NA Arena Tour Kickoff - Philly - October 8

[sandman]

i'm getting really excited for this show, so figured i'd start a thread. curious to see if anyone on this board will be there. i'm taking my 9-year-old daughter to her first GnR show. her b-day is a few days later so it's an early celebration.

Philly has an interesting history with this band. Axl had some issues here back in the late 80's. the June 1991 show had one of the best crowds I've ever seen/heard at a guns show. Axl even commented about how crazy it was that night ("world's largest kegger"). Duff described a crazy story he had in Philly where he was looking for drugs in a bad neighborhood (he's lucky he didn't get killed). Then you had the 2002 cancellation/riot.

GnR came back (across the river) in 2011 and did played an awesome show. Then they played the Electric Factory 2-3 months later, which only holds about 2,500 people, and Axl addressed the cancellation and took some responsibility for it and apologized. Then in 2016 they played what may have been their best show on this entire reunion tour. They came out fired up, and Axl put 110% into that show. High energy and he sounded incredible, on a night that was close to 100 degrees in the stadium. he again alluded to the 2002 cancellation by saying something like "thank you for being here; I would certainly understand if you chose not to come." Not coincidentally, they played Sorry for the first time that night, so philly fans got see the first time Slash played those iconic riffs and solo.   

Now they are kicking off their NA arena tour in Philly. it should be an epic night. since the reunion, they have not played many arenas. there was Vegas and a few others earlier this year (along with the Apollo and Troubadour). So this is unbelievable having this band play smaller areas all over the US during the next couple of months. should be an awesome string of shows! 

[D-GenerationX]

I'm going.

What's the deal on a start time?  Is there an opening act?

[jarmo]

I'm going.

What's the deal on a start time?  Is there an opening act?

Considering it's so soon, seems like there isn't. 



/jarmo

[D-GenerationX]

I'm going.

What's the deal on a start time?  Is there an opening act?

Considering it's so soon, seems like there isn't. 



/jarmo

Well, I'm not so sure I'm hating that.

They are playing 3 hour shows these days.  Better to just get on with it.

[sandman]

I'm going.

What's the deal on a start time?  Is there an opening act?

Considering it's so soon, seems like there isn't. 



/jarmo

Well, I'm not so sure I'm hating that.

They are playing 3 hour shows these days.  Better to just get on with it.

I agree. getting the show started by 8-8:30 would be great.

they have added openers late in the game in the past though, so I wouldn't be surprised. but it seems like a lot of big acts coming through arenas have not been bringing openers in recent years.

i'm assuming we are looking at the same set list, but it would be nice if they change things up just a little bit. especially since many attending these shows saw them last year.

[allwaystired]

I imagine they'll go on at 7.30, maybe even 7, with no support act.

I can't see many setlist changes happening now really.

[Spirit]

I don't think there will be much change to the setlist either. Coming around to playing the same cities in South America again now with the same setlist, I expect the same in North America.

It seems to be the end of the tour though, and in one way it has been a consistency throughout. NITL has been a "comeback greatest hits tour", let's hope they'll build on the reunion and go in the studio come 2018.

[JAEBALL]

I don't think there will be much change to the setlist either. Coming around to playing the same cities in South America again now with the same setlist, I expect the same in North America.

It seems to be the end of the tour though, and in one way it has been a consistency throughout. NITL has been a "comeback greatest hits tour", let's hope they'll build on the reunion and go in the studio come 2018.

I tend to agree... while I type this I go man I hope they change it up a bit... but when I am there at the arena I won't care...it'll be a blast.

Being that I am going to three shows at the same venue... I am sure they will mix it up a little bit each night.

[sandman]

they just released some $49 tix in Philly. previously, the cheapest was $69. many tix that were previously $109, are now $69. some very good 2nd level seats available for $69.

[allwaystired]

I don't think there will be much change to the setlist either. Coming around to playing the same cities in South America again now with the same setlist, I expect the same in North America.

It seems to be the end of the tour though, and in one way it has been a consistency throughout. NITL has been a "comeback greatest hits tour", let's hope they'll build on the reunion and go in the studio come 2018.

I tend to agree... while I type this I go man I hope they change it up a bit... but when I am there at the arena I won't care...it'll be a blast.

Being that I am going to three shows at the same venue... I am sure they will mix it up a little bit each night.

Yeah, it'll be fun for you whatever they do. Half of me would be surprised if they did the same set for three shows at the same venue, the other half would be surprised if they didn't!

[allwaystired]

they just released some $49 tix in Philly. previously, the cheapest was $69. many tix that were previously $109, are now $69. some very good 2nd level seats available for $69.

Struggling for sales I assume?

[sandman]

they just released some $49 tix in Philly. previously, the cheapest was $69. many tix that were previously $109, are now $69. some very good 2nd level seats available for $69.

Struggling for sales I assume?

big time. unfortunately, they are not on ticketmaster so you cannot see what's available. but I've been keeping an eye on tickets and doing searches in all price levels and there are a lot of seats available.

I think the prices are just too high. all 1st level were initially $150 and up, with most being $250. all good 2nd level were over $100, close to $150 with the fees.

I've heard this show advertised on various radio stations, and I know a lot of people that are going. many of which went in 2016, so there is definitely interest in this. i think with the reduced price, they will sell a good bit more. 

[allwaystired]

they just released some $49 tix in Philly. previously, the cheapest was $69. many tix that were previously $109, are now $69. some very good 2nd level seats available for $69.

Struggling for sales I assume?

big time. unfortunately, they are not on ticketmaster so you cannot see what's available. but I've been keeping an eye on tickets and doing searches in all price levels and there are a lot of seats available.

I think the prices are just too high. all 1st level were initially $150 and up, with most being $250. all good 2nd level were over $100, close to $150 with the fees.

I've heard this show advertised on various radio stations, and I know a lot of people that are going. many of which went in 2016, so there is definitely interest in this. i think with the reduced price, they will sell a good bit more. 

I've been looking a bit, out of interest, at other shows and I'd agree- sales seem slow. Combination of factors: price, casual fans have ticked the box and aren't bothered again being the main issues I think.

[GnR-NOW]

I'll be at this show also. I originally got tickets during the resale. The tickets I got were $149 but after they fees they were like 172. Tickets for these shows have been really expensive, but thats the going rate for all concerts these days I guess.

[D-GenerationX]

I got seats for me and Dad.  $254 a pop, up to $600 total with fees.

I don't ever bitch about what things cost, but that is nuts.  I would never pay that for anyone else.  And even this, I feel a little silly.

I believe my 2 tickets to see them in the Linc last summer was literally half that for 2 seats in a club box.

[sandman]

I wonder if we'll get a Tom Petty cover at this show, and the rest on this tour.

Aside from performing together in 1989, and the fact that they both live in Malibu, any other connections between them?

[Eazy E]

I wonder if we'll get a Tom Petty cover at this show, and the rest on this tour.

So many covers, what's one more?!

But really - I think it would be cool if they dropped any of the other covers in place of a Tom Petty song.

[slash&axl]

I wonder if we'll get a Tom Petty cover at this show, and the rest on this tour.

Aside from performing together in 1989, and the fact that they both live in Malibu, any other connections between them?

 

[Jacksonsbro]

We were all thinking it, he was just the one to say it...

I wonder if we'll get a Tom Petty cover at this show, and the rest on this tour.

Aside from performing together in 1989, and the fact that they both live in Malibu, any other connections between them?

[COMAMOTIVE]

I believe we will get some sign of respect
Everyone respected Petty and their Duo was cool

I was thinking/hoping that he would bring Billy Joel out at MSG for tune as well -