The Who, Cheap Trick, Poison, ZZ Top, Metallica, and Led Zeppelin—these legendary acts are just some of the rock ‘n’ roll my dad loved to listen to. He instilled this love in me whenever we were in his truck, running errands or heading out for fun. All these bands are great, but they pale in comparison to one group that stood above the rest: AC/DC.
This powerhouse band from the Land Down Under has been part of my musical education since I first understood what music was. Their simple, hard rock flavor has been captivating fans for more than 50 years. Their last album, 2021’s Power Up, was a testament to AC/DC’s longevity and continued success. After years away from the stage—due in part to the pandemic and Brian Johnson’s hearing problems—they are finally ready to hit the highway to hell and take us to the promised land. Sultry rockers The Pretty Reckless tagged along to power up our rock senses. Along with our pal, the Metal Samurai, Rabit and I journeyed to the Rose Bowl to experience some high-voltage excitement.
As metalheads filed into the stadium, devil horns and all, The Pretty Reckless took to the stage with “Death by Rock and Roll.” It’s still astounding that Taylor Momsen, known for portraying Cindy Lou Who in Jim Carrey’s The Grinch, has transformed into a sensual frontwoman with a captivating voice. Donning a red dress, Momsen wooed us with her temptress-style singing, like a siren pulling us into her trap with no chance of escape.
Guitarist Ben Phillips doesn’t get enough credit as a player. The way he smolders the strings on his axe brings back the good old days of grunge guitar work. In my opinion, he deserves to be mentioned alongside Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell and Soundgarden’s Kim Thayil. His playing elevates Momsen’s already impressive vocals. Bassist Mark Damon and drummer Jamie Perkins complete the group with their gritty beats, taking blues rock to another level.
The Pretty Reckless were living large, playing on a grand stage shared with a legendary group like AC/DC. From “Since You’re Gone” to “Follow Me Down,” “Only Love Can Save Me Now,” “Witches Burn,” “Going to Hell,” “Heaven Knows,” and “Take Me Down,” their seductive energy was in full motion. This was my second time seeing The Pretty Reckless, and they were still pretty… and reckless.
After a much-needed breather from The Pretty Reckless, we were ready for high-voltage excitement. AC/DC opened their set with one of my all-time favorites, “If You Want Blood (You Got It).” Lead guitarist Angus Young, in his traditional schoolboy outfit, danced, duck-walked, and strummed like a bat out of hell. Arguably one of the greatest guitarists of all time, Angus remains a master of disaster with his signature Gibson SGs.
Frontman Brian Johnson belted out his iconic screams and sauntered around the stage, energizing the crowd. Even when he sang songs made famous by his predecessor, Bon Scott, the audience went wild. Rhythm guitarist Stevie Young was a steady hand, delivering the main riffs made famous by his uncle, the late great Malcolm Young, while adding his own flavor to the licks.
Noticeably absent were bassist Cliff Williams and drummer Phil Rudd, both of whom have retired from touring (though they remain in the band). AC/DC recruited drummer Matt Laug (Alanis Morissette, Alice Cooper) and bassist Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction) for the tour, and they brought the thunder. They played the classic beats and melodies as if they had written them themselves. Together, AC/DC was a well-oiled machine.
It was electrifying to watch Angus attempt his wildman jumps. Granted, he may be 70, but he still acts like a 20-year-old, full of excitement and passion. After performing “Let There Be Rock,” he launched into an extended solo that worked the crowd into a frenzy. Add Johnson into the mix, and you have a recipe for rock stardom.
During AC/DC’s entire set, there wasn’t a single bad song. That’s the beauty of AC/DC—their catchy rock ‘n’ roll songs never go out of style. Every loyal fan in the crowd sang along to every song while wearing glowing devil horns. While the tour was meant to celebrate Power Up, five of the songs performed came from their iconic record—if not the most iconic rock record—Back in Black.
The setlist was a dream come true, featuring hits like “Back in Black,” “Demon Fire,” “Shot Down in Flames,” “Thunderstruck,” “Have a Drink on Me,” “Hells Bells,” “Shot in the Dark,” “Stiff Upper Lip,” “Highway to Hell,” “Shoot to Thrill,” “Rock ‘n’ Roll Train,” “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” “High Voltage,” “Riff Raff,” “You Shook Me All Night Long,” “Whole Lotta Rosie,” “T.N.T.,” and “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You).” After the final song, the earth was quaking, and our minds were aching.
AC/DC was everything I imagined growing up and more. While I was air-guitaring with Rabit and the Metal Samurai, I could sense my dad right beside me. This is one show I know he would have loved. I’m pretty sure he would have dug The Pretty Reckless, too, as they brought rock ‘n’ roll back to a sultry place.
I didn’t want the evening to end, but the rock ‘n’ roll train had to move on from the Pasadena track. If this is one of AC/DC’s last SoCal shows, it was incredible to see them ride out into the sunset. To AC/DC and The Pretty Reckless: (fire!) we salute you. Horns up, and have a drink on me!
