Concert Review: AC/DC, CanadInns Stadium, Winnipeg, MB, 8/22/09

I was as close to the stage as you could be, but the band still appeared as ants.

Thankfully, there were three giant video screens. The band's arrival on stage was preceded by short animated film of lead guitarist Angus Young and singer Brian Johnson on a train with some young, naughty women who attempt to cause it to crash — as well as several visual references to fellatio.

There were many people who, if you had to guess, didn't look anything like hard rock fans. In fact, the ordinary-looking folks greatly outnumbered the long-haired, headbanger ones.

AC/DC kicked off the show with the first single from their Black Ice album, "Rock 'N' Roll Train," which featured a smoke-belching locomotive on the stage's backdrop. Later on, the locomotive would spew flames. The band wasted no time in giving fans what they really wanted to hear, though — classic material — beginning with "Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be" and "Back In Black," both of which were every bit as powerful and spirited as you would expect from a band who relies heavily on signature tunes. Even still, it was a tad louder than I had hoped.

Age-defying Angus Young strutted and ran around like he's always done while his brother, guitarist Malcolm Young along with bassist  Cliff Williams, and drummer Phil Rudd stayed in the background, taking no solos. Both Angus and Johnson made good use of a catwalk that extended from the center of the stage to about the middle of the field, ending at the sound booth. At one point, Angus disappeared into the booth and then reappeared on its roof to much acclaim. When the platform that he was playing on rose nearly six feet into the air, the crowd went nuts. I probably spent most of the time watching the action on the videos screens, in order to take in every facial contortion and close-ups of Angus' fingers firing out endless blues rock riffs.

Johnson still has enormous stage presence though his vocals became a little bit worn out by the time they played "You Shook Me All Night Long." He still seemed quite fit, however, especially when he ran down the catwalk from the center of the field towards the stage, jumped into the air, and swung from the rope attached the giant bell that descended for "Hell's Bells."

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Article Author: Triniman

Almost weekly, Triniman catches new movies, and adds one or two CDs to his collection. Due to time constraints, he blogs about only 5% of the CDs, books and DVDs that he purchases. Holed up in the geographic centre of North America, the cultural …

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Article comments

  • 1 - John White

    Aug 24, 2009 at 7:41 am

    Can you give us a photo credit if you're going to use our photos? Thanks.

  • 2 - Carole

    Aug 24, 2009 at 10:51 am

    Perhaps you may not be a true fan..some rockers age with grace and that doesn't mean we have to wear the said long hair nor do we have the "non rocker" stereotyped expectations of what a rock fan looks like. as a true fan, AC/DC delivered to me just what I expected, no bull, no shit, just pure rock from start to finish served up with a reminder that although we are all getting older we can still rock with the passion and vigour of a 16 year old. The only criticism was the ridiculous seating on the floor..a real atmosphere killer for the those of us who really wanted to rock and grunge. I have never been to a rock concert that was seated, what the hell happened to the mosh pit? talk about tame...bring it on. Now donnington rock festival..get the live at donnigton dvd..That is how to rock! Rock on AC/DC... you got true grit!

  • 3 - Triniman

    Aug 24, 2009 at 2:00 pm

    The photo was by David Lipnowski, from the Winnipeg Free Press. Google up their excellent real-time blog rewind of the show, by Deputy Online Editor John White. My apologies, John and David, regarding the photo.

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