Live review: Guns N' Roses @ Hollywood Palladium 3/9/12

Tony Pierce / KPCC

Marquee at the Hollywood Palladium before the Guns N Roses show on March 9, 2012

Tony Pierce / KPCC

Guns N' Roses performing at the Hollywood Palladium on 3/9/2012

Tony Pierce / KPCC

Guns N' Roses performing at the Hollywood Palladium on 3/9/2012

From brassy to trashy, the Hollywood Palladium has a storied history of big bands blowing away small audiences. Trouble is, the new Guns N' Roses isn't a big band, and Friday's show wasn't about making a small audience feel special, it was about making a giant ego feel big.

In fact, the tight quarters of the not-sold-out "LA Takeover" kickoff date only amplified the reality that no one cared about the new songs, and no one cared about the new band.  Former Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson alone can not bring the rock, two keyboardists can not compensate for delusion and insecurity, and everyone knows there's nothing under Axl Roses' hat.

Guns hasn’t played LA since gas was $2 a gallon. Guns hasn't had a hit since gas was $1.50 a gallon. Guns had no business trying to play three Los Angeles club shows with triple digit ticket prices when the average heritage fan can't name the new guitar player or most recent album.

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