Tuesday, July 28, 2009

AC/DC: They Shoot to Thrill

I’ve tried to figure out why I like AC/DC so much. Watched Shine a Light last night (Martin Scorsese concert film about Rolling Stones; RS executive-produced the film) and found their performance to be flat and unexciting. The Jack White and Buddy Guy segments with them were notable and near the end, there was some excitement and energy, but otherwise, too mannered, too polished, too “done this so many times before”.
If you are ever lucky enough to see AC/DC in concert, you won’t believe the energy and “coming to get you” attitude. Every song, they play like there’s no next song, ever. Sure, you know the material, but when they perform it, WHOA! Back in Black is killer-fantastic, Whole Lotta Rosie is CRANKED UP; The Jack is incredible….OK, name one of their hits and AC/DC delivers a rendition that promises: if you want blood--you've got it! Each song will be very close to the album version AND it will be just jumping, screaming, all the way out there LIVE. They really, really do get it hot! By the time they play Let There Be Rock, Highway to Hell and For Those About to Rock, the fans are in serious sensory overload (the earth is shaking, my mind is aching, won't be faking it) and at the same time begging: more, more, more, please!!
Of course, it's the entire rocking band that does this, but listening to Angus play those unforgettable guitar riffs and solos, watching the duck walking and running all over the stage--a high voltage performance that steals the show every time! He is and will always be a guitar god live wire for me.
In Vegas, if the set list has been augmented by Sin City, when they play it, the MGM concert venue will explode like Krypton in Superman's story. Would be so cool to be there for those fireworks, n'est-ce pas?

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