Gig review: AC/DC in Wellington
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Rock gods AC/DC descended on Wellington last night. Reviewer Simon Sweetman was there.
AC/DC
Where: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
When: Thursday January 28
The Australian hard rock legends wasted no time getting the crowd on side. "We're here to play rock'n'roll tonight", rasped Brian Johnson after the opening Rock'n'Roll Train from the band's most recent album, Black Ice.
From there it was (mostly) a case of pick your own favourite moment as more anthems were served up (Back In Black, Hell's Bells, You Shook Me All Night Long) than by any other still-touring band, except The Rolling Stones.
Back In Black is the first anthem to have the full audience participation, chanting the chorus, fists pumping the air. Big Jack (also from Black Ice) started the trend of the crowd-energy waning slightly whenever new songs were played.
Fortunately for every Black Ice track there was a Dirty Deeds or a Shoot To Thrill.
AC/DC just might be the world's last great rock'n'roll group. So much of it hinges on the Young brothers, Malcolm anchoring the boogie and blues derivations, Angus duck-walking and ploughing up and down the pentatonic scale, blissfully blistering away at the neck of his guitar – leading the show in so many ways.
He is the sound that most air-guitarists think they are hearing when they mime along. But Angus is plugged in. Almost permanently. Angus is real.
During The Jack, the Gollum-of-the-guitar teases the audience, peeling his precious schoolboy uniform off to reveal AC/DC boxers.
But if Angus is the showman with his big fish-gulps and axe-attack, Brian Johnson works every bit as hard. At times it looked like he was having a mild stroke to conjure the vocals; eyes bulging, wrists writhing, serpent-like.
He prowled the stage and amped the crowd, his cheeky cackle introducing so many gems, including a run of High Voltage, You Shook Me All Night Long, TNT, Whole Lotta Rosie and the set-closing Let There Be Rock.
The engine room of Malcolm Young (rhythm guitar), Cliff Williams (bass) and Phil Rudd (drums) was unflappable and relentless.
Encoring with Highway To Hell and For Those About To Rock (We Salute You), the band fans refer to as "AccaDacca" showed that if you stick to the knitting – obvious, proud rock songs for obvious, proud fans – it is always going to work.
* Were you there? What did you think? Post your comments below.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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Went both nights, thursday I was up in the stands,saturday i was down on the feild within 10 meters from stage! Anyway what a difference in sound, the sound was absolutly crap in the stands, but sounded mint on the feild! But still about the show, it was epic. I went to athletic park to see them to. Full on respect boyz, My partner and I are expecting a baby boy and we have deciced on Angus for the name! Rock On AC/DC.
Awesome show, one of best rock concerts I've been to, (and I've been to a few over the years) I loved the response I got to my multi coloured mohawk wig, Highlights were when Rosie mounted the Train, and when the moon rose above the stage (how did they plan that one? ha ha) they are the best rock group on the planet, it was great to see so many of my fellow Nakians there, and the weather was perfect (amazing for Wellington) overall a great time thanks Wellington you rock!
Went Sat night with my partner, absoloutely loved it!!! It went off
I can't understand why beneficiaries complain about having no money when there were clearly thousands of them at the concert?
Well it was worth every penny and the aching arms and necks, we may never see these guys tour again. Thursday was the go and boy did we mush it smelly armpits galore for us shorter folk. Yes they rocked it as hard as we did, good stuff alright not to be missed for the world. Pity the Stadium had no food after a few hours and Cues out the door for everything shame on you cake tin.
disapointed they didnt play money talks
Honestly, I went because I wanted to see them once in my lifetime and I wasn't disappointed. It was an AWESOME show and can highly recommend it to ppl like myself and fans alike. Seriously, if you know of any other 55 yr olds who can play guitar like Angus, then maybe you can make neg. comments. But I suspect you don't! There will never be another Angus Young and I wish my Dad could do that!! lol!
Went Saturday, had an amazing time. Thought they were really good all things considered, and the thrusting only gets better with age. Ha ha. Thanks for coming ACDC! Im glad i can say i have seen you guys play. Just incredible!
Spot on review, Sweetman - "customer centric rock" - nothing too pompous, they played all the hits, did not inflict us with too much from the new album, offer no dull bass and drum solos, and the whole show had amazing production values. Shame that the venue allows in so many totally wasted jerks who try to ruin the gig for everyone around them. Symptomatic of the kiwi booze culture, I'm afraid...
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I WENT TO THURS AT SAT both priceless.. saturday much better mayb cos of who i went with i dunno... or the fact that there were 35 thous on thurs with arenas and sat had no arenas and 20 thous ppl although i had front aena tickets anyways