Wednesday, September 09, 2009

AC/DC Honda Center, Anaheim, California 9-8-09


I had never had the chance to see AC/DC before, despite being a fan since the late 70’s. I was a little worried that they might have lost their manic energy and entertainment value over the years, but this concert was still highly entertaining and wildly rockin’!

Yes, they have definitely calmed down a little – taking more breaks between songs and even Angus is a little slower that he appeared in past live videos. But he is still crazier and wilder than 97% of the rockers a fraction of his age, and still moves non-stop through all of the songs, and the band puts on a terrific show.

Opening with a promo cartoon for the “Rock and Roll Train” tune that opens their set, the screen then burst open from the “collision” of a larger than life AC/DC locomotive that belches smoke and fire throughout the set while displaying lit-up devil horns! (The Halloween-styled lit-up horns were a big merchandising standard too and looked great with hundreds of them flashing on people’s heads throughout the concert!)

Of course, they did a number of songs from the new album – “R’n’R Train” is a solid rocker, “Black Ice”, the title tune, is a nice bluesy song, though a couple of the others were pretty forgettable – but otherwise had a great set list that covered most of their history. “Hells Bells” with their huge bell that Brian Johnson swung from, “Whole Lotta Rosie” with a gargantuan blow up doll that stradled the train while bouncing with the beat, “For Those About to Rock” with the canons, “TNT”, “The Jack” (during which they showed the skankiest females in the audience on their huge video screens), “Dirty Deeds”, “Back in Black” and plenty more!

I’ve heard rumors that this might be their last tour, so, though Angus looks like an animated cadaver, they are still a mighty force of rock, so see ‘em if ya can!

(PS - One complaint that I did have, which might have been caused by our seat location, was the poor sound. The sound man had the horrible 80's affliction, "lead bass drum", with that instrument far louder than everything else combined, which made it physically uncomfortable every time it was hit. Brian's voice was low in the mix, as well, but the bass drum was the worst offender.)