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Regina was a quieter city Monday than it was Sunday night – that is, barring all the Guns N’ Roses fans forced to yell over their blown-out eardrums following the band’s concert at Mosaic Stadium.
The veteran rockers played for over three hours, following an opening set by Canadian rockers Our Lady Peace.
James Desjarlais (right) dressed as lead guitarist Slash when he took his wife, Lynn Strongarm, to Guns N’ Roses on Aug. 27, 2017. (Jessie Anton/980 CJME)
It was a dream concert for many fans, many of whom showed up decked out as their favourite band members.
“I think I did pretty good tonight. It was awesome, fans loved it, I loved it,” said James Desjarlais, a Regina man who came dressed as lead guitarist Slash.
“I had the hair for it, I just needed the cap,” he said with a laugh.
Desjarlais bought the tickets as a surprise for his wife of 25 years, Lynn Strongarm. He said GNR’s music brought him back to their earlier days, particularly the songs Paradise City and Patience.
Strongarm said November Rain was her favourite song of the night.
“I screamed like I never screamed before,” she said after the show.
“Loved it, kind of deaf tonight,” Desjarlais agreed. “I think I’m going to stay home tomorrow from work. I won’t hear the boss, I don’t think I’ll hear my alarm clock in the morning.”
Fans from near, far
GNR was a bucket-list band for Koyes Noman, who came to Regina from Bangladesh four years ago. A fan of 20 years, Noman tried to see the band years ago in Thailand.
“Guns N’ Roses is my dream band so I always try to watch their concert but this time I get the chance to watch them so I am so happy,” he said following the concert.
Like Strongarm and many others, Noman said hearing November Rain live was the biggest thrill of the night.
“(Slash’s) solo was awesome,” he said, while a friend excitedly declared Guns N’ Roses “number one rock band!”
Sunday night marked the second time Tasha Hume saw the band. She said she first saw them play in her home city of Saskatoon back in 1992.
“They were wild,” she explained. “They had topless waitresses. They were handing out beer to the crowd and I was only 12 and I was with my mom.”
While Guns N’ Roses were certainly tamer than they were 25 years ago, the band still had people on their feet, playing classics like Welcome to the Jungle and Sweet Child O’ Mine. They also played tried-and-true covers like Live and Let Die and Knockin’ at Heaven’s Door, as well as AC/DC’s Whole Lotta Rosie and The Who’s The Seeker.
To say Sweet Child O' Mine is a crowd pleaser is an understatement. Fans are going CRAZY. 🤘😎🤘 #GNRRegina #GunsNRoses #yqr pic.twitter.com/hqjLVVSEtO
— Jessie Anton (@jessieanton_) August 28, 2017
— With files from Jessie Anton