AC/DC's Rock Is Classic

Rogers Centre

Toronto, ON

on Nov 7 2008

Liisa Ladouceur (CHARTattack)

11/10/2008 2:20pm

Prior to the start of this gig, an Axl Rose look-a-like was pacing around outside the Rogers Centre with a megaphone and a large Chinese Democracy flag shouting, "The world has changed!"

Has it really? There were 45,000 people here to see AC/DC, whose new Black Ice album is the top-selling record in the land. Meanwhile, the other hot ticket in town on Friday night was Kings Of Leon, who could be the new Lynryd Skynryd. For those about to rock, it seems not much has changed since about 1978, actually.

Expectations for this sold-out gig were seriously high voltage. All of downtown was abuzz, not just with hosers in AC/DC pyjama pants and hockey jerseys (truly, a misguided combo), but hordes of college kids whose first exposure to the thunder from down under was at 2003's SARSfest. Rumour has it some fans paid up to $1,000 per ticket for prime floor seats. And why not? That's about $66.66 for each classic song in the setlist, heard at whomping maximum overdrive volume. There are worse deals out there.

AC/DC knew exactly what to do, and they did it. From the animated video intro featuring Coop-esque devil girls ambushing the band's "Rock 'N' Roll Train," they turned the cavernous, echoing, personality-free stadium formerly known as the SkyDome into a fantasy island where "Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be."

For guys in the their fifties and sixties, the five members of AC/DC showcased more stamina than much of the audience. Yes, it's creepy that Angus Young still dresses like a schoolboy, but it's also cool that he can duck-walk for about 90 minutes and doesn't need sock garters. (We're not sure if anyone needs the guitarist's extended striptease segment at this point, however.)

If Brian Johnson doesn't say all that much, well, it has kept his vocals in shape enough to hit the high notes of songs like "Thunderstuck," which roared through the venue all the way to the rafters. "Hells Bells," "You Shook Me All Night Long," "Let There Be Rock" — yes, they played 'em all.

Those who've been following AC/DC for decades may have found the song selection, guitar solos, gimmicks and exploding cannon encore awfully familiar, but the band know who they're playing for: people who don't want the world of rock to change. Sorry, Axl.