RoD header

Translate

RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany
19th May 2009
AC/DC - Black Ice Open Air Tour 2009; special guest: The Answer, Claudia Cane Band

They made their fans wait 8 years until they finally released a new studio album ‘Black Ice’ on 17th October. Following the album release was a tour through the big indoor arenas and now, the band is also conquering the stadiums. The show in Cologne was supported by THE ANSWER and CLAUDIA CANE BAND.


Claudia Cane Band

The CLAUDIA CANE BAND, formerly only known as CANE, had the honour to open for AC/DC after the Australians were very pleased by the bands performance as their support already in 2001. During the tour, singer Claudia Cane is supported by Frank Schimann (guitar / vocals), Markus Schiegl (guitar / vocals) Holger Schulten (bass) and Alfons Hefter (drums). http://www.cane.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/canetheband

AC/DC are still something fort he rock album and the stage for all those being hopelessly addicted to the old-school blues and rock. So, the choice of the support act also offers stylistic continuity. The CLAUDIA CANE BAND entering the stage at about 18.40 was something for all lovers of bar-suitable hard rock, as you are used to be served by the champions of the evening.


The Answer

Northern Ireland based band THE ANSWER got together in 2000 and is influenced by such bands as Free, Led Zeppelin, Black Crowes and Cream. Even though you can hear those influences, nothing sounds stale or cribbed. ‘Everyday demons’, the second and latest CD of the band, was the first one also released in the US. The debut album ‘Rise’ was released in 2006 after the band signed to Australian label Albert Productions. THE ANSWER is Cormac Neeson (vocals), Paul Mahon (guitar), Michael Waters (bass) and James Heatley (drums). http://www.theanswer.ie/ / http://www.myspace.com/theanswerrock



Music & Performance
The Nordic band THE ANSWER, entering the stage at 19.45 in the falling rain, is the reply for all those loving classic, well arranged rock music being offered by bands like THE WHO or LED ZEPPELIN. The look of singer Cormac Neeson reminded of bands from the 70s with his long hair, colourful shirt and corduroys. During this evening’s support show, the band played a lot of songs from the recent album ‘Everyday Demons’. Currently, the band is not performing in its original line-up because drummer James has a broken hand and is replaced by Carl Papenfus. The drifting ‘Everyday Demons’ is followed by ‘Tonight’; both songs are blending in a guitar solo. Cormac Neeson is supported hereby energetically by bassist Mickey Waters in the background.



Also from the preceding album ‘Rise’, the band was playing one song, ‘Under the Sky’, which was sounding nearly a bit Irish, especially since it was underlined by Clapping and stomping, but also scene-typical by a Blues-Harp solo of the singer. Within the audience, someone started crowd surfing. The ‚Comfort Zone’ is merely the name of the next song from the current album; it is not reached because it is definitely pouring down now. ‘Dead of the Night’ from the current album is following; “A song from where we come from”, as singer Cormac announced. The end of the set at about 20:30 is crowned again by an extended guitar solo of Paul Mahon before Cormac wishes anyone a lot of fun with AC/DC. This was definitely a remarkable show for rock purists.

Rating
Music: 7
Performance: 7
Sound: 7
Light: 7
Total: 7 / 10




AC/DC

AC/DC is active in the music business for more than three decades now. Formed back in 1973, the band was floating the world with high-energy rock and roll and performed sold-out concerts all over the globe. Totally, more than 150 million albums have been sold. The 15th and latest studio album ‘Black Ice’ was released in October 2008 topping several chart position. AC/DC is Brian Johnson (vocals),     Angus Young (lead guitar), Malcolm Young (rhythm guitar), Cliff Williams (bass) and Phil Rudd (drums). http://www.acdc.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/acdc

Music & Performance
Starting rain called the stage crew back to the long catwalk. To avoid that AC/DC will slip on the catwalk, some carpet was placed on it and was stapled. So, weather un-dependent catwalk pleasures were granted. Before the show started, you could also see some big banners placed in the stadium congratulating drummer Phil to his birthday he was celebrating that day. Short before nine it was finally time for the show to start. During the intro, a comic strip was shown where Angus Young was heating the Rock’n’Roll train supported by two ladies so that it was undamped overshooting the end of the track. The crash ended in a big explosion and surrounded by lots of smoke, the locomotive appeared on stage spitting out the band. The locomotive, “decorated” by the obligatory red devil’s horns and a smoking chimney, was illuminated in various colours. Very much fitting to the scenery, the show started with ‘Rock’n’Roll Train’ from the current album ‘Black Ice’.



Where you will stay and where it should be not half bad is made sure with the second song ‘Hell ain’t a bad place to be’ where Angus Young entered the catwalk wearing a school uniform made of green velvet. With ‘Black in Black’ we stay at the dark side and the red horns on the locomotive were blinking wildly. The set continues with the pushing ‘Dirty Deeds’ and great backing vocals of Malcolm Young. Brian Johnson is taking an extended bath in the crowd on the end of the long runway leading through the first third of the arena. After ‘Big Jack’ and ‘Shot down in Flames’ the audience was participating in the big sip of water in the form of a big belch coming out of Brian’s mouth. In the meantime it went finally dark and numerous devils’ horns were illuminating the stadium. Growling thunder and powerful basses are announcing the next song, ‘Thunderstruck’. On the screens, purist black lightning are appearing. Guitar-wise, the song finds nearly a melodic ending in the live presentation. ‘Black Ice’, the title song of the latest album, comes with a quite modern riff drifting away from the typical AC/DC sound for a short while.



The announcement of a song about a really dirty woman mages you guess the next song, it’s about clap, ‘The Jack’. The song about this rather intimate detail is accompanied by extended male and female chant; the locomotive is changing the colour from cold blue to wicked red during the solo. In the audience, a “dirty woman” was taking off her shirt and the bare body was shown on the big screens accompanied by frenetic applause. For Angus it is now definitely too hot as well. After the cap was already gone during ‘Dirty Deeds…’ he was now underlining the titillating lyrics with taking off his jacket and tie and suitable gestures. After the already mentioned lady is topless now, you could also hope for a striptease by Angus. And so, he slowly unbuttons the shirt while being turning away from the audience and showing in an exhibitionist manner his bare upper body. But that was not enough. When he was turning to the audience one could expect that also the underwear was in line now. And right, he presented very commercially AC/DC knickers just to play his solo disburdened by all formal clothes.



After the presentation of the more kinky side of AC/DC, a huge bell was coming down from the ceiling. Its ringing makes the earth shaking and the trousers fluttering. Brian Johnson is jumping up the bell-rope and you can watch Angus Young playing THE guitar riff following the ringing of the bell introducing ‘Hells Bells’. The always difficult vocal part offers the (only) small quality weakness vocal-wise during the whole show. After a small break, the pushing ‘Shoot to Thrill’ follows, illustrated by a video showing woman shooting from tanks with mountains of amplifiers. Following is ‘War Machine’ from the current album. The video shown tells a bizarre story of Angus Young being pilot of a guitar bomber. Somehow, later all are landing on a ship covered by a big bell later. Finally, it is pouring down again (a place at the catwalk has its price) and AC/DC are playing ‘Anything Goes’ from the ‘Black Ice’ album. During ‘You shook me all Night long’, Brian is taking another long excursion onto the catwalk in front of the silhouette of a dancing beauty in front flickering flames. That something needs to explode during the following ‘TNT’ is quite sure. And so, the driver’s cab and wheels of the locomotive are set into fire. Within the rhythm of the song, flames are bursting our off all possible holes.



Out off the last remaining wads of smoke THE woman is raising, lascivious she is sitting down at the steam engine and is bouncing to “her” song ‘Whole Lotta Rosie’ sleazily with the left leg, wearing read underwear and over-dimensional boobs. After she is sinking down, it finally stops raining and ‘Let there be rock’ is starting. In the stadium, Angus Young is staring his solo walking along the whole runway just to go on celebrating his solo on an elevated podium in front of completely lightened ranks. As highlight of the solo, the middle of the podium is lifted up together with the guitarist who is just playing on surrounded by fireworks and white confetti being fired out of four canons. Back on the main stage, a short dialog between guitar and audience followed. Angus was perfectly showing who is the rock guitar virtuoso; fast and obviously sweaty as the close-up of the guitar neck showed. “Let there be rock” - still a very clear credo.



After a little darkness on stage and loud “Angus” yells he comes out off the depths of stage to drive on the ‘Highway to Hell’. 40,000 people are dancing and screaming together. Towards 23:00, the show is ending with ‘For those about to rock’. Canons are brought into position and fire out off all tubes introducing a lurid pyrotechnical final.

Setlist
01. Rock’n’Roll Train
02. Hell ain’t a Bad Place to Be
03. Back in Black
04. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
05. Big Jack
06. Shot Down in Flames
07. Thunderstruck
08. Black Ice
09. The Jack
10. Hells Bells
11. Shoot to Thrill
12. War Machine
13. Anything Goes
14. You Shook Me All Night Long
15. TNT
16. Whole Lotta Rosie
17. Let There Be Rock
---
18. Highway to Hell
19. For Those about To Rock (We Salute You)

Rating
Music: 9
Performance: 10
Sound: 9
Light: 10
Total: 9.5 / 10



All pictures by Daniela Vorndran (http://www.vorndranphotography.com/ / http://www.black-cat-net.de/ / www.myspace.com/vorndranphotography)

{jos_sb_discuss:17}

Comments powered by CComment