There are concerts that make you feel nostalgic, and then there are concerts that make you feel alive. Monday night at Northwest Stadium, AC/DC didn’t just play a show — they ignited a full-on rock ‘n’ roll revival.
With storm clouds hanging on the edge of the horizon and thousands of fans packed in. Draped in denim, leather, and lightning bolt merch, the air buzzed with anticipation. The atmosphere was electric even before the amps powered on. Fittingly, it was The Pretty Reckless who lit the fuse.
Taylor Momsen and company took the stage just after 7:00 p.m., delivering a set that was just as haunting as it was explosive. The mix of snarling riffs and haunting melodies proved that the band wasn’t just opening — they were commanding attention in their own right. Tracks “Death by Rock and Roll” and “Heaven Knows” had the crowd singing along, but it was their closing song “Take Me Down” that hit a different frequency — a nod to legacy and loss that fit perfectly with the night’s overall tone.
Then came the moment fans had been waiting for.
As the lights dropped and the intro video flickered to life on the massive stage screens, a surge of energy rippled through the crowd. AC/DC has decades under their belt, but the moment Angus Young hit the stage in his schoolboy uniform, time stood still. They ripped into “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)” like a band with something to prove — and they never let off the gas.
Brian Johnson’s voice tore through the night air — weathered, but full of fire. After blasting into “Back in Black” as their second song, the band tore through deep cuts and anthems alike. From “Demon Fire” to “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” every moment hit with force. By the time “Shoot to Thrill” and “Sin City” roared to life late in the set, the crowd was already locked in a state of total frenzy. Then, with a tightness that only comes from a lifetime of doing this at the highest level, “Thunderstruck” dropped, and the stadium turned into a full-body adrenaline rush.
Angus, as young as ever, was a lightning bolt in motion. His solos felt alive — especially during the extended jam in “Let There Be Rock,” where he spun, duck-walked, and shredded with the fire of someone half his age. When the first blast of “Highway to Hell” rang out, the crowd went nuclear. By the time “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” closed the night with cannon blasts and fireworks, it didn’t feel like just the end of a concert — it felt like history.
Monday night was more than nostalgia. It was a rallying cry for what rock still is and what it will always be. AC/DC didn’t just show up, they reminded everyone why they still matter.
And if The Pretty Reckless are any indication, the future of rock is in very good — and loud — hands.
AC/DC Tour
AC/DC
The Pretty Reckless
