Rock Or Bust Tour Report Werchter 16-05-2016

Long live AC/DC

There you go. My first AC/DC show with Axl is history. Despite the fact that I fully trust and respect Angus choice, the anticipation was high and with mixed emotions, bearing two questions in mind: how painful the seperation with Brian's voice and so familiar personality on the one hand, and how Axl would fit the bunch I've always known since seeing AC/DC live for the first time at the age of 12 (Donnington VHS). For those who haven't been (or brought their tickets back): Belgium got a great show!

Werchter, Belgium

"Pretty lame audience" before the show, according to an AC/DC official searching the front of stage for early duckwalkers to film. He should have taken his camera to the bar instead! It was a typical day off, and so Belgians are a little more - let's say - at ease and relaxed, enjoying a few beers and getting used to the festival atmosphere after a long winter season. With beers being more important to the nation's survival, front of stage bracelets were only slowly liquidated, allowing latecomers to be still part of the inner feast well after 5 pm.

Black Box Revelation & Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown

We got two more than worthy starters for this medium rare meal. BBR brought a very decent wall of sound with high quality PA, complete whitchcraft seen the amount of analogue pedals Jan uses on stage!

Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown are a discovery. Lovely style: blues rock 'n roll as we like it. We recall the Muddy Waters cover. But I'm sure some of the tunes will be dialed up from memory next time we see them.

Axl

From a wardrobe point of view, the fit is quite difficult. Axl's glam rock clothing heavily contrasts the vestimentary soberness of the rest of the gang. But let's be fair, after all, this ain't Vogue magazine: Axl did a great job! And even came in a coat with a big Scottish flag on tthe back. No sign of arrogant attitude as feared by many - pretty low key, both humble and respectful to the masters.

Mixing in of his voice at certain points, like for YSMAL, was (deliberately for the first rows?) rather subtle. I think the levels could have been cranked up a little more. At other points in time, like during For Those About To Rock, I was impressed by the power of his voice. Axl blends in that well for 99% of the ticket holders, the moment when Brian's cap is pictured on the background screen animations passes hardly unnoticed. As an answer to our prayers ("Stand up and Shout"), Axl got out of his "Netflix and chill position" for Highway to Hell and Riff Raff:

Angus in front of an empty Netflix chair.... this means.....

....Walk all over you!

Setlist

Perfect choice for a great rainless night out and 100 percent concentration from the boys: we went nuts on Rock 'n Roll Damnation, Given the Dog a Bone , IYWB and Riff Raff in the encores. Axl jokingly hinted to Bedlam in Belgium but then another song kicks off. By the time we get to savour Whole Lotta Rosie, no room to shout Angus/Brian/Malcolm/Phil/Axl/Jim Brueur or anyone else as Ros(i)e starts to sing straight away.

For the sake of completeness, the full setlist accompanied by some of Axl's introductions, original and particular is the least you could call them:

1. Rock or Bust

2. Shoot to Thrill

3. Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be "a nice song about home sweet home"

4. Back in Black

5. Got Some Rock & Roll Thunder

6. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

7. Rock 'n' Roll Damnation

8. Thunderstruck "this is a love ballad"

9. High Voltage

10. Rock 'n' Roll Train "pain train is coming"

11. Hells Bells

12. Given the Dog a Bone