Fan Reviews - Week 28, USA/Canada

• Casey Lombardo
  In this fickle world of ours, one can barely count a handful of rock & roll bands left that seem impervious (or perhaps oblivious) to changes in the record industry, cultural mores, and even time itself. At the vanguard of this sacred order, you’ll find Aussie heavy metal legends AC/DC, a band that mullet-headed good ol’ boys and mohawk-sporting punks alike have been relying on for unbridled, unapologetically ballsy rock for going on four decades now.
  The fates decreed that their Stiff Upper Lip World Tour should roll into town this past Monday night, and if ever there was a place to see AC/DC in all of their sweaty, balding glory, it must be the city of Long Beach. One look at the Fishbowl parking lot, overflowing with dented muscle cars blaring AOR classics out of stock stereos and Bud Light case carcasses strewn everywhere, was enough to make you wonder if that drive down Ocean Blvd didn’t send you back in time to 1982.
  Eschewing the comfort of an opening band, the boys just hit the stage running, beginning a remarkable two-hour set with, appropriately enough, “You Shook Me All Night Long,” and transforming the post-thirties, bespectacled man in front of me, with his washed out Mervyn’s golf shirt tucked into his jeans transformed into an air-guitar thrashing wild child.
  What followed was simply a collection of AC/DC’s greatest hits. The raucous “Thunderstruck” was rivaled in sheer electric fury only by the cacophony of “Rock ‘N’ Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution.” Singer Brian Johnson kick-started “Hell’s Bells” by swinging from a huge bell and suspended twenty feet above the screaming crowd. The obligatory “Back In Black” “TNT,” and “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” kept the fists pumping, the devil-signs flying, and the masses shouting along. Even the new songs like “Stiff Upper Lip” and “Safe In New York City” were welcomed with the same gusto as the other crowd-pleasing classics.
  Aside from the stellar songs, the men from a land down under also proved that they know a goddamned thing or two about showmanship, and I’m not just talking strobe lights here. A fifty-foot tall dancing inflatable prostitute accompanied the tender tale, “Whole Lotta Rosie,” and “Highway to Hell” just wouldn’t have seemed right without fireballs whizzing about the stage in all directions. And it wasn’t a pyrotechnical display, but during “The Jack,” the band coerced Long Beach’s most louche ladies into breaching their saline whales for the Diamond Vision screen (and that might have been your mom shaking her stuff up there).
  However, when they unveiled the massive, smoke-breathing bronze statue of Angus, complete with glowing eyes and devil horns, limited mobility, and a flame-throwing guitar, I knew that I had found my way into the quintessential arena rock spectacle.
  On top of all of the eye candy, it was obvious that the band still really loves playing live. Angus was running around in his trademarked schoolboy threads, working his jaw like an autistic fish and relentlessly tossing off bluesy, self-indulgent leads. Johnson thanked and goaded the audience during the between songs banter, and sang like it was all ending tomorrow. Never without a cigarette dangling from his lips, drummer Phil Rudd made the simplest drumbeats on earth look as easy as pie.
  AC/DC closed out the evening with an extended version of their unforgettable battle cry, “For Those About to Rock,” saluting the adoring thousands with six booming cannons and an indoor fireworks extravaganza, and a thoroughly entertained, if not inebriated, audience poured onto the streets of Long Beach with ears ringing and heads spinning.
  Set list: You Shook Me All Night Long - Stiff Upper Lip - Shot Down In Flames - Thunderstruck - Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be - Hard As A Rock - Shoot To Thrill - Rock 'N' Roll Ain't Noise Pollution - Safe In New York City - Bad Boy Boogie - Hells Bells - Get It Hot - The Jack - Back In Black - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - Highway To Hell - Whole Lotta Rosie - Let There Be Rock - T.N.T. - For Those About To Rock

• David
  I had a great time once again at AC/DC. My seats were killer but I would like to thank Brian for one of my greatest moments at a concert. I was in the third row up against the middle stage at the Long Beach Arena, and my friends had just delivered me 2 full beers. I was being harrassed by security all night, I told the fucker to back off because Brian was going to drink my beer. Withing a minute or two, during the Jack, I reached up and he gladly took my beer. It was an awesome feeling, he continued to sing the Jack right in front of me. I was feeling no pain at this point. He held that beer, he wanted to take a drink but the song wouldn't let him. Then finally he took a big drink and shes got the Jack, he handed it back to me. Man that was awesome, if there is a picture of that, I would really appreciate it if you could get that to me, I know it was up on the screen. AC/DC is awesome and if you have a chance to see them I would totally recommend it. That was the seventh time I've seen them, and look forward to them coming back. To tell you the truth the rest of the show was a blur to me cause I was completely fucked up, but that I will never forget. Thanks alot,,
  

• Mahooba
  SACRAMENTO...Are you ready for A...C...D...C? And the audience responded with a resounding...HELL YES. Just returned from a Sold Out Arco Arena and another OUTSTANDING show by Angus & Co. My ears have not rung like this since the Cow Palace days in the early 80's. They never cease to amaze or slow down, just keep on going (unlike their contemporaries from the 70's & 80's). What an awesome show tonight. All the usual fare and well worth every penny for the ticket. Keep it up boys...Sacramento loves AC/DC.

• Chris Coyle
  Oh my God. Just so everyone knows, this was the first time I saw these boys and if it's possible, it won't be the last. A quick overview - - before the concert, they had been my 3rd favorite band, after, my 1st.I get to my seat, which was fairly close to the stage (center) and then the lights go out. I get the chills. A guy comes out and says "SACRAMENTO! ARE YOU READY FOR A-C-D-C!!!" Within' a couple seconds the band comes out and Angus, like a gentleman, takes off his hat to geet us and then turns around facing the rest of the band and slams into the opening chords of "You Shook Me All Night Long". Dear Lord it was loud! But i could care less. So I am going nuts the whole concert, dancing, singing and giving the devil sign the whole time. Not ONCE did i sit down!!! There were a lot of great things goin' on in this concert...Angus' strip show to the 10 minute version of BAD BOY BOOGIE, hearing the new one, SAFE IN NYC live and seeing the giant statue of ANGUS! I was speechless afterwards. Some songs that I wasn't a giant fan of were unbelievably great! SHOT DOWN IN FLAMES was beyond awesome. There were many others, but that was the greatest show on earth and I can't wait till they tour again (i hope). Here's the set list:

  1. You Shook Me All Night Long 2. Stiff Upper Lip 3. Shot Down in Flames 4. Thunderstruck 5. Hell Aint A Bad Place to Be 6. Hard As A Rock 7. Shoot to Thrill 8. Rock n' Roll Aint Noise Pollution 9. Safe in New York City 10. Bad Boy Boogie 11. Hells Bells 12. Get it Hot 13. The Jack 14. Back In Black 15. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap 16. Highway to Hell 17. Whole Lotta Rosie 18. Let There Be Rock 19. TNT 20. For Those About to Rock

• T-Bone
  Puctual as usual, AC/DC took the stage at the Arco Arena in Sacramento promptly at 8:30....and there were problems immediately. Before the band struck up with "Shook Me All Night Long," Angus came out to greet the audience with a bow, and the spotlight missed it's cue. They immediately ripped into their second song "Stiff Upper Lip," pacing the show a little faster than the one they put on in September in Oakland.
  While the sound was a little muddy, it pains me to say they were a little flat at times...and unfortunately, falling out of tune by the time the "For Those About To Rock" finale....not that any of the 16,000 in attendance could care...myself included. This was not the same show as with their initial swing through in 2000...this show saw a lot of Bon Scott action, suprisingly.
  Remember the inflatable Rosie doll from the Razors' Edge Tour Video? She made a suprise appearance for "A Whole Lotta Rosie."All in all, not a bad show. In the future, if they make their initial appearance ANYWHERE near you, I suggest you see that show-not to knock the band, because eventually in the course of 200+ dates, you're gonna get a mailed in performance-Angus was his usual manic self, even though this time he DID NOT FLASH US. Brian was effective, but not as pumped as one might expect. One side note- I took my 55 year old mother to this show, (her first AC/DC experience,) and loved it. (She wanted more, so I gave her the "Live From Donnington" tape I had made for the trip to the show.) So, regardless of anything negative this review might imply, they still kicked ass, and I'll see them again...and again....and again. Let There Be Rock!!!!!

• Jeff
  Oh my god, my first AC/DC concert ever!!! I've been waiting for it my whole life, and when I first say Angus and the boys saunter out on stage and bust into "You Shook Me..", my heart was hit by 1000 cc's of adrenaline and never quit... They play with more energy than teenagers, and I felt so a part of them just from jumping and head banging and singing all night... It was everything I'd dreamed about and more! When Brian told the Portland sold-out crowd that he was glad to see us all still rockin as hard as ever, there wasn't a quiet mouth in the house. I hope to see them again, its a show no one should miss!

• Rory Hunt
  What a show. I am a huge AC/DC fan and this was like a homecoming for me. There was a great mix of young and old at the concert. Even the Tram was full of AC/DC fans on the way to the concert. We started a chant of "For those about to rock" and the whole car joined in. The concert was great, ewven the cover band was decent. Malcom tore up his guitar on "Bad Boy Boogie" and "Let There Be Rock" and Brian was the best showman on stage you could ask for. Boobies. During the Jack, women were flashing the big screeen and shaking their tits and it was great. The crowd favs were: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap Hard as a Rock Highway to Hell T.N.T. Hellz Bellz You shook me. This was the best concert ever, AC/DC is the best band ever, they are the loudest and the greatest, And anybody who missed this show, I pity you. I can't wait till they tour again.

• Nina Gleason
  Well Well Well......................... To make this short and sweet!!!!!!!! Last night at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon was one of the best nites of my life!!!!! Angus was all over the place, I got dizzy just trying to keep my eye on him, Brian worked the crowd and the other three members were just perfect!!!!! I will always remember last night as being wishfull thinking as what it may be like in Heaven....... Because that is exactly what it was, Heaven................................. They blew the roof off the Rose Garden and there was not one single person that wasn't in aahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh after the show............ Altogether 11 of us went and all of us are still on planet AC DC!!!!!!! :-)

• David
  OH YA What a show. Better interaction with the crowd than their '96 show, at least for me. All the classics. Brian and Angus seemed to have alot more energy than I remember before, and it showed. The girls displaying themselves during The Jack was awesome. Only had a couple that didn't, so Seattle was greatful to all the women who particpated. The mulimedia during Hard as a Rock was great too. We could feel the heat from the flames during Highway..We had 9th row tickets 4 seats in from the ramp. Missed Jailbreak,and would love to hear them play soulstripper sometime, but those are the only complaints. Brian's voice sounded great. There is a reason these guys sell out, they are an AWESOME band. Rock nowadays just doesn't sound like this. I hope they stay around for along time to come. My hats off to them. The show was over way to fast.
  Wide Mouth Mason opened for them. A good trio I thought. Blues orientated. I'll look for their material sometime.

• christos bourodemos
  TACOMA,APR.20,VANCOUVER,22AND23-ONE LIMO $760,THREE NIGHTS HOTELS $780,FOOD AND BEER $1000,21 AC/DC TICKITS $1800,ONE TOUR PROGRAM $25,FIVE AC/DC FLASHING DEVIL HORNS $50,TEN TOUR SHIRTS $450,ONE STIFF UPPER LIP TOUR JACKET $450,PERSONALY SEEING AC/DC FOR THE 11TH,12TH AND 13TH TIME.....PRICELESS!!!!!!

• Wes
  "There are good performers, there are great performers, there are fucking amazing performers. Then, on top of their pedistal of nicotine, laughing at, and pissing on them all is ACFuckingDC."
  WOW!!!!!!!!!! I just saw both Vancouver shows and they both absolutely kicked ass!!! I am only 17 so this was my first AC/DC show and I was not disappointed. My biggest fear was that Brians voice would be off, but it was perfect. At times he was a bit drowned out by the rest of the band but thats not his fault, he did a great job. What can u say about Angus. The man just doesn't quit. Sure he may have slowed down a little but u can't really tell, and he is always still in constant motion. As for the rest of the boys, they were amazing. Phil Rudd is so fucking cool, always smokin' a cig. And Cliff, his hair covers everything but the smile on his face. Malcolm is amazing, eyes closed, head bobbing, just totally feeling the music. Anyway, here is my song by song review of the two shows. Both sets were the same.
  1. You shook me - NOT a weak opener. It got everybody rockin' and it was played perfectly.
  2. Stiff upper lip - better than the cd. This song really rocks!!
  3. Shot down in flames - Amazing. I love this song, although I so prefer the Bon version. Brian says he can smell the Rock n' Roll out there, refering to that great B.C. weed, and he takes a sniff and laughs.
  4. Thunderstruck - Angus did the intro perfect. Crowd went nuts.
  5. Hell ain't a bad place to be - Awesome song. I don't think everybody in the crowd knew it. But it was sweet anyway.
  6. Hard as rock - Brian said "get 'em out if u got 'em boys." Video was hilarious.
  7. Shoot to thrill - played perfectly. I love it during the slow part when u look out over the crowd and all u see is hands clapping. It was so cool.
  8. R n' R ain't noise pollution - Great song with a cool little intro by Angus.
  9. Safe in NYC - better than on the cd. Really fast.
  10. Bad boy boogie - Striptease was hilarious. Statue had a big Canadian flag on its ass. Angus is so fucking funny!!
  11. Hells Bells - The bell was cool. Brian swings out over the crowd and throws his hat.
  12. Get it hot - People have said this was a lowpoint. I disagree. It kicked ass!!!!
  13. The Jack - Introduced by Brian like this. "this is a song about a dirty woman, oh come on she was dirtier than that. I mean this was ONE SICK BITCH." It was cool. Now,letstake a moment of silence for all those gorgeous Vancouver women. Holy shit there were some nice tits. One chick who was really hot and had huge tits flashed the camera and started rubbing them together and they kept the camera on her for like 30 seconds. SO NICE! During the song Brian came to the end of the walkway and said "I've gotta get me a look at these." It was cool. Then after the song he said "boy, lets do that one agian." The only bad thing was that no one was singing. I felt like i was the only one.
  14. Back in Black - Crowd went nuts. Fists pumping everywhere.
  15. Dirty deeds - once again. lots of fist pumping. Malcolms voice sounded just like it did on the dirty deeds album and angus's one handed part in the solo was incredible.
  16. Highway to Hell - Being in the second row, I could really feel the heat from the flames. So hot!!!
  17. Rosie - The doll was sweet. Once again another opportunity for the crowd to get interactive and do the "ANGUS" chant at the beginning of the song and i felt like i was the only one. C'mon Vancouver!
  18. Let There be Rock - Wow!!!! Fucking incredible. Ang's solo was so amazing. The rising platform was so cool
  19. TNT - Everbody was doing the OI chant with angus. Really cool. One of my favorites.
  20. For those about to Rock - Holy shit the cannons were loud. This is probably the best closing song in the history of live music. Simply amazing.

  I couldn't say what song was the best. They all kicked ass!!! But probably the best part of the weekend was meeting Angus and Mal after the first show and Brian after the second show. I was surprised to see how few people waited after the show for autographs. There was only about 10-15 people. Angus is so cool, such a nice guy, and SO SMALL. My mom took a pic of me and Angus and my fucking head is missing. I got my FTATR cd booklet signed and also Angus KISSED MY MOM. She was so excited. I also got the FTATR booklet signed by MAL and Brian. Real nice guys, no holier than thou attitude. My buddy got Brians beer. We took a sip and we'll never drink from it again.

  This was the best weekend of my life. I still haven't come down to earth yet. I'm still in dreamland. I can't belive i got to meet my heroes. I just hope i get to see them again before they call it a career, which i truly believe will not be for a long while. I would also just like to say that Wide Mouth Mason was really good. Up here in Canada we've known about them for a couple of years now and they did get a welcome reception from the Vancouver crowd. The singer commented that they were happy to be back in Canada. He is really a fuckin good guitar player, great blues tone. Sort of reminded me of Stevie Ray Vaughn. He even played with his teeth. Yea I was really looking forward to seeing Slash but these guys really surprised me. Anyway, AC/DC fucking ROCKS!!!! Can't wait to see them again. Just hope its sooner than 5 years. ROCK ON!!!!!!