U.S. Bank Stadium Drops The Ball As Guns N’ Roses Bring “Not In This Lifetime” Tour to Minneapolis

Last updated on August 28th, 2017 at 07:34 pm

Guns N’ Roses brought their “Not In This Lifetime” tour to Minneapolis on Sunday night, performing here for the first time in almost 25 years. Nearly 50,000 people were on hand for the concert, the third in which to take place at the new billion-dollar football stadium located downtown. The show went off without a hitch, however, there were some shortcomings when it came to U.S. Bank Stadiums end of the bargain.

Scheduled to kick off at 7:00, the show got underway a little before 7:30 with openers, Deftones, taking the stage. Long lines and seemingly unplanned entrances meant egregiously long lines outside of the gates and lots of impatient fans. When Deftones went on, only about 35{a43c2147d37bcf8b898f59ebaaf066dc60bd9fbfc7430ae40ed3f9adbaab469e} of the crowd was actually inside of the building and in their seats.

After a few songs, it became more than clear that this billion-dollar investment didn’t have rock and roll shows in mind when it was built. To be frank; the sound sucked. Luckily, towards the end of Deftones set, the sound guys seemed to get a better handle on it, but still, the singer was nearly indecipherable and the thunderous sounds of the drums and guitar just echoed throughout the building in an unsettling way.

Deftones finished their set around 8:10, and the crew began to set up for GNR to take the stage. Around 8:25 the video screen behind the stage started playing a short clip of a Mad-Max style car with the Guns N’ Roses logo, shooting bullets into the air, signifying that the show was to begin shortly.

When GNR took the stage, there were still many open seats on the floor and in the lower bowl, and I would guess only about 80{a43c2147d37bcf8b898f59ebaaf066dc60bd9fbfc7430ae40ed3f9adbaab469e} of people had been able to make it into the building. Poor planning on the outside, mixed with long lines for restrooms and concessions meant many fans missed the first few songs of GNR’s set.

As far as the actual show went, Guns definitely satisfied everyone’s Appetite, performing almost 30 songs throughout the 3 hour and 10-minute set. The band blasted through every single one of their biggest hits, and even throwing in some rare gems such as Used To Love Her, and a very special tribute to Chris Cornell with Black Hole Sun.

Even into their mid-fifties, the members of Guns N’ Roses still run across the stage like little kids and seem to have every ounce of energy they had performing these same songs back in the 80’s. Axl still has total control of his one of a kind vocals, and Slash showed off his guitar-virtuoso skills with a 10+ minute guitar solo, with a nod to the late Chuck Berry in the middle with the band backing him as he played the opening riff to Johnny B. Goode.

All in all, the show was a great chance for all the middle-aged fathers to dust off their vintage GNR shirts that were tucked away in the back of their closets. As a die-hard Guns N’ Roses fan, I would have appreciated a venue that would have better suited the performance, but GNR worked with what they were given and still kicked some serious ass, and that is all that I can ask for out of my favorite band.

Below is GNR’s full setlist from Sunday night.

It’s So Easy
Mr. Brownstone
Chinese Democracy
Welcome to the Jungle
Double Talkin’ Jive
Better
Estranged
Live and Let Die (Paul McCartney cover)
Rocket Queen
You Could be Mine
New Rose (The Damned cover, sung by Duff McKagan)
This I Love
Civil War
Yesterdays
Coma
Slash guitar solo (With “Johnny B. Goode jam/Godfather Theme exit)
Sweet Child O’ Mine
Used to Love Her
My Michelle
Layla/Wish You Were Here (Derek & the Dominoes and Pink Floyd instrumental covers)
November Rain
Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
Nightrain