I didn't know if I really wanted to go.....it's music I grew up with not necessarily music I would choose but in the end.......it's AC/DC. A band that originally came to life to rival a punk music dominated era that has only changed their line up once, due to the untimely death of Bon Scott, and who tick the same age group box as my parents (maybe higher if mum reads this) - well I just had to get my hippie butt to it......
We started in the city having a few drinks with family & friends.........it was fairly evident within two seconds the unspoken uniform of the evening was black & denim. The walk from Hindley street to Adelaide Oval was the beginning......the Mr's cousin was with us and managed to stop traffic as we crossed North terrace and then everyone converged together to walk on to Adelaide oval. The excitement started to build then.....there is something bizarrely exciting about 43000 people making there way to one place for one reason....
The Mr had been getting calls all night about the line up and he was starting to have a meltdown about it......a 35 year old tantrum was in the making......luckily karma was on our side and the one security guy we asked directions from said "sure you're at the right gate" ........... snapped open the fence and let us through. I will forever be grateful to that man that stopped me having to deal with the Mr & co having man size tanty's!
Once in the oval and sipping la beverage it was rather interesting. The boys decided to claim a spot at the bar for a while and I went in to see support act Wolfmother......who seemed to put on an excellent show! I've never been a great fan of 'rock shows' in daylight.....I think you need a night time atmosphere and plus the sun setting makes it bloody hard to see anything. But Wolfmother sounded decent and even after apparently having to break up with the original line up and reform - they still sounded excellent. I am always pleasantly surprised when I go see bands that actually sound a lot like their Cd's.
The most interesting thing was people watching...... I am no expert but I have been to see a fair few bands and the crowd for AC/DC was an interesting one. There were grandparents bringing their unaware grand kids, parents trying to educate their children in the fine art of original rock 'n' roll , husbands and the wives that bought them the tickets, people that came just because it was ' acca dacca'....... such a melting pot of ages, socio economic groups, social groups...........all to see five men who could claim the pensioner discount when they go to the movies.
By about 8:30pm I think it was we had made our way as close as we were going to get to the stage and the lights dimmed........next minute after an animated beginning that would have made the nuns that taught me at school run in horror there it was - the Black Ice train - and there they were AC/DC. They rocked it - yes it was a perfected, commercial performance with huge screens and devil horns. A fair few mammeries were exposed via the screens which yes earned the Mr a few slaps in the back of the head and the man next to me was in hysterics - when I looked at him he explained the source of his entertainment was that he had brought his 14 year old son along and he was bug eyed as he has seen more breasts in five minutes than he had in his lifetime.
They played - what I thought - was a good mix of old and new. The Mr wasn't so happy as he only knew a few songs and was a little over it by the end. I think he didn't quite get that when you have been around for as long as they have there is a fairly wide range of songs to choose from.
Angus Young proved that you can be over fifty, wear a school uniform (possibly dye your hair), do an impossibly long guitar solo and run around a stage like a bunny on crack - and it's just cool. Brian Johnson sang and screamed his way through brilliantly - again another band that souns exactly like what you buy - which I like as it means they are who they say they are. Phil Rudd, Cliff Williams and Malcolm Young complete the line up and it seems like that is part of their charm - they have stayed together through it all - to the point where they still pay homage to original lead singer Bon Scott by putting his picture up on screen.
When it finished the entire crowd spilled out into the city. Buses, taxi's, trains were subsequently filled with fans.......thousands of us made the 20 minute walk to Hindley street. There is a unique feeling when you see traffic (yes again!)* come to a stand still and let thousands of people walk the street........
Yes, it is definitely a finely created, produced and executed show. Yes there were probably elements that were brilliant and others not so brilliant. When it comes down to it I stood and saw one of the worlds greatest rock bands live. Standing in a sold out crowd at Adelaide oval watching AC/DC I knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to experience.
I am not saying they are on their deathbed, or they wont be back to go again, but I was lucky enough to get a ticket to a concert that sold out in 20 minutes, a babysitter and and the Mr to go out on the same night. I can now say I saw AC/DC at Adelaide oval.....and that I am more than happy with....
* Yes I know their a safety issues but we went with the vibe of the night and luckily Adelaide drivers were lovely and accommodating.
* Just as a point of interest because it was kind of funny we had booked a room in the city to stay but after getting back to the hotel my darling Mr declared he was to old and tired for this s%*t and he need to come home (an hour from the city) straight away and have a cup of tea. Subsequently I will now tease him every time he chooses to remind me 'how cool he is!'
2 comments:
Boy, I'd have to ingest a LOT of alcohol to expose my "mammories" on a huge screen! Glad they could make the night of a 14 year old boy!!
Interesting review. I was there too and also thought that they could have played less new songs and more of their classics. They're certainly one of the world's biggest acts but I do wonder how much longer they'll be able to do it.
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