Warsaw roared to life Saturday night as Guns N’ Roses delivered a three-hour performance, kicking off with Axl Rose addressing the packed stadium: “You are a great public. I knew I could count on you.” The band clearly enjoys performing in Poland, with Rose also declaring “Warsaw is a city of positive energy.”
Guns N’ Roses (the photo does not come from the Warsaw concert)Source: Posts/Rasp
The concert wasn’t just a greatest-hits parade; the setlist blended iconic tracks with deeper cuts, satisfying both casual fans and longtime devotees. It was difficult to find fault with the song selection, a testament to the band’s extensive catalog.
A Night of Energy and Unexpected Fan Affection
The Warsaw concert showcased Guns N’ Roses’ enduring appeal, despite concerns about Axl Rose’s vocal performance.
- The band received a warm welcome from the Polish crowd, with Axl Rose praising their energy.
- Despite some acoustic challenges, the concert featured a well-received mix of hits and lesser-known songs.
- Axl Rose’s vocal performance was a point of concern for some, but he delivered moments of surprising strength.
- Public Enemy’s opening set was hampered by significant sound issues.
- The acoustics at PGE Narodowy stadium remain a persistent problem for concerts.
The energy was palpable, with fans singing along to “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” and “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” nearly lifting the stadium roof with their voices. At the show’s close, banners flooded the stage, including one particularly bold declaration: “You could be my father, but I want you to become my lover,” a message that clearly amused both Axl Rose and the audience.
The band itself seemed to be having as much fun as the fans. New drummer Isaac Carpenter performed with the seasoned ease of a veteran, while Duff McKagan and Richard Fortus delivered their reliably solid performances. Slash, as always, proved why he’s considered a guitar hero, his solos possessing a distinctly bluesy, almost spiritual quality.
Concerns lingered beforehand about Axl Rose’s voice, which has demonstrably lost some of its range and intensity in recent years. He faced criticism last week for a performance at a Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne farewell concert. However, Saturday’s show revealed a surprisingly capable Axl, energetic and delivering many vocals well. He even embraced a flamboyant wardrobe, culminating in an outfit reminiscent of Elton John or Mickey Rourke’s character from Liberace – a fitting look for a band known for its over-the-top image.
So How Was the Sound System?
The acoustics at PGE Narodowy have long been a known issue for concertgoers. While Saturday’s sound was an improvement over a previous performance three years ago, problems persisted. The opening act, hip-hop group Public Enemy, suffered the most, with horrendous reverberation distorting their music to the point of near-unrecognizability. The energy of their 50-minute set was lost in a wash of sound, rendering the rapping largely unintelligible.
The situation improved with Guns N’ Roses, but issues remained. Where guitars previously overwhelmed the bass and drums, the balance was better this time, though consistency varied depending on location within the stadium. Unfortunately, the acoustics continued to wreak havoc on Axl Rose’s vocals. During songs like “Coma,” “You Could Be Mine,” and “November Rain,” his voice frequently disappeared or was drowned out by reverb. In “Paradise City,” entire verses were inaudible, while lower registers were often overwhelmed.
Interestingly, the sound system may have inadvertently masked some of Axl Rose’s vocal limitations in the higher ranges. While vocalists like King Diamond, Rob Halford, and Bruce Dickinson continue to deliver powerful high notes, lowering the key in some songs might benefit Axl Rose. He demonstrated in Warsaw that he can still sing solidly, but a shift in approach could be advantageous.
The sound issues weren’t limited to vocals. Guitar riffs and solos also suffered, with Richard Fortus’s playing sometimes overshadowing Slash’s, or vice versa. Hard rock anthems like “You Could Be Mine” and “Double Talkin’ Jive” sounded muffled, as if a blanket had been thrown over the speakers.
Complaints about the technical aspects of the concert were widespread. Some fans deemed it the worst-sounding show at PGE Narodowy to date, while others praised Axl Rose’s performance but blamed the acoustics. Despite the flaws, the Guns N’ Roses concert arguably surpassed their 2020 performance at the same venue. The 2020 performance of Judas Priest in Łódź (July 7) was even worse, with acoustics completely ruining the show.
Political Message
Three years ago, Guns N’ Roses showed support for Ukraine during a Warsaw concert, displaying Ukrainian flags and a blue-and-yellow painted guitar. Axl Rose wore a Ukrainian flag T-shirt during “Civil War.” This time, the political messaging was more subtle. Axl briefly mentioned employee rights, though the reverberation made the message difficult to decipher. Given his known dislike of Donald Trump, it was likely a commentary on U.S. politics.
The most overt political moment came during Public Enemy’s set, when Flavor Flav encouraged the audience to shout “f*ck racism” and proclaimed, “We are one breed, the human breed.” While powerful, the message was difficult to hear due to the sound issues.
