Gig review: AC/DC in Auckland

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INTO IT: Angus Young performs with AC/DC at Western Springs in Auckland.

I BELIEVE I CAN FLY: Brian Johnson performs with AC/DC at Western Springs in Auckland.

IN THE SHADOWS: Angus Young performs with AC/DC at Western Springs in Auckland.

GIRLS GONE WILD: AC/DC fans enjoy their performance at Western Springs in Auckland.

WHAT A POUT: Angus Young performs with AC/DC at Western Springs in Auckland.

ROCKING ON: Brian Johnson peforms with AC/DC at Western Springs in Auckland.

WAY OUT WEST: Angus Young and Brian Johnson perform with AC/DC at Western Springs in Auckland.

FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK: Angus Young performs with AC/DC at Western Springs in Auckland.

TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE: Angus Young performs with AC/DC at Western Springs in Auckland.

UPSIDE DOWN: Fans enjoy AC/DC's performance at Western Springs in Auckland.

ALL EYES ON ME: Brian Johnson performs with AC/DC at Western Springs in Auckland.

SHOW OF HANDS: Fans enjoy AC/DC's performance at Western Springs in Auckland.

DOWN ON HIS KNEES: Brian Johnson peforms with AC/DC at Western Springs in Auckland.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Brian Johnson performs with AC/DC at Western Springs in Auckland.

BIG BANG: Brian Johnson performs with AC/DC at Western Springs in Auckland.

FEELING BLUE: Brian Johnson performs with AC/DC at Western Springs in Auckland.

WALKING THE PLANK: Angus Young peforms with AC/DC at Western Springs in Auckland.

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AC/DC thrilled a sold out crowd at Western Springs Stadium with more than two hours of classic rock. Reviewer Nicholas Russell was there.

AC/DC
Where: Western Springs Stadium, Auckland
When: Thursday, February 4

The AC/DC juggernaut rolled through Auckland on Thursday night completing their conquest of New Zealand and giving the mammoth Western Springs crowd a true rock spectacle.

Lead guitarist Angus Young was the star of the night, dominating the stage with his striptease act during the dirty blues of The Jack and carving it up during an extended Let There Be Rock.

He is the face - and furiously riffing hands - of the band alongside grizzled lead singer Brian Johnson, who got his best swagger on during encore track Highway To Hell.

The show opened with a train cartoon flashing over the big screens that ended with a huge live locomotive blasting through the set followed by the track Rock 'N Roll Train from 2008's Black Ice.

From there it was a gravy train of hits like Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Thunderstruck and particularly You Shook Me All Night Long which created a truly raucous atmosphere.

The scale of the show was stunning and when 'Rosie' burst out over the stage during Whole Lotta Rosie you could really get a sense of the effort that went as the band laboured like ants beneath her barely concealed mammaries.
 
While it was the hits that got the 60,000-strong crowd dancing, the new material from Black Ice fitted in well, barely straying from the same formula that launched them back in the 1970's, with the raw sounding War Machine the pick of the crop.

Having said that I would have happily swapped out any of those songs for It's a Long Way to The Top (If you want to Rock N' Roll), but beggars can't be choosers.

The classic AC/DC stagecraft was still in full force with Johnson swinging from a huge bell before cracking into Hells Bells and Angus breaking out the devil horns for Highway To Hell and For Those About To Rock.

The energy of the band, with Malcolm Young (rhythm guitar), Cliff Williams (bass) and Phil Rudd (drums) furiously hammering away behind their two star turns, belies their age and seeing a crew of legendary rockers in full flight at such a huge show should have the rock faithful sated for years to come.

* What did you think of AC/DC? Post your comments below.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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Oldest First

Stephy   #108   10:53 am Feb 17 2010

That concert was honestly the best night of my life.

I couldn't hear properly for two days.

: D

karl   #107   10:15 pm Feb 10 2010

we travelled from whangarei to auckland by train that was put on by shindig events which was a good trip . I thought the concert was excellent had a really good time well worth the money if they had another concert next week i'd go again, still buzzing , it's highly recomended . thanks for the super excellent show .

Kiley   #106   03:28 pm Feb 10 2010

Nearly a week later and I'm still buzzing about the concert.

ocka rocka   #105   12:46 pm Feb 09 2010

awesome show one of the best i have seen,sound was great and the stage was amazing angus u r a legend,only downside was the idiots that decided that work had to be done on the freeway the same night reducing three lanes to one.three and a half hours to get to TeHuna!

lala   #104   11:38 am Feb 09 2010

freakn awesome second time ive seen them first time was in 1996 i think the last time they were here in nz b4 this black ice tour

Kiley   #103   04:10 pm Feb 08 2010

This has to be the best concert I have ever been too. I loved it, loved every second of it. I'm still recovering but hell, it was worth it. Thank you ACDC for coming to NZ. HFM!

Mk2 Girl   #102   04:07 pm Feb 08 2010

One of my top3 concerts Ive ever seen. Hearty salute to you all ACDC you rocked, may your music continue to captivate. Great idea organisers segregating areas, stage front wasn't crowded & had space to rock out hard. Angus you are truly a legend, up there with Jimi, Stevie-Ray, Eric & B.B. You all got blues in your soul... Rock on

ACDC Fan   #101   10:34 am Feb 08 2010

Im 18 and this was and probly will be the only time i will watch ACDC live.. Ive listened to albums from them throughout my life but the concert was just insane.. the atmosphere.. the drinks.. THE GIRLS! insane haha was a fricken awsome night out.. only shame was that they ran out of drinks.. good night all round though. AWSOME!

Polly   #100   10:23 am Feb 08 2010

Loved it! Fantastic concert. We were in the front row and it was just amazing.

Annie   #99   10:11 am Feb 08 2010

OFF THE HOOK!!! Best concert ever HIGHLIGHT: Angus's instrumental. Rosie was awesome, angus boxers were cool and hells bells... Wikid If it was too loud, ur too dam old. Traffic was crap and sellin outta drinks that fast... Duh! Totally worth the mission tho.