AIGF - AC/DC We Saulte You @Elder Park, Adelaide(07/12/08)

Wed 7th Jan, 2009 in Gig Reviews

The way AC/DC’s new album Black Ice is selling, you could put their name on anything and people will buy it, including this tribute/covers show. Call it what you will. Elder Park was alive with AC/DC fever on a windy Adelaide evening. With gates opening at about 5pm and the show sheduled to finish at 11pm, each artist didn’t have much time to play many of their own songs as each covered an AC/DC track. That was good in some respect evidenced by the crowds enthusiasm towards the earlier acts. I’m looking in your direction Dallas Frasca and Diana Anaid. They tried hard I give them that, but received only a polite clap. Can someone please explain to me how Diana Anaid got on the bill? Her one and only hit coming about 10 years ago and has been in the musical wilderness ever since. Give the spot to someone more deserving next time. The hour old soggy chips were more exciting.

A few more acts did their bit on stage and AC/DC cover, but it wasn’t until Stevie Wright hit the stage that the crowd started to warm to the artists. Not even the overpriced beer or alcopops were helping. Stevie is obviously not in the best state of health, but he banged out Evie (Pt. 2) with brilliance. Accompanied only by a piano, his voice was strong as ever. He even banged out a rip snorting version of his former band, The Easybeats, big hit Friday on my Mind.

Billed as “Ex-AC/DC”, Dave Evans looked like he was still living the “two minutes” he was in the band. Not to rain on his parade but not too many punters would have known the fact that he was in AC/DC before Bon Scott joined the band – the rest is multi-platinum history. At times it seemed he wished he was still the lead singer. Sad really. His voice wasn’t the strongest, but he did a decent performance for Let There Be Rock.

The frontman of all frontmans was next; Angry Anderson. He is well respected by everyone and crowd gave a big roar of appreciation when he hit the stage. He always has that no bullsh#t approach and always gives 100%. His version of Highway To Hell had the crowd singing almost as loud as him. Just brilliant.

Swanee was just as brilliant. It would have been great to see him in his glory days; he prowled around the stage like someone half his age. He may have only performed a couple of songs icluding TNT but he, as I said, was brilliant. Its hard to believe that his voice is still as strong as it probably was 20/25 years ago when he was in the original Party Boys. It was like it was written for him. Magic Dirt’s Adalita Srsen later joined him on stage with High Voltage.

Shihad rocked the crowd for three songs. Just like AC/DC they have never changed their formula over their 20 year career. For Those About to Rock was a perfect tribute by them to Australia’s biggest band. The last band on for the night before the big finale were the Hoodoo Gurus. Frontman Dave Faulkner was looking stylish in his striped red, white and black trousers but it was their music that shone. They were the headline act so a longer set of 10 songs they received. With so many classics to choose from they went with some obvious hits like The Right Time, 1000 Miles, Come Anytime, What’s My Scene? complete with guitarist Brad Shepherd’s gear malfunction and set finisher Like Wow – Wipeout. They also tried their hand at two not so well known AC/DC tracks which was good to see they didn’t go for the obvious, Shot Down in Flames and What’s Next to the Moon. The Hoodoo’s always have and will rock.

But the big finally was just around the corner. EVERYONE who played a note or sang a tune crammed on stage for one last tribute to AC/DC. A wall of noise hit you and the first notes were plucked for Its a Long Way to the Top. It was surprisingly brilliant. Nothing beats 11 guitarists ripping out an AC/DC riff.

My only beef with the day was with the MC’s, namely Sheridan Stewart and Glenn A. Baker. I have a lot of respect for Glenn but he talked these artists up as if it was their testimonial when in fact it was an AC/DC tribute day. Most of these artists are well well WELL past the way their prime. Even the “younger” artists on the bill that are still touring today like Magic Dirt and Shihad you could say are clutching onto straws. I doubt they have had a platinum record in years. Although I like the Hoodoo Gurus, even they realise they just need to pump out the greatest hits from now on. Its hard to see how they made money from this day at $80 a ticket to see what essentially was an AC/DC cover show, let’s just wait and see if it returns next year.