This “Review” is going to be a little bit sugar-coated, as we actually drove up this time, following my bus torture at Slane. Strang though, that MCD had been asking people to take public transport and that is where they completely messed it up.
Anyway, some pictures first;
A cubicle with 2 urinals for your friends in a pub on the way!
The Stage on my way in
Interesting campaign angle
Hell’s Bell
Anyway, the gig! The wait for the first band was agonizing, and as soon as we got into the pit, the “Fuck The Blizzards” chants began!
I really couldn’t understand how they had been put on this bill. MCD obviously looking for a cheap act to make some extra moolah. Throughout The Blizzards’ set, they stopped no more than three times and just sewed songs together, maybe fearing getting booed? It wasn’t their fault; they played fine, but the crowd were hatin’
At one stage, Brezzie even commented that they’re not Thin Lizzy and know they’re not wanted here.
I noticed that they played a very different set to that of Slane; much more riff-ier songs and less “ooh’s” and “aah’s”. I think it was this fact that made the audience slightly warm to them. However, this was the scene for the majority of the set
The crowd stared on coldly and harshly as they delivered a rushed set and it felt like they didn’t want to be here,either. It could have been worse, the crowd weren’t being abusive. They just…refused to move or clap or….not look blankly at them. Until, of course, they played the intro to Beat It. Pity they didn’t get a good reception, but they shouldn’t have taken the support slot in the first place,to be honest
Up next were Northerners, The Answer. Got off to a dodgy start;
But a few songs in and the screen fixed itself in true Irish fashion! And what a reception The Answer got! The crowd really showed them some love throughout their set and their style of music was very suited to this kind of gig. The crowd finally awoke! With a charismatic frontman, and great back-up, we all sang along to “The Belfast Blues” towards the end of the set.
To send the cheese-meter off the chart, they were The Answer to a badly put-together support bill
Next on were the band everyone wanted to see; Ac/Dc
I didn’t manage to get a pic/video, but before they came on, there was a brilliant animated intro on the big screen. With slutty cartoon girls and lots of innuendo with train brake-levers, this had it all before the train was about to crash. Then the screen began to split and out came this smoke-producing,fire-breathing monstrocity!
Fuckin’ epic! Then they burst into Black Ice single “Rock N’ Roll Train”. By now, I was so squashed that I could not move, but that meant I got to take some pictures! Even with my crappy phone, I was so close that my pictures came out ok. Luckily, I was in the corner, between the front row and the walkway down alongthe centre of the pit(s). I noticed straight away that the show was completely focused on Brian and Angus; the rest were kept at the back of the stage
After a few more songs, the bell began to lower
He’s going to punch that!
The bell lowered, the tell-tale riff kicked in, and Brian ran up and swung out of the bell to begin another entertainment extravaganza. Again, the crowd went WILD
Next up was T.N.T. [Dynamiiiiite!]
For this, the train began to spit fire everytime “TNT” was sang. Just to add, I didn’t get a picture, but a nice lady exposed herself on the big screen during “The Jack”. Good stuff!
The props kept a-coming and something dropped from the stage roof, began to inflate, and ended up like this;
Say hello to Rosie, boys! THIS is what rock n’ roll is about! THEY HAD A GIANT SLUT RIDING A TRAIN! Whole Lotta Rosie was one of my favourite songs of the night
The lady was deflated and on the show went. They managed to please everyone, playing a mix of material from Black Ice like the title track and War Machine, aswell as classics like Back In Black and Thunderstruck
Next Angus ended up on a cherrypicker somewhere behind the pit and I couldn’t capture a picture due to this;
After an amazing set, the guys headed off-stage and left us with this for a few minutes, before storming back on-stage
Not content with enough props, three cannons appeared at the back of both sides of the stage before Ac/Dc stormed into “For Those About To Rock”
And yes, yes they did fire!
My timeline is a little out, but towards the end of the show, there was an extremely long solo played by Angus aswell which was awesome! After bustin’ out Highway To Hell, the show finally ended and the crowd were left in awe. What a show they put on! Sound was great, was within 10 feet of Brian and Angus, amazing stage show!
Aftermath:
Every network seemed to be down for about half an hour so I couldn’t contact anyone and wandered back to the car. We’d been told that the car park wouldn’t open for at least an hour after the gig because they were letting buses out so I thought MCD had sorted themselves out. We sat in the car for 2 hours and only then did the traffic begin to move. This was fine, we knew it was to alleviate the bus backlog. Except, on our way out, we passed a never ending line of buses, full of people, that were not moving at all. We got home ok; I refused to get a bus after the horrors of Slane, and MCD were telling pople to get public transport…? However, a quick look on Twitter or Boards.ie and you can see what happened those on buses
@Shiminay says ” Shock-horror – once again MCD in “can’t organise pissup in brewery fiasco” after AC/DC. Heads need to roll in that company”
@brogenhayes says “Disgraceful that people paid a fortune to see AC/DC then got trampled and ignored by Gardaí in the bus Q in Punchestown last night”
@johnmfinn says “AC/DC were expectedly brilliant last night. Organisation of the traffic and the buses were not”
@Cawlian says “Aside from the spectacular performmance by AC/DC the promoters,Organisers and especially MCD shoul hand their heads in shame – Bad Mngmnt”
‘Nuff Said!
Pity that bad management can leave a bad taste in people’s mouths following a truly spectacular show
Head of MCD?
King Of Shit.
EDIT: @gavreilly reviews recent MCD events
[...] 2: Ian Healy also has his two [...]
Just for the record, as much of a mess as the organisation was, AC/DC were so good that i’d do it all again in a second.
Oh so would I! Slane was a different story,though. I’d really need convincing to go again
[...] MCD fuck up another outdoor concert. AC/DC this time. [...]
what a night………..the sight of Angus on his ‘pulpit’ in worshipful prayer on the axe under driving rain has left me thunderstruck …even Johnson’s 60yo+ vocals were a still a power to be reckoned with ……..tight as hell . Long live Acky Dacky …only sghame was the bunch of inept thicko’s in mCD and Dublin Bus !
who have some more photos from this gig, please send me on e-mail erosek@gmail.com .THX.
The Night Was Fucking Fantastic! I was moved from the silver ticket place into the Gold place free. For an injury. My first concert and i didn’t do half bad. From where these pics were taken in this paticular review i was pretty much opposite. I was the soaked girl with the white ac/dc t-shirt on with the brunette hair by the way! If you saw me Hi! I thought the Blizzard were awful and yes i was one of those people who blanked them the majority of the time. I wasn’t impressed. Did anyone else notice the only time they got any attention was when they started the intro to Beat It. That’s the only time I looked up anyway!
The Answer were okay. Nothing Special. Better that Blizzard anyway!
However, When Ac/Dc Came on the crowd started and i was pushed up against the barrier in no time. I did actually bruise my ribs and hips from the force but god it was well worth it. I was pleased I was the only female my age that I saw. I thought it was an awesome experiance and when Angus did his solo on the scissor lift. It’s a sight that i’ll never forget until the day i die. Fantastic Concert.
Bullshit to anyone that says other wise!
Ac/Dc Rocks!
Great comment,Sarah!
Thanks..