there too

[JBlue]

I'll be there!

[Robbie]

Anyone know a good place to stay?

[King bumb.l.foot II]

Where's good for pre drinks that is close??

I don't care if it is good, if it is a bar, it is sufficient to meet my needs

[Casbah]

Anyone know a good place to stay?

You'll see hotels and reviews at http://www.gotobelfast.com/   it really depends how much you want to spend.. all of the hotels in the city centre are close to the arena, plus the park avenue hotel in east belfast is about a mile from it, but in a residential area rather than near the pubs/clubs/shops etc

[King bumb.l.foot II]

are we wearing name tags? haha

[Robbie]

You'll see hotels and reviews at http://www.gotobelfast.com/   it really depends how much you want to spend.. all of the hotels in the city centre are close to the arena, plus the park avenue hotel in east belfast is about a mile from it, but in a residential area rather than near the pubs/clubs/shops etc

I mean something like a hostel, im poor <.<

Last time i went to stay in a belfast the hostel was down a street with a load of union jacks, where's somewhere a little less hostile, hmm almost a pun?

[Casbah]

lol we like to mark out our territory in Belfast

Try.. Linenhouse Hostel, Vagabonds hostel, Arnie’s Backpackers, Paddys Palace Hostel.  I dunno what they are like to stay in, but they aren't in areas that have flags marking them out

[thistle]

I'll be there 

[blueheart]

CD.com members preshow meeting at the Cloth Ear Bar at 4 pm :-)

http://www.viewbelfast.co.uk/pubsandbars/cloth-ear-userreview-43107.html

[King bumb.l.foot II]

I better practice talking English and not Geordie

Good wrk setting it up Blue

[Casbah]

I have 2 spare tickets for this if anybody knows anybody who would want to buy them off me.. North Upper Tier Row T seats 11 and 12.. too late to put them on ebay cos I'm working through till the gig now.. just want to sell at face value.. I had loads of people say they were interested who have now backed out

[King bumb.l.foot II]

OK 4:40am, i am hungover like a bastard, i have a cold, i am airport bound


Shaking like a shitting dog, why did i get drunk last night>


See you guys n gals there

[irish_rose]

If somebody has a standing ticket to sell for tonight i'd be eternally grateful

Otherwise Casbah, I'd gladlly take one of the tickets off your hands if it suits ya!

[2NaFish]

If somebody has a standing ticket to sell for tonight i'd be eternally grateful

Otherwise Casbah, I'd gladlly take one of the tickets off your hands if it suits ya!

meet me at the cloth ear around 6. i've got a ticket i'll happily sell you.

[King bumb.l.foot II]

Fucking great show, great laughs, all round excellent, even with the shitty airport, and other minor grievences.  Great to see you guys, have safe flights/train journeys

[King bumb.l.foot II]

My thoughts on the gig

I arrived in Belfast, and had really a shitty day until i started to hit the bars.  Too warm, didnt know my way around.  I met up with many gnr fans throughout the day and there was a mixture between excitement and nervousness,  Excitement for the imminent show but nervousness at the possibility of a very late start and problems with the performance etc.   I did not go to see Danko Jones, i stayed in the bar with some guys n gals i met and then left to the venue at 9pm.  It was really full when we arrived but it did not stop us from forcing our way to the front of the crowd.  We all shared a lighthearted joke that the band would be on at midnight or some ungodly hour.  As we were talking the venue music stopped and the lights went out.  I checked my phone and saw it was 9:50pm.  That was a big but pleasant surprise, as was the water we were handed all the way throughout.
The intro music was dark, tense, moody.  Similar to the intro the band used in 06 but slightly different.  You could see frank and dj on the drum riser amidst the camera flashes that were building in intensity amid the expectation and growing energy.  The intro to CD came shortly after.  when the pyro hit after DJ's teasing opening riff, it was slightly out of time.  That was the only thing that was out of time and not perfect all night.  Axl buzzed around the stage with much pep and energy as did the rest of the band.  There was alot of interaction between the members during the song.  DJ even threw guitar picks during the song to the crowd.  It was hard to hear Axl due to the sheer intensity of the crowd, but the band sounded great, realluy tight.  Next up was Jungle, the crowd again were really loud.  It was great, Axl rasped and snarled, the guitars soared and screamed.  It's so easy and mr brownstone were next and delivered with great entusiasm and the crowd loved it.  We then had the lights go down and Ron delivered the volume swell of the intro of Sorry.  It was methodical, then searing, a really great performance of the song.  Axl was animated throughout and hit every note perfectly.
After the song, Axl said good evening and interacted with the crowd and introduced Richard.  Richard seemed to be having a great time, prancing and dancing around the stage during the solo, showing his great skills off whilst interacting with the crowd using gestures and eye contact.  Live and let Die was next.  Not my favourite of songs but it was an intense performance, with many pyro explosions, axl's screams were really awesome during this song.  Next the Orchestral Notes of the beggining of This i Love were played.  The song sounded fucking awesome.  Axl was on fire, the vocals perfect and although DJ has altered the notes on the solo, he really got into playing it and the crowd loved every minute.  Possibly my highlight of the gig.  Rocket Queen was next, went down very very well.  Next up Dizzy was introduced and played a piano solo, i was not familiar with the song he played (not ziggy stardust)  then they played street of dreams.  Axl was amazing, truly amazing.  His voice delicate at the beggining and searingly intense at the climax of the song.  Next up the feedback led to frank's kickass intro to You could be mine.  The crowd sang so loud that it was impossible to hear axl all the way through.  Next up was DJ's solo, the crowd seemed very welcoming and warm to him and enjoyed it.  The place predictably erupted when the next played sweet child o mine.  Axl' sounded great and they nailed it really well.  Next Axl asked for the piano and proceeded to play his Elton inspired solo before launching into November rain.  It was a great performance of the song, and Axl and Ron shared a laugh as Ron anticipated the outro of the song.  He then nailed the outro solo with awesome proficiency.  Next up Ron played his solo, during the opening notes of the Pink Panther, which the band were repeating, Ron grabbed his camera and took various pics of the crowd and pointed to his heart and mouthed thankyou.  He then turned the comedy moment of the song into a shred-tastic rock out which was warmly received.  Next up was Better.  From the reaction of the crowd, you would think this song was from the early days and had been listened to since the 80's.  It was a great sight seeing a CD song get a massive reaction.  Next up was Knocking on Heaven's Door.  It was a great version with much fan interaction and was loudly sung by the crowd who lapped it up.  Without as much as a pause for breath they launched into a fiery version of Nightrain, it was played with great entusiasm adn Ron's outro on the fretless was superb.  Axl then said goodnight.  Ron then appeared and played his Don't Cry Solo, aided by Frank and a very entusiastic crowd, which loved every second of it.  Next was Madagascar, Axl sounded fucking amazing, like he did in the early days, a voice fresh and intense, truly awesome.  Then we had the show closing experience of Paradise City.  The zest and intensity of the song were worth the admission alone, it was epic, and the crowd loved it as much as the beaming band members did.
So in conclusion, they were onstage at a very reasonable time, the band sounded epic and tight as a gnats ass with a superglued crack.  But the star of the show was undoubtably Axl Rose.  He stole the show with his fantastic voice and endless movement around the stage.  he left the crowd happy and buzzing.  All in all a fantastic performance by a really good band of musicians.  Rock n f'king roll!!!!!!!