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Live Review: AC/DC - The Izod Center, New Jersey

You're never too young to drop your shorts and moon a packed house of adoring fans! AC/DC guitarist Angus Young has been pulling that trick for decades, flashing his lily white bum to screaming crowds who love every minute of it! At the Izod Center, which was packed from the floor's front row all the way up to the nosebleeds with AC/DC-a-holics, Young didn't disappoint. He yanked down his schoolboy knickers and flashed his arse; only this time, it was covered by AC/DC boxers! For a man who is this close to senior citizen status, it was–ahem, a tasteful way to continue an expected and much loved tradition!

Indeed, some things never change, and AC/DC's music is one of those things that's as certain as death and taxes. You know that when you pick up an AC/DC album or attend one of their shows, you're going to get a fistful of bluesy rawk n' roll that satisfies your hard rock jones. And there's something to be said for maintaining a signature style and sound, and AC/DC certainly does that, from vocalist Brian Johnson's ever-present newsboy cap to Young's two-step dancing while he wails away on his axe. Johnson and Young are the centerpiece of AC/DC, and while critics may argue that the band has made the same album over and over again, AC/DC's music and live shows allow for a sense of order in an often chaotic world! While the bones may be older, the knees may be knobbier and the hair is most certainly grayer, the band still pumps out the hits with the fearless attitude of young turks. They're still hungry! Sure, Johnson, who looks like he's in excellent shape for a man on the cusp of AARP membership, and his crew are less mobile than they used to be, but the band's stage props, such as a train, a cartoon montage opening featuring rock babes in tight tees and a gigantic, busty blow up doll that popped up at the end of the set, added an extra visual element to complement the groove-filled music.

The New Jersey rock hounds and their mullets and jean jackets were out in full effect on this unseasonably freezing fall evening, singing along to every word! The band has a new album, Black Ice, to promote, but AC/DC wisely understands that fans wanted lot of classics and a small sprinkling of new tunes thrown into the mix! It was a parade of usual suspect hits, such as "Back in Black," "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap," "Thunderstruck," "The Jack," "Hell's Bells," "Shoot to Thrill," "Shook Me All Night Long" and an encore of "Highway to Hell" and "For Those About to Rock." It was a "Greatest Hits" set list that any fan could have chosen. Thankfully, there weren't too many "Here's a new one off our new record" announcements made by Johnson, and that's not because Black Ice sucks, because it certainly doesn't. It's just that when you got to an AC/DC show, you come to the arena knowing what you want to hear and it doesn't include too many new tunes! There were only three newbies played this evening!

Fans were also "treated" to a strip tease by Young, which in any other setting may be perceived as creepy, but since it's Angus and rock hounds love him unconditionally, it was endearing! He also ripped a lengthy solo, during which he ran the length of the stage and at one point, played while sprawled on his back! There were no lulls in the set, as the boys, despite their advancing years, kept the pace and wasted little time with banter between songs. They kept things rolling along at a quickened speed.

Every person who spilled out of the venue after the show ended shared the same sentiment: Rock n' roll ain't noise pollution, and AC/DC ain't gonna die.

— Amy Sciarretto
 11.24.08