Allegiant Stadium was built for the Raiders, but some famous swashbucklers of rock borrowed the place Saturday night.
Guns N’ Roses was once more in the backyard of the Strip. Long-standing bandmates Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan performed with the same fervor as if they were back at the Troubadour playing for gas money.
Rose’s voice and Slash’s guitar work are always the points of emphasis in a GNR show. The 64-year-old Rose was stronger and showed more range than in GNR’s previous show at Allegiant in August 2021, when they were the first rock band to ever play the stadium.
Rose also tapped into his late-’80s choreography. The front man swayed in his famed serpentine groove style, while donning sparkled, Vegas-appropriate shirts.
And Slash never slumps. The 61-year-old, top-hatted guitar icon plays like he can’t believe he’s lucky enough to be jamming for 40,000 fans. His spirited, extended instrumental took the spotlight; a brilliant musical moment blended with “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”
McKagan, the most Seattle guy ever recruited by a Hollywood rock band, was given ample screen time. The bass great is in great shape, apparently hitting the gym, and still rock-ready at 64.
Most of “Appetite for Destruction” was drawn out, the show opening with the powerhouse “Welcome to the Jungle.” The band also delivered roaring, “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,” honoring the late Ozzy Osbourne.
The place was close to filled though not an announced sellout. But it was a full night of rock for the thousands who turned out. The Black Crowes opened, bluesy, rugged and on point, churning out “Remedy,” “Jealous” with a closing, “Twice as Hard.” The Crows’ rep as one of the great live rock acts is still deserved.
(A reminiscence: We saw the band fire up the original Joint at Hard Rock Hotel in December ‘96. It was a show on the “Three Snakes and One Charm” tour, folks. This was the night when an idiot threw a water bottle at Chris Robinson, just missing his head.)
But the night belonged to GNR, naturally. “Mr. Brownstone” got the floor moving, “Live and Let Die” brought the boom-booms, and “Sweet Child O’ Mine” turned thousands of strangers into best buds.
There was no new music, just a GNR victory lap. The full-crowd cry of “Paradise City” ended the show, many fans reluctant to call it a night. As they said at the Troubadour, you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.