AC/DC Rocks the Fleetcenter, May 4, 2001, Boston MA
May 06 '01
The Bottom Line A truly fantastic show that made me bang my head, raise two fingers up in the air, and put a huge grin on my face.
When the chance to see AC/DC arose a couple of months back, I can't say I jumped at said chance. After all, I'm really more of a casual fan of the band, hell, I don't even own their legendary Back in Black album. However, I have always enjoyed a lot of their music. When I heard rumors that this was going to be their last major tour, I immediately knew I had to see them.
And truth be told, I wasn't expecting much. I was expecting a decent show, and I was expecting them to live up to their title as being the "loudest concert ever." What I got was a thrilling spectacle, full of just plain simple dumb fun.
Buckcherry opened the show, and even though I only saw the last 3 songs of their set (including their hit "Lit Up"), they confirmed my thoughts about them: they deserve credit for being the only band throwing out the old style riffs they do, but they also are awfully unoriginal and incredibly boring. Singer Joshua Todd screams like a mix of Axl Rose and the late Bon Scott, but prances around the stage like the Black Crowes Chris Robinson.
At 8:30 sharp, the house lights went down, and the crowd roared in anticipation of seeing Angus Young and the rest of the band. Out they walked to a deafening applause, and immediately started into the catchiest song in their catalog, You Shook Me All Night Long, a definite foreboding of what lay ahead. Much like most of the songs, this was a giant singalong, and it shook the Fleetcenter to it's core.
During the third song of the set, Shot Down in Flames, a giant 40 foot statue of Angus rolled forward behind drummer Phil Rudd, who himself was impressive with his chain smoking ability all night. During Hard as a Rock, a video of various animals doing uncalled for things to each other was shown, along with various images that, well, I'm sure you're mind can figure it out. And during The Jack, various girls showed off their assets on the giant video screen above the band on stage.
Lead singer Brian Johnson, who had throat problems earlier in the week, causing the cancellation of 2 shows, motioned for the bell hanging over the audience to be lowered just before Hells Bells, and he swung over us with great enthusiasm, throwing his hat into the crowd beneath him.
Personally, I found the band's energy level to be positively spectacular, and just about incredible. Especially Angus, who tore the roof off the place with his 10 minute long solo during Let There Be Rock. Not to mention his little strip tease during Bad Boy Boogie. The band just seemed to get stronger and stronger as the night wore on. Thankfully, they only did two songs from their 2000 release, Stiff Upper Lip, the sub par title track, and the actually rather cool Safe in New York City.
But it was the quadruple blast of Back in Black, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Highway To Hell (featuring the Angus statue breathing fire), and Whole Lotta Rosie (featuring a giant 30 foot inflatable stripper) that truly made the Fleetcenter, at least for one night, feel like the Old Gahden again.
Coming back out for the encore, the band rocked through TNT, and then saluted us with For Those About To Rock (We Salute You), complete with cannons.
As far as rock spectacles go, AC/DC proved on Friday night that they are still very much alive. They get a lot of slack for their repetitive lyrical content, but as far as meat and potatoes rock and roll goes, no one does it better.
AC/DC setlist for May 4 2001, Boston MA (note:this is basically the setlist for the entire tour, although I'm sure there's a song or two that gets substituted every once in a while)
You Shook Me All Night Long
Stiff Upper Lip
Shot Down In Flames
Thunderstruck
Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be
Hard As A Rock
Shoot To Thrill
Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution
Safe In New York City
Bad Boy Boogie
Hells Bells
Get It Hot
The Jack
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Back In Black
Highway To Hell
Whole Lotta Rosie
Let There Be Rock
ENCORE:
T.N.T.
For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)
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Member: Matt Aucoin
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