2023.06.21 - Tons of Rock - Ekebergsletta, Oslo, Norway

(Credit for the third picture: Mieszko Czarnecki)

(By Del James)

Duff on Instagram: Thank you Oslo! You guys were awesome. I so enjoyed watching @generationsex too! Photo @jordanfperform



https://www.instagram.com/p/CtxJPwVuN9_/

Taken from this review:

https://blogjaun.com/concert-review-guns-n-roses-at-tons-of-rock-at-ekebergsletta-bullets-and-loose-powder/?feed_id=19687&_unique_id=6493787e61b3b

A fair review in Dagbladet: https://www.dagbladet.no/kultur/guns-n-roses-kan-om-de-vil/79629331

Main complaint is the length of the show which means that some weaker songs are included in the set. 

And from VG: https://www.vg.no/rampelys/musikk/i/zEz6rO/konsertanmeldelse-guns-n-roses-paa-tons-of-rock-paa-ekebergsletta-kuler-og-loeskrutt

And Aftenposten: https://vink.aftenposten.no/artikkel/KnXBRy/tons-of-rock-axl-rose-kom-sa-og-skrek/vinkapfront

A summary of the three Norwegian reviews I have read:

They all give 4 out of 6 in review. The main problem to the three reviewers is the length of the show. It becomes too long and too varied in quality. As it is stated in one of the reviews, it was a "good party that lasted too long". Still, one reviewer (who also attended Graspop) says the band sounds better than it has in a long time. The sound is great and the band members smiles are have a "good day at work".

Axl's vocals are the weak link in the show and goes from "inspired" to "just good enough". Still, he is credited for being on time, his mood., and his overall performance throughout the concert. Songs where he is particularly praised were Welcome to the Jungle, the end to Rocket Queen, Wichita Lineman (although the song and its placement in the set also makes "people fall asleep") and Civil War. Another reviewer points out that the vocals aren't critical (yet) and that the band should be credited for not resorting to playback vocals like Kiss and Motley Crue.

The band is universally praised, everyone of them (well, Dizzy and Melissa aren't mentioned). The interplay between Richard and Slash is mentioned, Duff's bass and Frank's drumming.

All of the reviewers hate on Absurd ("shit sandwich" and where Axl "inexplicable keeps fondling his crotch"), Slither is referred to as "nothing but a generous gesture to Slash", Street of Dreams is "meaningless", and on Better "everything [with Axl's voice] goes wrong".

On the other hand, Bad Obsession "hits the bull's eye", It's So Easy "suits Axl's low voice", Chinese Democracy is "better than on record", Welcome to The Jungle showcases Axl's "considerable force as a frontman and a vocalist", Reckless Life and Down on the Farm wins on energy, Live and Let Die and You Could Be Mine, together with Rocket Queen, is referred to as a "triumphant trio" for Axl, while another reviewer says that Civil War and Anything Goes are among Axl's best vocal performances, and Estranged is referred to as a "stroke of genius" (I suppose they refer more to the song's qualities than the actual performance), while the performances of Nightrain and Sweet Child O' Mine are "brilliant".

It is clear that the reviewers would have given this 5 or 6 out of 6 if the band had cut the set with an hour and focused on the songs that work the best (although they don't seem to be in total agreement on what songs should be cut - except for Absurd).

Absurd has now been played more than Think About You (80 vs 79 times) and Hard Skool has been played more than You Ain't The First (55 vs 54 times).

I have to say that the reviews were kind of refreshing. It focused on the music and performances, and not dragging old grudges back into the light again. And they were reviewed as a "nostalgia band", without anyone expecting them to be in their 20s still. The criticism felt fair, for most part, and they were eager to praise what they felt was good.