This isn't directed to you, but more the idea that Axl is and will continue to be a shite singer.  The guy is 59 years old.  Saying he doesn't look or sound like he did at 28 is absolutely true, but it's like saying the sun will come up tomorrow - no shit.  We could go on and on about what he potentially could have done to be "better", but I question the accreditation of people here putting forth those arguments since I doubt we have very many vocal coaches or former world-class, rock band vocalist lurking.  And more to the point, it doesn't matter.  Reality is reality.  I'm not dissuading people from having those conversations; you do you. 

Live shows are for the people in attendance.  They're their own monster and entity, and live music fans not only expect deviation from studio material, they prefer it.  It kind of rubs me the wrong way that people who don't attend live shows feel they have adequate information to opine on a performance they just heard through an iphone video.  If that's your thing, go for it, free world and all that.  But there's something magical and unique about being in the venue and hearing the acoustics and reverb from the PA and the vibe of the audience.  The band is certainly cognizant and responsive to this reality. 

So Axl doesn't sound as good as he did then.  Ok.  What is the alternative?  He uses taped vocals like Beyonce or some other pop star?  Guns doesn't tour?  They replace Axl as singer?  I don't think it's selfish to want a good performance from the band you're shelling out coin to see.  But no forum member should be surprised at what Axl Rose sounds like in 2021.  He's not Vince Neil.  I enjoy the show he and the others put on, and I'm content with the exchange in currency for the live show they provided.  I thought I had a "good" performance in Hershey, despite it clearly being a "work the kinks out" show.  I'm sure the folks who were at Boston and East Rutherford feel the same way.  I can't find too many comments on Reddit or the forums from people present who feel they got fucked out of a "good" show.  I'm sure they exist and their opinion is just as valid as mine, yours or anyone else's. 

Anyway, I have to look at my scale and remember when it was 35 pounds lighter 20 years ago.

Yea, I'm trying not to shit on everyone's parade but this song doesn't do anything for me other than get my hopes up more, better songs are coming.  Happy they released something, but Silkworms/Absurd isn't a track to build support for a new Guns album on.

Unless I’m missing some interpretation, the skeleton is in a Giants jersey, and the Giants play at MetLife. I don’t see a Hard School connection.

You'd be surprised how many people don't get vaccines after adult hood and the requirements dissipate.  Again, how many people get their flu shot every year?  At the start of COVID I did a poll here and it was about half.  The figures google gives me says the same amount is representative of the US as a whole. 

I'm 100% pro-vaccine and got my first shot in January.  If they make this an annual booster like the flu shot (and I think they will), I'll get it annually just like I do with the flu shot.  But people are people.  Anywhere from 9 - 50 million people get the flu annually in the US, significantly more than what is alleged to be the COVID positivity, and prior to COVID, the CDC and NIH were saying 100k people died annually from the flu in the US.  Yet half the country doesn't feel any need to get that vaccine annually. 

COVID is here to stay, and like all illnesses, it will primarily affect the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.  You can't stay in lockdown or masking forever.  And we all live in western democracies, so forcing injections in the arm of every citizen isn't going to happen.  I agree, at this point it's a personal choice whether to receive the vaccine.  My personal stance on that has been made clear.  I don't know what the actual ceiling of vaccinated people will be, allegedly 70% of US adults have had at least one shot, though the CDC and states did such a shit job collecting data, I don't know how accurate that claim is.  But I suspect we're soon at the apex of people willing to get their shot.  Sure, federal mandates for employees (if it survives court challenges) and the military will bounce numbers up a few points if we're lucky, but there's not much more carrot to give.    People should never expect not to suffer the consequences of their decisions.  At this point, I got no sympathy for anyone who refuses the vaccine and becomes ill.  It's entirely avoidable.  So let's stop babying people and let them pay the price for their choices.