Guns 2 Roses review at The Fleece in Bristol
Posted on: 2016-01-17
Our rating:
If all tribute bands are as talented as Guns 2 Roses, then I?ll certainly be doing all that I can to catch more of them as they pass through Bristol. A top night for Guns N Roses fans and fans of classic rock in general.
This past Friday night saw the UK’s number one Guns N Roses tribute band, Guns 2 Roses, return to The Fleece in Bristol. The cover band normally makes an annual trip to the City, in fact they’ll be making two this year when they return on September 2nd to the O2 Academy. However the regularity with which they appear in the city didn’t do them any harm with the show selling out well in advance of the night itself.
Before Guns 2 Roses took to the stage it was the turn of local band Oversoul who played a mix of their own original material as well as a number of covers. What the band’s lead singer lacked for in vocal range he more than made up for with his enthusiasm. And songs such as Crazy Train, Rebel Yell and in particular Velvet Revolver’s Slither really whipped the crowd up in to a frenzy. The act sandwiched between Oversoul and G2R, Mirko Fadda, seemed somewhat of an odd choice. His solo guitar act, albeit extremely impressive, would have been much more suited to opening the show. It’s placement before the headline act did erase some of the hype that had been successfully generated by the opening act.
Then was the turn of Guns 2 Roses. It was my first experience of a successful tribute band, and it did not disappoint. The sound was extremely similar to that of the band they imitate. Plus they arrived on stage late in typical Guns N Roses fashion. All five guys on stage even had their personas and looks down to a tee. None more so than the man playing the role of Axl Rose. His voice was spot on, especially when it came to holding those high notes in songs like You Could Be Mine and Welcome to the Jungle. As I mentioned the similarities didn’t stop at his voice. He even mirrored the arrogance of the man himself, wandering off stage at random points during solos and even having a few jibes at some of the crowd. At least I’m hoping it was an act.
The unexpected surprise of the night came when ‘Axl’ welcomed Bristol-based Metallica tribute band Metallica Reloaded on to the stage. The locals did a rendition of Enter Sandman much to the delight of those in attendance. I thought fake Axl’s voice was good, it was nothing compared to Bristol’s answer to James Hetfield. If you closed your eyes you may well have been fooled in to thinking you were listening to the legendary Metallica front man himself as opposed to a tribute.
Despite ‘Axl’ complaining of feeling unwell, he certainly didn’t show it when he returned to the stage following the short Metallica-filled interval. Paradise City was next on the agenda, a track that even the least dedicated of Guns N Roses fans will scream along to when it comes time for the chorus. Followed by an emotional Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door dedicated to the late rock stars David Bowie and Motorhead front man, Lemmy.
The night really should have inevitably come to a close with the timeless Sweet Child of Mine. It was undoubtedly the peak of the evening for both the audience and the band. The guys on stage must have had some extra time and some extra energy however because the aforementioned classic was quickly followed by Rocket Queen and ACDC’s Whole Lotta Rosie. An odd choice for a Guns N Roses cover band? Maybe. But the crowd certainly didn’t seem to mind.
My first experience of a successful cover band and it was an extremely entertaining night. The quintet has certainly put the time and effort in to creating an homage to a band they clearly idolise, and they do it so well. If all tribute bands are as talented as Guns 2 Roses, then I’ll certainly be doing all that I can to catch more of them as they pass through Bristol, and I suggest you do the same. A top night for Guns N Roses fans and fans of classic rock in general.
If you missed them this time around, or simply want to see them again, Guns 2 Roses will return to Bristol at the O2 Academy later this year on 2nd September.
Reviewed by and photos courtesy of Josh Coulson for 365Bristol - the Bristol website where local information matters.
Article by:
Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.
