AC/DC Gig Review By Heavily Medicated Rock n' Roll Fan Jim Pinkerton

Dateline: August 17, 2000 Approximately 7:20 a.m.

I am officially on the "Highway To Hell", via Atlanta, Georgia, in order to see how "Stiff" the Thunder From Down Under's "Upper Lip" remains after a few years away from the road. However, going by Greyhound turned out to be more of a literal "Highway of Hell", as the trip started out on the wrong foot and was "Shot Down In Flames" several times along the way by countless delays that were threatening my arrival time, which turned out not to be that important after all as you'll see later!

It all started with a small unpleasant confrontation with the Greyhound driver who could have used a I.V. infusion of coffee, as well as a personality transplant! (or is it considered a transplant, if he didn't have a personality in the first place! OR SO I THOUGHT, until he redeemed himself as follows:). With the utterance of one phrase my opinion of this man, who was guiding this chariot to my eagerly awaited AC/DC experience, changed mightily! As it happened, one of my fellow unenlightened, musically at least, passengers had their "personal audio device", as my soon to be hero called it, cranked beyond an acceptable volume. The driver's response was classic at least for us with taste in music! He first opened with, "If that music is loud enough for anyone other than the person listening to it to hear, then it is too loud, and you must turn it down or off. If it is so loud that I can hear it, which I can, then it is like "rap music", it's gotta go!" It was a poignant moment, nearly tearful, and I have forgiven the driver for any past indiscretions from the bottom of my rock 'n' roll heart!

Now on to the show; where due to logistical considerations and refusing to pay another 40 bucks for a cab ride back to Mecca (Oops, Philips Arena, but still rock 'n' roll Mecca, at least while AC/DC where the tenants), I missed the entire opening set by Slash's Snakepit. My friends who live in Atlanta, who were running late, due to other "reasonable, I suppose" considerations, did manage to get me there in time for the real reason for the trip in the first place, Angus and the lads! I was mildly disappointed in missing Slash's band, since I had purchased the first CD, and thought it might sound pretty cool live, but I'll have to find that out another day!

Opening with "You Shook Me All Night Long", that is just what they proceeded to do and do well I might add! The set list has been listed before, so it's in the archives somewhere if you're interested, and in an attempt to avoid redundancy, oh well, that and after an evening of imbibing Doc Otis Hard Lemon 5% malt beverages, and then switching to Bud Light draft at the arena, the truth is, I don't remember anyway!! The props and effects, while seemingly fewer and less grand than previous efforts, were nonetheless more sophisticated technologically, which tended to even things out to a draw in my opinion. Now, for the performance itself!

First the good? As far as energy, enthusiasm, and excitement, as well as that well practiced sound, which comes more from a gift than from practice if you ask me, then don't listen to the rumours that always surface about "last album, last tour" that always surface after the latest release and tour. These guys were still having a blast and taking the crowd with them! I expect multiple more albums and tours, personally.

Angus was Angus, as always, though maybe just a bit less rambunctious at times, which to a first timer wouldn't have been noticed or even suspected. But to a multi-goer such as myself, it showed, but nothing to suggest his heart isn't still firmly into it all with more to come from the riff machine of Malcom and the "schoolboy". There were moments of pure hyperkinetics reminiscent circa 1980 and earlier! Brian, on the other hand, helped balance the scales by seeming heartier and more energetic than ever before that I can recall. While, Malcolm, Phil, and Cliff also haven't lost a thing that would be noticeable to any newbies out there, only once again to the diehards would anything seem lost through the years.

The video induced flames for "Highway to Hell" were a highlight as it appeared the fire marshall might be called in since the place seemed to be actually on fire! Must have been HDTV or something, because if you tried hard enough and wanted to believe you could smell the smoke and sulfur emanating from "Down Under", and I don't mean Australia. Brian's diving jump to "The Bell" rope and the following report from the familiar prop also brought a roar from the crowd.

Overall the lads didn't miss a beat, literally or figuratively, and the new material fit so well with the classics they were absolutely undated, unlike some of the previous efforts lately. It was fresh and familiar at the same time. The classic AC/DC formula working to perfection!

Now for the bad. Which maybe is due to some new politically correct decibel level mandates that I'm unfamiliar with, but it just didn't seem as loud based solely on a lack of ear ringing, AFTER the show, however. The music or the traditional firing of the cannons on "For Those About To Rock" failed to set of my cochlea. My ears didn't ring afterwards for the first time ever! Whereas, before it was two or three days at least, after an AC/DC concert before I could answer a question without using the word, huh?, several times. Of course, that could be the whole source of the problem. These aren't the same ears they were 15 or so years ago! During the concert, it wasn't noticeable at all, and my voice was just as hoarse as ever, yet I never heard myself screaming along, so forget I even mentioned it.

To sum up the incredible experience I've been waiting for the last few years, the big picture is this, AC/DC are definitely "Back In Black", or any other color, once again, and stronger and tighter then ever this go around with SUL. They all seem rejuvenated and ready to be around far into the new millenium! So, don't miss the show, 'cause it's worth it, even at Ticketbastard prices. And if you have to "Go Greyhound", go and "leave the driving to them", and the rock 'n' roll, just leave that to the best band ever---Malcolm, Angus, Phil, Brian, and Cliff! A/K/A, AC/DC!

Don't let this "metal revival" die, long live true heavy metal riff 'n' roll! And thanks to ElectricBasement.com (We're blushing Jim-Editor!) for doing its part in spearheading this renaissance, and giving us a place to come together and support the music we all love 24/7/365, except in a leap year! Just add a day! But there are plenty of bands out there on tour right now that need everyone's support to restore rock radio to it's former self. So, save your money, and do your part by getting out and going to the concerts. I'd start with AC/DC, you can't go wrong with that as a launching pad!

"Can't Stop Rock 'n' Roll", Jim "Sink the ....." 'Pink'erton
Electric Basement