Guns N Roses with Public Enemy

We arrived by cab and the most talkative cabbie I've ever met. This was my second visit to the venue (and the first time I was working for charity). It's an impressive space.

Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) in Saratoga Springs, NY on Sunday, July 26, 2026.

Roughly 25,000 fans 

We had lawn seats which were fine. The sound was great and giant screens throughout the venue clearly showed the stage. The biggest outrage is the $42 I paid for two 24 ounce beers. 

The night started at 6:20 PM with a 40-minute set from the legendary rap group Public Enemy. Lead emcees Chuck D and Flavor Flav killed it, looking and sounding tremendously youthful.  

Harder Than You Think 
Can't Truss It
She Watch Channel Zero?! 
Confusion (Here Come the Drums) 
Shut 'Em Down 
Welcome to the Terrordome 
He Got Game 
Night of the Living Baseheads 
Rebel Without a Pause 
Black Is Back 
911 Is a Joke 
State of the Union (STFU) 
The Hits Just Keep On Comin 
Bring the Noise 
Don't Believe the Hype 
Fight the Power 


Guns N Roses started at 7:40 PM and played for nearly three hours, with a 28-song set that covered everything, from “Appetite for Destruction” to both “Use Your Illusion” albums and “Chinese Democracy,” as well as guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan’s mid-2000s supergroup Velvet Revolver. 

Slash was outstanding, playing as sharp as ever. He played a mean pedal steel on a cover of “Wichita Lineman" and an extended solo leading into “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” 

McKagan took lead vocals for a cover of Thin Lizzy’s “Thunder and Lightning.” 

Axl's voice was better than I thought it would be. He crushed the setlist:

Welcome to the Jungle 
It's So Easy 
Mr. Brownstone 
Slither (Velvet Revolver cover) 
Chinese Democracy 
Bad Obsession 
Live and Let Die (Wings cover) 
Yesterdays 
Junior's Eyes (Black Sabbath cover) 
Think About You 
Double Talkin' Jive 
Wichita Lineman (Glen Campbell cover) 
You Could Be Mine 
Only Women Bleed 
(Intro) / Knockin' on Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan cover) 
Dead Horse 
Hard Skool 
Estranged 
Thunder and Lightning (Thin Lizzy cover) 
Rocket Queen 
Nothin' 
Civil War (with Voodoo Child slight return) 
Band Introductions
Slash Solo / Sweet Child o' Mine 
Better 
November Rain 
Madagascar Nightrain 
Paradise City 

We enjoyed a long walk to Saratoga Honda to catch the ride home. Along the way we saw drugs, sex and an endless line of waiting traffic to whom I wished good luck. 

An awesome night! Special thanks to Josh.