Secret Axl 'N Hired Guns show at John Varvatos last night!!!

Last night I found myself at a Seventh Void headlining show at the Highline Ballroom.   Seventh Void are made up of Kenny Hickey and Johnny Kelly from Type O Negative fame.  They're a good band.  But, this review is not about their show.  Some time during their set I got wind that Axl's new version of GNR was going to hit the stage over at the John Varvatos store on the Bowery.  Obviously, I thought there was no fucking way that Axl was going to play at the former CBGBs at 1am on a school night, but the rumors kept circulating and eventually I figured that if it was true, and I chose to miss it, well then I would be really fuckin pissed.

So, 1am rolls around and me and a few friends headed over to Varvatos.  The door was wide open and we ran like fat kids to a cake once we heard the music that was coming from inside.   It was true, Guns N Roses were playing a secret show, for free, and somehow we made it in.  That was a surreal moment.

After pushing our ways up to the front, we managed to catch the first song (You're So Crazy), and by the second song (Mr. Brownstone) the place was beyond packed.  All the clothes were removed from the store, but even so the venue must have held only around 200 people tops.   Those people included  Sebastian "Axl is my best friend" Bach, Kevin Bacon, the Oslen gnomes,  Alberta Cross and I am sure a few other notables, but no one could be bothered by them with Axl on stage.

As far as the actual show goes- the only thing that could have made it better was if it was the original lineup up there.  Otherwise the band consisted of DJ Ashba and Bumblefoot on guitar, Dizzy Reed on keys, Tommy Stinson on bass and Frank Ferrer on drums.  Axl looked and sounded great.  His voice was dead on and even on a 10 foot wide stage he managed to run around and do all the trademark Axl moves.  The vibe of the show was indescribable - everyone was so happy to be there and sung along with every word.  Even though it was packed, you could still move around and had room to breath.  Axl interacted with the crowd, smiling and slapping everyones hands.  I was amazed to see how un-nnoyed he was was by the cameras people were flashing literally inches from his face.  The show lasted about an hour and 45 minutes and included a massive 17 songs.  17 songs!  And surprisingly they were mostly the classics.  He only played a couple off of Chinese Democracy, and even tossed in a cover of AC/DCs 'Whole Lotta Rosie'.   It was an unbelievable night.

The set list:
1. You're Crazy
2. Mr. Brownstone
3. I Used To Love Her
4. Welcome To The Jungle
5. Street Of Dreams (Blues)
6. Sorry
7. It's So Easy
Then Axl chatted a little bit and introduced the band to the crowd. I think it was John Vavatos who came out and introduced Axl
8. Patience
9. Rocket Queen (probably my favorite song of the night, vocally dead on)
(some jam thing, most guitars)
10. Catcher In The Rye (This sounded great)
11. My Michelle
12. Knockin' On Heaven's Door
13. Whole Lotta Rosie
14. Paradise City
The band left the stage for a minute, but came back pretty quickly for an encore.
15. Sweet Child O' Mine
16. This I Love
17. Nighttrain

And some pictures.  Note Axl's hair is real, he appears to have a handlebar moustache, and he sweats... alot.