The legendary AC/DC brought their Power Up Tour to the Garden State for an amazing evening, with direct support from the legendary Foo Fighters.
This was it, the final show for AC/DC‘s North American tour, as the original date was postponed due to a nor’easter the week prior. Initial tour support was The Pretty Reckless, but sometimes things just happen. Unable to make the new date, Taylor Momsen reached out to Dave Grohl and said, “Hey, are you available…” and with no further explanation, Dave told Taylor, “Hell yes we are!!” He knew exactly where she was going with this question. And just like that, Foo Fighters were set to open this incredible show.
Concert-goers filled the parking lots of MetLife Stadium for some tailgating, early merch purchases, and some just waiting to be first to get through the gates. The skies started looking pretty crazy, as all were optimistic with what the weather would bring. Soon enough, as the gates opened, it started pouring, and it was uncertain when it would stop. But sure enough, it did as the clouds moved out and the sun came through, even bringing a killer rainbow over the stadium as the gods of rock were looking over us.
The crowd’s anticipation for Foo Fighters to hit the stage was at an absolute high, and at 7 PM the place erupted when they came out. The Foos wasted no time as this wasn’t going to be an ordinary full set for them. The band jumped right into their classic “All My Life,” which instantly had the whole stadium singing along, followed by “The Pretender” and “Times Like These.” Grohl has just what it takes to bring it all together.
The guitars hit hard, and the drums were massive as Grohl’s voice has the kind of rough edge that’s just perfect to rock the massive stadium. Dave at no point seemed like he was obligated to be on that stage, but almost like more of a privilege, as he looked absolutely thrilled to be there. He did mention that AC/DC has been a foundational influence on him since he was a kid. He spoke about seeing “Let There Be Rock” when he was 11 years old and realizing that rock and roll was about blood sweat and tears and giving it everything you have. He knew this was the life he wanted to live. Grohl wasn’t just opening for AC/DC; he was opening for one of the bands that taught him what rock and roll was all about. The connection really brought a whole other meaning to the performance.
The set carried on with “Learn To Fly,” one of the band’s biggest hits among so many others. The crowd took full ownership of the chorus, turning the song into one giant communal singalong. This was followed by “This Is A Call,” which was an especially effective choice for this show. By this time, the packed house knew the Foo Fighters’ set would most likely be near the end, as they were allotted just about an hour. Grohl then hits the opening riff to “Monkey Wrench,” which filled the stadium with full-on participation from the fans. At the conclusion of the song, drummer Llan Rubin crushed it with a killer drum solo, which received a great response from the crowd.
One of their two closing songs for the night was “Best of You,” which saw Grohl joined by thousands of voices as the song built towards its climactic moments. The atmosphere was pure electric. The final song of their set was “Everlong.” The opening notes were enough to shoot another wave through the stadium. Foo Fighters’ music is timeless. Decades after being released, their songs still retain the same emotional power. The set was perfect, as would only be expected from one of the best.
Brian Johnson and Angus Young, who was wearing his staple schoolboy uniform, made their way onto the stage. The crowd was on their feet as deafening cheers rang out, and thousands of blinking red horns headpieces illuminated the stadium. As the opening riffs of “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)” began, the tone was immediately set as Angus Young’s guitar cut through the stadium with his unmistakable sound that has defined AC/DC for decades. Young is one of rock’s great performers, and at 71, he still has what it takes to bring the house down. He doesn’t need excessive effects or complicated solos; he just does his thing. Brian and Angus took full command of the massive stage. Johnson’s voice has always been one of the defining characteristics of the band, and hearing it roar through the stadium was something special.
After opening with “If You Want Blood,” they dove right into “Back in Black,” wasting no time at all. The horns were in the air, and this was just the beginning of the mass sing-alongs – something that happens naturally when you have such a dedicated fan base. With a very large catalog of classic hits, they played many as they could pack into one evening’s set, and all were received exactly the way they should be. “Thunderstruck” was one of the biggest moments of the night, as the opening riff triggered an immediate reaction from the entire stadium. It turned into a sea of motion, which was quite impressive. During “Hells Bells,” a giant bell was swinging above the stage, which remains one of AC/DC’s signature visual moments, and seeing it in a stadium setting made it even more impressive.
The night thus far was excellent, but at this point, Brian Johnson invited Dave Grohl to perform “Highway to Hell” with them. As Grohl made his way back onto the stage, the place exploded. As he joined them on guitar and backing vocals, it was very clear that Grohl was seeing a childhood dream come true. Watching him trade energy with Angus was a pretty special moment, to say the least, like something that could never be scripted. It was loud, spontaneous, and appropriate.
Angus still has the energy, and it was clearly on display throughout the night. His attitude and duck walk did not skip a beat, and his guitar work was spot on. During “Let There Be Rock,” Young went into an extended solo which lasted nearly thirty minutes. Young made his way all over the massive stage and was even raised up at the front of the catwalk while confetti was fired all over the crowd. It was truly a spectacle to be witnessed. The night was incredible, the band was incredible, keeping it super tight.
After the band briefly left the stage, the crowd knew there was more to come. Moments later, they were back for their encore and performed “TNT.” This brought on another enormous sing-along. They closed out the night with the inevitable finale. The cannons rolled out as they began “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You).” MetLife Stadium was shaking as if there may have been an earthquake in New Jersey. But no, it was just the legendary AC/DC rocking the state. As the set concluded, a massive display of fireworks filled the night sky for what was the end of one hell of a show. The last words from Brian Johnson for the night were “Goodnight, hope we’ll see you again!”
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