From Webmaster:

We flew into Chicago, checked into our hotel, changed into our concert clothes and grabbed a cab to
the venue. SLASH had promised we could get in for soundcheck, and we walked around to where the
tour buses were and immediateley saw the band in a cobblestone alley getting pro photos shot. SLASH
came right out and we got to hug him and he turned us over to one of his guys to take us in. We sat
in a box seat just to the upper right of the stage with only a couple of other people in the theater. 
Already Matt's drum kit was being checked. They did all the instruments and the band members came
in. Then they picked up their equipment and began playing. They played several songs together and
just jammed. At one point they recorded some music which was played later that evening before the
show began. To me, this was the best part of the day...a private show. SLASH played several solos
and was truly a wonder.  We had our passes so we could go in and out. After rehearsing, they were
off to relax before the show.  We grabbed something to eat and came back early. We chose to sit
in the balcony to avoid standing. The show was scheduled for 7 and that is when the opening band
Silvertide played. We weren't quite as thrilled with them having heard VR.  In a short time they were 
gone and VR came on about 8:30. The set list was much as has been listed before. The show ended
about  45 min later but they did two encores. The thing we noticed most was the experience and
professionalism of the whole band. There is a lot there that reminds you of the Guns movements
with SLASH doing his spins and runs.  Scott is rail thin and does a lot of posturing...what I think
might be called performance art. At one point he climbed up onto the balcony and got the crowd
to clap and be still several times. Then he dove down into the audience. He did another stage
dive later.  SLASH took off his shirt and tossed it into the audience...it was a green tank top
with a pot symbol on it. The soundcheck was great, but the show was fantastic! The crowd from
the first minute was on its feet clapping and cheering. We knew only a few songs, but it was
still the best show we've seen (although Snakepit is near and dear to our hearts). They did
a couple of GNR songs, and we think that Axl is still the voice we expect to hear on those
songs. Maybe it was an off-night on those for Scott. It's been reported by a Chicago critic
that the fans chanted "F*ck Axl Rose", but we had fans all around us who chanted "Axl Rose".
So, maybe there were a couple of opinions there that night. The show ended just about 10,
and we waited to see the band for some autographs. We had VIP passes, but there were
others there who did not, so how they were chosen, we don't know. If they did more at the
bus, we don't know as we left before the band. Matt came out first and was very friendly
to everyone. Then Dave appeared, then Duff. Everyone was nice and signed our copy of
"Slither" and said they remembered us from the El Rey. Then SLASH came out and we got
him to sign "Slither" We asked if he'd sign Greatest Hits or was he too mad about that one.
He laughed and said he wasn't mad about it at all, so that worked out! He gave us a quick
kiss and hug when we said we had to leave. So many people were anxious to have just
a moment of his time, and we would like to have talked all night. With each person, he
seemed to make time to have a conversation and we were lucky to be the second ones.
We left wishing we had tickets for every venue! Hopefully, they will come back around
again.