AC/DC
QSAC 12.11.2015
AC/DC are back on their Rock or Bust Tour and, again, they’re playing to big numbers all over the country. Tonight, the first of two show at QSAC, the band are playing to 45, 000 people. There’s a terrific energy in the venue as the band kick off with Rock or Bust. The crowd, as you’d expect, go nuts. Still, it’s AC/DC and you don’t want to hear too many new songs. The band dutifully oblige and run into a trilogy of past masters that includes Shoot To Thrill, Hell Ain’t A Bad Place ToBe and Back In Black.
The elephant in the room is the room itself. Used sparingly for concerts, it really shows. Tonight, AC/DC do their best. Pearl Jam thought they could away with two black and white screens the size of jumbo TV sets: AC/DC know better. There’s a massive arch, devil’s horns and a runway for Angus to head out among the paying customers to do his thing.
After Play Ball, things really kick off with a searing Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap followed by drummer Chris Slade’s signature, Thunderstruck. Drummer Phil Rudd is currently out of the band, but Slade (who’s back) does an admirable job on the kit. A bigger hole is the departure of Malcolm Young: who suffers dementia. His place on rhythm guitar has been taken by nephew Stevie who has the Young right hand groove running through his DNA. Angus still plays like a man possessed and has lost little energy since the band opened for business in the mid-1970’s. Brian Johnson remains one of rock’s great frontman: though he struggles with some of the high notes.
The venue itself didn’t do the band any favours when it comes to ‘the sound’. Early on AC/DC sounded great, but, as the night wore on, the bottom end became a rumble.
High Voltage kept the mood distinctly ‘up’, as did relative ‘newie’, Rock N’ Roll Train. Hells Bells was magnificent… as was You Shook Me All Night Long.
Post TNT, it was great to see the inflatable Rosie make a return (Whole Lotta Rosie) before the band closed the set with an extended take on Let There Be Rock.
Long after the drink queues, the complaints about public transport and gripes about the venue itself, fans will remember how the quintet rocked, the killer set list and the one-two punch of Highway To Hell and For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) that closed the show. The best fireworks since this year’s Ekka lit the stadium up and the trademark AC/DC canons did their thing.
Who knows, maybe this is the last time … and maybe it isn’t. Regardless, they came, they saw and they damn well rocked. We salute you!
Words: Sean Sennett
