I’ve seen AC/DC in concert more times than any other band and I really don’t care for them much. OK, OK that might be a little exaggerated. I like AC/DC well enough but the reason that I’ve seen them in concert sooo many times is because during The Metal Years, they always had great acts opening for them. I was always going to see the opening band then just hanging around for AC/DC.
I think that I mentioned Dave Wilder singing Dirty Deeds in German class back in The Academy Days. Yes that was my very first connection to AC/DC although I didn’t hear their version until around this time. I’ve got a stack of my old concert ticket stubs around here somewhere I think. I should try to find them and count up the number of times I’ve been to an AC/DC concert. It is too bad I don’t like them more.
One characteristic of the AC/DC concert is that they draw a surly drunken bunch. Every AC/DC concert I’ve been too had at least one big fight breakout at some point. We saw them down at Market Square Arena in Indinapolis one time and between the opening act and AC/DC, we were walking around the upper deck just checking everything out when a roar from the floor erupted. We looked down to see the crowd back away from a focal point, making a big circle around two guys duking it out. Market Suqare is gone now but you can imagine the distance from way up top to down to the floor and even over the din of the crowd we could hear the sound of knuckles meeting face. Typical.
In most concerts I attended, it was always a shame when it came to an end. With AC/DC, I alwasy felt that they went on a bit too long. The problem with AC/DC is that most if not all of their songs follow the same formula and thus are played with the same brutal intensity. What they don’t have but desperately need is a power ballad. Something slow and soothing and different to give the audience a break. Movie directors call it battle fatigue. Watch some films that have long intense battles and you’ll find that they find ways to cut away to something else for a few minutes to relieve the viewer. Check out the assault on Minas Tirith in Return Of The King. Peter Jackson gives us a couple breaks during that lengthy seige. AC/DC doesn’t. Many of their fans love them for that reason. I need the break.
A couple years ago Aric, Scott and I were watching the AC/DC Live At Donington DVD and about 2/3 of the way through we all felt that we had enough. A soulful power ballad around the halfway mark would have made all the difference. Where is their Home Sweet Home?
That is why I’ve grouped AC/DC like this. I’m not a reall big fan but if you can extract and listen to just a few songs at a time, they really do have a pile of good ones. My friend Scott has long been a big fan of AC/DC. Aric was moderately. Between the two of them, I’ve had access to the bulk of their discography.
You Shook Me All Night Long
Back In Black
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Big Balls
For Those About To Rock
T.N.T.
Highway To Hell
Night Prowler
I’m going to stop here before the battle fatigue sets in.