If Friday night proved to be AC/DC’s last concert in Tampa, the hard rock legends went out with a bang … or make that a whole lotta bangs.
The Australian rockers, making their first Tampa appearance in more than 17 years, played a career-spanning show on their Power Up tour for a nearly full house at Raymond James Stadium.
Over the course of 21 songs, from the rollicking, classic tunes of their heyday in the 1970s to a pair from their most recent album in 2020, the 2003 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees powered up for two hours and 15 minutes — not too shabby considering the centerpieces of the band are in their 70s and the extreme Florida heat.
From the show opener of “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)” to the closer of “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” — with at least 14 cannon blasts and a fireworks finale — AC/DC put on a stadium-sized rock show.
Wearing his iconic school boy’s uniform of green shorts and a blazer with a blue-and-red striped tie and a red cap embroidered with an “A,” band founder Angus Young was joined by longtime singer Brian Johnson in his trademark newsboy cap and sleeveless shirt.
Rounding out the band were rhythm guitarist Stevie Young — who replaced his uncle Malcolm after his retirement due to dementia — and touring drummer Matt Laug and touring bassist Chris Chaney. (Longtime drummer Phil Rudd and bassist Cliff Williams are still in the band but have retired from touring.)
Angus Young may be 70, but don’t let the gray hair fool anybody — he still displayed his schoolboy charm, whether it was exaggerated facial expressions, his Chuck Berry duckwalks or sporting devil horns on “Highway to Hell” (as did thousands of fans all night long.) And on the guitar, he pulled out fingertip solos (“Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”), a few windmills (“Riff Raff”) and even used his tie (“Sin City”).
At 77, Johnson looked as animated as always as he strutted around the stage. His raspy voice warbled and croaked on occasion, as he appeared to battle monitor issues during “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” and “Riff Raff.”
For a massive stadium tour — the stage setup wasn’t overly elaborate. The video screens would feature effects like fire on “Shot Down in Flames” or static on “High Voltage.” A giant bell emblazoned with the band’s name lowered during “Hells Bells” and flames shot up behind the drums on “Highway to Hell.” During the regular set closer of “Let There Be Rock,” Young played atop an elevated riser before a mountain of confetti floated through the crowd.
The band’s biggest album — “Back in Black,” which has sold more than 25 million copies in the U.S. — featured the most heavily with five songs including the title track early in the set, as well as highlights like “Hells Bells” and “You Shook Me All Night Long.”
A new song like “Demon Fire” from 2020 fit in right next to 1979’s “Shot Down in Flames,” with “Thunderstruck” firing up the crowd early and “Whole Lotta Rosie” reinvigorating the crowd late.
With “Let There Be Rock,” Young showed off on guitar for about nine minutes as the band buzzed along in the background. With a breeze blowing through his hair, Young then went off another nearly seven-minute solo all by himself before the band rejoined for the encore.
