Review: AC/DC at Adelaide Oval
AUSTRALIA’S greatest rock and roll band shook the city all night long in the biggest concert to hit Adelaide since The Rolling Stones last year. | AC/DC concert gallery
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AUSTRALIA’S greatest rock and roll band shook the CBD all night long in the biggest concert to hit Adelaide since The Rolling Stones last October.
Almost 53,000 fans packed into the Adelaide Oval as AC/DC put on a masterclass of barre chord rock for more than two hours in a live show that dwarfs their closest peer.
From 10am fans, queued for a spot to witness the rock spectacle, patiently biding their time for more than eight hours before the first note was played.
That honour was taken by Melbourne rockers Kingswood whose sweaty, devoted pub shows echo the same rock sentiments as their headliners.
They are big shoes to fill for any band, opening for Acca Dacca, and Kingswood are best enjoyed in their natural habitat of sticky floors and smaller rooms — for now anyway.
The same can’t be said for The Hives, who were up next — the band’s blistering, razor-sharp 35-minute set barely came up for air.
From the opening manic drum beat of C’mon, through the monster Hate to Say I Told You So to the closing rock rollercoaster of Tick Tick Boom — the well-dressed Swedish rockers always look like they are playing for their lives.
But as worked up as the crowd full of black T-shirts and red devil horns got, only one thing could satisfy their hunger.
They kicked off the night with new single Rock or Bust, although it could have been Back in Black as far as the fans were concerned judging by the screams.
Shoot to Thrill followed and Angus Young showed that age shall not weary him — running around the stage looking like a member of The Hives who sneakily hung around and changed outfits.
Pyrotechnics, an insane light show and the noise ... it’s difficult to put into words the aural and visual assault the vintage rockers unleashed on Adelaide.
Like many arena shows, the sound was variable depending on where you were, and judging by comments on The Advertiser’s Facebook page, some fans weren’t happy with the mix around Brian Johnson’s voice.
But combined with the calibre of songs that accompanied the show — Back in Black, Thunderstruck, High Voltage, Hells Bells all followed in quick succession, belted out by Johnson’s trademark gravelly vocals that echoed around the stadium — it’s a rollicking night that rarely slows down.
It wouldn’t be long before Rosie made an appearance alongside T.N.T. and Let There Be Rock, where Angus Young performed a monster solo that shows he is still one of the most influential Australian guitarists of all time.
The finale of Highway To Hell and For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) couldn’t have been more perfect.
The fans, sweaty with spilt beer after being arm in arm belting out their favourite songs for two hours had one more singalong, arms raised and devil horns flashing.
Even bigger than the band’s huge 2010 show — let’s hope we only have to wait another five years to do it all again.
It was one hell of a night.
They came, they rocked, they conquered
By Roxanne Wilson
OLD-SCHOOL diehards, young families, mates and even a spirited red devil united on the highway to Adelaide Oval for legendary rock band AC/DC’s concert on Saturday night.
The Aussie rockers hit the stage about 8.05pm, but it was a much earlier start for many fans who lined up to beat the 50,000-strong crowd for prime standing positions.
Among them was 44-year-old Andrew Daniels, who arrived with his son Joshua, 17, before midday.
Mr Daniels, of Elizabeth, said his love affair with the band began with a concert in 1988.
“I’ve been hooked ever since,” he said, adding that they weren’t fazed by the long wait.
“AC/DC are number one in the world.”
It was an emotional day for mega-fan Sav “Subb” Caruso, of Salisbury, who said he dressed up as a devil because Acca Dacca is his religion.
“I will cry through 70 per cent of the thing,” the 26-year-old said.
“Every day when I was a kid I’d watch the DVD and to see them up there is just weird; I don’t even know how to explain it.
“For me it is such an intense feeling. I love it. I could rock out to this all day.”
Emily Crossman, who attended the concert with parents Peter and Suzanne Crossman and friend Rachel Wehrmann, said she “loves the cheekiness of Angus (Young)”.
Ms Wehrmann said: “It (the music) is so catchy — it’s just so easy to get stuck in your head.”
Devoted fans kept merchandise tents busy, where devil horns and the exclusive-to-Adelaide Hells Bells T-shirt were popular.
“We’ve got a couple of exclusive Adelaide shirts so they always sell well,” merchandise operations manager Glenn Watson said.
“We’d like to have enough so we don’t sell out, but at the same time it’d be great to sell out of some things ... we’ve got 33 designs plus all of the other accessories as well.”
AC/DC is a band close to Adelaide’s heart, after Angus and Malcolm Young first hooked up with Bon Scott at the Pooraka Hotel. The rest, as they say, is history.
Scott famously died after a big night out in London in 1980, and the band recruited Englishman Brian Johnson to fill the energetic frontman’s spot.
The band has faced further hurdles in recent years, with rhythm guitarist Malcolm being forced into retirement due to dementia and drummer Phil Rudd unable to tour after running foul of the law in New Zealand.
But as long as Angus is still plugging in his Gibson SG and thrashing out the iconic opening chords to Back in Black, the fans will come — and last night they showed up in force. All left with ringing ears, huge grins and a rekindled love for our most iconic rock band.