Shoot To Thrill

A few nights ago Ac/Dc kicked off their European tour with the first concert ever to be held at Oslo's brand new Telenor Arena. I was there and it was a smashing reminder of what a great rock show should be.
After making my way through the awful traffic and long lines outside the arena I found myself inside and ready to take in a concert I had been looking forward to for a very long time. Ac/Dc was one of the first hard rock bands I ever listened to, after my brother had introduced me to them with their "Ac/Dc Live" album in 1992. They have been on my list of "must-see" bands ever since and earlier this week the pleasure was all mine. My expectations were unreasonably high and yet I walked away from it thinking that what I just saw could just be the finest live performance from a hard rock band I had ever seen. With founder and front man Angus Young pushing sixty and lead singer Brian Johnson having already crossed that bar a few years ago, it is nothing short of astonishing the amount of energy and professionalism they put into their performance. Their approach is simply to deliver a no-nonsense show where the main point is to keep the audience involved and satisfied. No unnecessary chitchat between songs, no long pauses to drink beer and no foolish attempts to screw with the formula that has worked wonders thus far. With the exception of the awesome "rock 'n roll train" displayed on center stage there is simply a drumset, three guitars, a few extra microphones and plenty of room for Young and Johnson to run around. With most of the stage crowded with huge loudspeakers and amplifiers, it is all about music and it is all about rock & roll.
The concert was a terrific statement on what great rock shows are all about and should serve as a lesson to all other bands. Most who's main concern is image, wardrobe, appearance and egoistic vanity.
Classy and old school. Respect your elders. Because Ac/Dc is still the best and biggest there is.

Ac/Dc at Telenor Arena February 18, 2009.