Say what you want about Southern California, but one thing is very clear, concertgoers here know the difference between good bands, great bands and legends.
Last Friday at the majestic Rose Bowl in Pasadena, fans came from all over the world, a pilgrimage so-to-speak for a monumental show and a historic venue.
It was time for the legends from the land down under, AC/DC to play their much anticipated and long-awaited Power Up Tour.
Everyone rolling into the Rose Bowl was amped for this show. You name it, every nationality, age and imaginable demographic was accounted for. The anticipation was palpable event as the doors to the gates opened. Immediately, the line was about a mile long to get in, and that is no exaggeration. From every entrance to the Rose Bowl fans were ready for three hours of non-stop ceaseless brain damaging music.
Truthfully, fans were still talking about their last appearance at Power Trip in Indio. That show would prove to pale in comparison to what awaited this capacity crowd. It didn’t take long for the crowd to fill in the bowl.
Like clockwork, The Pretty Wreckless took the stage to a very appreciative crowd. This band is very-very interesting. Lead singer Taylor Momsen is no stranger to performing in front of people. This rocker is a former actor, this Gossip Girl has come a very ling was since her days as Cindy Lou Who. Momsen is all grown up and fronts a very legit band.
As the band took the stage, Momsen took the bull by the horns and opened with a very in your face performance opening with the band’s mega hit, “Death by Rock and Roll.” Fans lost their minds from the opening song. Despite getting tons of airplay on KLOS in Los Angeles, there were fans that were not familiar with the band, but quickly became fans.
Momsen thanked the crowd for coming out early to see them and thanked AC/DC for having them tag along. Their set was short, only nine songs, but it was loud, and it impressed the early birds. Momsen hit the right chords with their catalog which included, “Since You’re Gone,” “Follow Me Down,” “Only Love Can Save Me Now,” which got a very loud ovation at the end of the song. Momsen encourage everyone to sing along to “Witches Burn,” and flirted with those in the front row to “Make Me Wanna Die,” and “Going to Hell.”
As the end of the set drew near, and the sun started to set in the Pacific, a nice breeze hit the bowl from those majestic Angeles Mountains, it was as if the Music Gods were listening an approved. It was only appropriate she went into “Heaven Knows.” Before they ended their set, Momsen said “Like you, I’m a fan of AC/DC, so have a great fucking night Pasadena,” as they closed out to “Take Me Down.”
By the time Momsen and crew exited stage right, the sun was about to dip into the ocean and the Moon was creeping just over the nearby mountain range.
The crowd was ready to burst. The number of flashing AC/DC Devil horns everyone was wearing gave the bowl that strobe light effect. Just before the Aussie legends took the stage, the stage was transformed into an AC/DC video and the lightshow we were about to see was starting to give us all a glimpse into the insane night that was about to take place.
With red and yellow themed lights and flames, yeh there were flames galore, the two enormous screens at each end of the stage were mega-cool. You could see everything no matter where in the bowl you sat courtesy of these enormous screens.
The next two hours would capture the band’s catalog from begging to where the band is today. As the lights dimmed for just a moment, the silhouettes of the bandmates caused a roar that could only be described in decibel levels.
Then it happened, the light show took full affect and boom, that distinctive AC/DC signature sound engulfed the Rose Bowl. Opening with “If You Wanty Blood (You’ve Got It),” the crowd lost its proverbial mind when Angus Young strutted out to the front of the stage, and then Brian Johnson rolled in right behind him.
Then, just like out of an MTV video, we were all thrown in to the AC/DC Tardis and landed on July 25th, 1980 when we first heard the lyrics and shredding guitar licks to “Back in Black.”
It was such a surreal moment, I looked around the area I was sitting and saw adult men and women singing along to every word and there were tears, yes … genuine tears.
Everyone one around me had their reasons why were there. For brief as the song began, it was as if my entire section was in a trance. You could see they were re-living a moment from their past as Johnson delivered his piercing vocals.
As the crowd settled in, the guys began their run of uber hits, “Demon Fire,” “Shot Down in Flames,” then Zeus’ lightning bolt took center stage as the band captured the hearts and souls of the crowd with “Thunderstruck.”
One thing about AC/DC they are a no-nonsense band. there are no side shows or dancers or anything else that takes away from the music, it is all music.
The lights go down between songs for about 10-15 seconds and then they go back at it. Up next was definitely the hit parade, “Have a Drink on Me,” followed by “Hells Bells.”
And of course, that was preceded by an enormous bell being slowly lowered from the top of the stage as Angus Young delivered the guitar riff.
I know we are all getting a little older, ask anyone in the crowd, we all marveled at the energy Johnson and Young displayed.
It was impressive who they moved around that enormous stage from side-to-side and out on the catwalk.
Leaning on songs from their later catalog, we were treated to “Shot in the Dark,” and “Stiff Upper Lip,” then shit got real.
Everyone, and I mean everyone was on their feet singing and shouting and fist pumping to “Highway to Hell.”
Johnson and Young were in great form, so were Stevie Young on rhythm guitar, Chris Chaney on bass and behind the skins was Matt Laug.
They delivered all night long, “Shoot to Thrill,” demonstrated how tight the band was. That song is high energy and high velocity, and it sounded fantastic.
Other noteworthy moment was delivery of an era defining AC/DC classics, “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” and “You Shook Me All Night Long,” and “Whole Lott Rosie.” Then, Angus Young displayed his mastery of the guitar when he did his epic solo during “Let There Be Rock.” And just like, AC/DC delivered an energetic and moving night of music.
All legends always have more for their fans and AC/DC is a legendary band for a reason. As the cheers never ended, out they came for their goodbye to SoCal with “T.N.T.” and ending their night with “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You).”
Bottom line, this performance was timeless and transcendent. It is hard to determine if this band will ever return to Southern California.
Let’s cross our fingers they do. But, if not, how fitting was this performance for these legends to say goodbye to Hollywood!
