The opening sequence of this concert was one of the coolest I have ever seen. It begins with a hilarious animated video that has the boys riding on an out-of-control, "666 Express," steam locomotive just before it crashes into a huge ball of flames at the end of the station line. As the smoke and fire and explosions begin to subside, a full-sized, steam-engine replica becomes prominently displayed at the back of the stage, as if it had came crashing through the back of the arena. And what better an excuse to open the show with "Rock N Roll Train," from the new album. The song is an instant AC/DC classic.
OK, so the setlist is pretty much the same as their last few DVDs - what, are they not going to play "Back In Black," "Whole Lotta Rosie," "Hells Bells," "Highway to Hell," "T.N.T." and "For Those About To Rock?," - but they do also mix in four songs from the new album. I can understand the need for AC/DC to play all of the same classic songs every tour, but if they are going to film multiple nights for a new concert video, they could at least vary the setlists a bit each night to allow for a few more deep cuts to make the release.
I was amazed at the energy these guys displayed 10 years ago on the Stiff Upper Lip tour, and I am even more amazed at how they topped themselves on this latest tour. Brian Johnson still looks and sounds like he did 20 years ago, and Angus...well Angus is just a freak. For one, the guy moves non-stop, visiting every inch of the stage to give his fans an eyeful of his string-bending mastery. He must sweat off about 10 pounds every show - and that's a lot when you only weigh about 90 pounds, soaking wet.
His extended guitar solo during "Let There Be Rock," which he plays 20 feet above the crowd on a lift that rises out of the end of a long catwalk that extends nearly halfway out onto the stadium floor, is still a thing of beauty. Sure, Angus can be a bit sloppy at times, a la Jimmy Page, but his incredible vibrato, string bends, and ability to play a song within a solo, makes him one of the best rock guitar soloists in the business.
Article comments
1 - Shaleem Hosein
I saw this tour at our football stadium and this video more than captures the excitement. It's superb and awesome on Blu-ray.