AC/DC
MCG, Melbourne
Wednesday, November 12th
Earlier in the day, 374 bagpipers assembled to bust out AC/DC’s “It’s A Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)” in the nearby Federation Square, smashing the previous world record of 333 pipers, which was set by Bulgaria back in 2012.
Inside the sparsely populated MCG, Melbourne’s local AC/DC support, The Casanovas, hit the stage. With their blazing guitar solos, pummelling drums, and multiple vocalists bringing different flavours, they do what needs to be done. “We’ve been around 26 years,” vocalist/guitarist Tommy Boyce points out. “What a pleasure it is opening for the greatest rock ’n’ roll band of all time.” Boyce then admits his band’s next song, “Livin’ in the City”, was heavily influenced by Accadacca. We nod along to this standout number’s bendy opening riffs – he ain’t wrong.
“How the fuck are ya?” is how Amy Taylor announces her Grammy-nominated band’s arrival on stage. Amyl and the Sniffers then launch into the punchy “Security”. They are on fire – as gig-fit as a band could possibly be. Bassist Gus Romer and guitarist Declan Mehrtens even incorporate a bit of cheesy unison guitar-ography, while standing back to back, and we’re all for it.
With her platinum blonde, flicked Farrah Fawcett hairdo and vivid makeup – aqua eyeshadow and the pinkest of hot pink blush – Taylor propels around the stage with stamina to spare and powerful messages to share. Menacing bass prowls through “Knifey”, which illustrates the pervasive fear of violence women experience when walking alone at night; “Tiny Bikini” spruiks a woman’s right to wear whatever the fuck she wants minus the fear of being slut-shamed.
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When Taylor spots a fan at the front singing along with “Guided by Angels”, she points and beams. Amyl and the Sniffers close with “Hertz”, a whirlwind of urgent guitars and propulsive drums: “I want you to love me / Do you love me?”
As dusk shifts toward darkness, a sea of red devil horns – aka genius AC/DC merch – illuminate inside the MCG. As the LED screens burst with visuals of impeccable clarity, the sound of a high-speed car erupts from the speakers. These intro visuals are customised – a road sign reads “Melbourne”.
The millisecond AC/DC take to the stage, a roar goes up. Angus Young stands out like dogs’ balls in a scarlet blazer and matching shorts, with his spindly legs poking out. During their opener, “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)”, he struts up the catwalk as his guitar acquiesces.
“Back in Black” follows – that stop-start riff can’t be beaten. It’s only song two and AC/DC have already proven they’ve still got it; don’t heed the haters, there’s still plenty of power in Brian Johnson’s gritty vocals.
Johnson and Young clearly live to perform. Ably backed by rhythm guitarist Stevie Young (nephew of Malcolm and Angus), bassist Chris Chaney (formerly of Jane’s Addiction), and drummer Matt Laug (formerly of Slash’s Snakepit), this current lineup is a formidable unit.
With its atmospheric mass vocals (“ah-ah-ah-AH-ah-ah-AH-ah!”) evoking an actual thunderstorm, “Thunderstruck” enlivens the stadium. The entire standing GA section unites for some unison sky-punching as realistic lightning flashes over the giant screens.
Credit: Kiel Egging
Angus’s playing is gobsmacking to witness in a live setting. His phalanges race across the frets so quickly they’re a blur; his legs never stop moving, as if he’s constantly reacting to electric currents coursing through the stage.
A large black bell emblazoned with a red AC/DC logo descends centre stage to signal the arrival of “Hells Bells”, followed by “Highway to Hell”, which is enhanced by flame visuals that lick the live footage on the screens.
Enter a familiar, circular, rhythmic riff – it can’t be “Jailbreak”, can it? No, AC/DC haven’t played that one live since 1991. “There was a friend of mine on murder…” – it is! Talk about a life highlight. Especially the “spotlights, sirens / Rifles firin’” section, which is punctuated by Angus mimicking the respective sounds on guitar. His energy supply is inexhaustible.
We’re not even given a second to recuperate before we’re inundated with “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”. “I know you’ve fuckin’ missed this!” Johnson teases.
“You Shook Me All Night Long” wins the singalong of the night: “The walls start shakin’ / The earth was quakin’…” – Johnson could very well be describing what we’re all experiencing right now.
At one point, Angus rises up on a cherry picker at the end of the catwalk while soloing like it’s a walk in the park. Once fully elevated, he drops to the floor and backspins – all the while nailing his guitar parts. And playing one-handed? That’s a cinch for our Angus. Confetti cannons detonate to celebrate his brilliance.
There can only be one Angus Young, the OG guitar hero, and this aerial guitar solo is one for the ages.
After two-plus hours spent rocking our socks off, AC/DC leave it all on the MCG stage. There’s plenty of “High Voltage” left in these old rock dogs yet!
Find ticket information for AC/DC’s remaining Australian tour dates here.
