Age Is Just A Number - AC/DC Thrill With Tour Kick Off Show at US Bank Stadium

Photos by David Rubene

Thursday night was one of those “pinch me, I must be dreaming” kinds of nights. I mean, come on, did I really just see the one and only AC/DC live? The answer is a resounding “YES!” but after sleeping on it, it still doesn’t feel real.

Before I talk about seeing the legends, let’s talk about the opening act- The Pretty Reckless. Full disclosure, I’ve known about this band for years and have even seen them once before, but they are just one of those acts that I never really latched onto. Their sound was a bit more radio-friendly than I go for. Don’t get me wrong, there’s no denying the talent of the musicians in this band or the strength of vocalist Taylor Momsen (also known for her work in Hollywood- most notably as Cindy Lou Who in The Grinch and then as Jenny in Gossip Girl), but they are just one of those bands that I felt could be so much more than what I had heard. I finally heard that “so much more” with their performance on Thursday night.

Although Taylor’s voice was still stunningly gorgeous, there was a grit behind it during the nine-song opening set that sparked a fire in me. There were moments when Taylor’s vocals leaned into a slight Brody Dalle (of The Distillers) vibe, and others had a strong grunge influence behind them. Regardless of what song or what vibe the band was playing, they had me believing what they were doing. This was a giant arena show being hosted at the US Bank Stadium, so I came into the night thinking it would be a bit of a phoned-in set because, truthfully, that’s what you typically get from large shows like this, but that’s not what The Pretty Reckless gave me. They gave me heart, grit, talent, passion, and more– everything I ever look for in a show. Sure, I still don’t think I will be a die-hard fan of this band like many in the audience were, but they definitely have my attention more now than ever.

Do I really need to give you background on AC/DC? This Australian band has been doing their thing since 1973 and is one of the most well-known rock bands on the entire planet. If you know me, you know that I don’t really like “classic” music. I know that’s a fault of mine, but the truth is, there’s so much amazing new music out there that I don’t see the point in dwelling on the past. That being said, when given this opportunity to catch AC/DC live, I couldn’t help but let butterflies take over my stomach and let stars blind my eyes. What this band has done for music in general and their strong, lasting power that has persisted for decades is something that just doesn’t seem to happen anymore. Maybe it’s not a dream come true for me to see them live, but it was definitely an honor to be in the presence of such legends.

I was surprised when the legendary band kicked their first non-festival US show since 2016 with banger after banger. I thought that, for sure, the band would warm up a bit before giving us the hits, but instead, they opened with “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)” and “Back in Black.” By the tenth song, we had already heard “Thunderstruck,” “Hells Bells,” and “Highway to Hell.” AC/DC is one of those bands that you forget just how many hits they have. I thought for sure that “Thunderstruck” would be part of the two-song encore they had up their sleeves, but I had forgotten entirely about “T.N.T.” and “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You).” I stood there in awe. I always knew that AC/DC was legendary. Who doesn’t? But you don’t understand it until you’re at one of their shows and hear all of the monumental tracks they have, one after another.

The members of AC/DC are not spring chickens. Vocalist Brian Johnson is 77. Guitarist Angus Young is 70. For any of you who don’t believe that age is just a number, I highly suggest watching these two men absolutely slaughter a stage. Sure, there were many breaks between songs where, clearly, Brian was going off stage to get air or at least just take a breath, but beyond that, these two legendary performers never stopped. Angus Young even did his signature duckwalk multiple times without missing a note, and Brian was a bit over the place as he strutted across the stage. It was breathtaking to see. Part of me figured I’d be watching these men use microphone stands as a bit of a crutch or just stay in one place while production value swirled around them, but there was no microphone stand in sight, and, truthfully, the production was oddly minimal for this size of a show.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the other musicians on stage. Sure, my eyes were on Angus Young and Brian Johnson throughout this show, but it would have been nothing without rhythm guitarist Stevie Young, bassist Chris Chaney, and drummer Matt Laug. These three musicians reeled it in and kept everything steady as Angus and Brian were off in their own little worlds, thrilling the audience with their dazzling stage presence.

Outside of some fire and confetti, there were no frills when it came to AC/DC’s set on Thursday night, and that’s what stood out the most to me. When you have a band as legendary as these guys, it makes sense, right? That being said when you have a band as old as this, sometimes you need to lean on that smoke and those mirrors to hide imperfections. That’s not the case here.

Pinch me, I’m dreaming. I saw AC/DC on Thursday night. It wasn’t intimate in any way, shape, or form, yet there were moments when I was so captivated by this band that I completely forgot that I was standing in a sold-out arena.

I saw AC/DC on Thursday night, but it still doesn’t feel real.