Review: AC/DC Shows It Still Has Some Life Left at Tour Closer in Cleveland

AC/DC at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland. Credit: Joe Kleon

There were signs that the most consistent hard rock outfit ever formed, which made its debut at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland to close the U.S. leg of its Power Up Tour, was aging. Hair was grayer, key members were missing and frontman Brian Johnson’s voice was, to put it charitably, pretty weathered.

But what the Rock Hall inductees lacked, they made up for in energy and mastery. The Australian quintet delivered to a capacity crowd an epic 21-song concert full of riffs, musical interplay and cheeky lyrics. Lead guitarist and leader Angus Young, the sole original member present, has essentially willed to life a Frankenstein version of AC/DC that, while perhaps not as powerful as the band in its heyday, can still rock with the best of them.

Starting off strong with 1979’s “If You Want Blood (You Got It),” Young and Johnson made clear that they’d, as always, do most of the entertaining (though some clever graphics, the obligatory lowering of the bell for “Hells Bells” and the cannons shot off during show closer “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” also helped). The 77-year-old Johnson compensated for his inability to hit all the notes in his trademark screech by dancing, strutting and imploring the audience to sing along.

Young, meanwhile, was in constant motion over the 135-minute show, belying his newly-minted septuagenarian status. Starting out decked out in his trademark school-boy uniform, he ran, skipped and duck-walked across the massive stage and catwalk as he peeled off one riff after another on a Gibson SG. Every song concluded with him running toward the drum kit and jumping.

He also showed that he’s still one of the best soloists out there, be it on more succinct interludes on “Highway to Hell” or a 20-minute outing of “Let There Be Rock,” during which he shredded on a raised platform and ran in circles on the ground a la Curly from The Three Stooges.

“That is some guitar fucking player, am I right?” Johnson said of his boss at one point.

AC/DC’s show on Wednesday was the band’s first appearance in Cleveland in nearly nine years. When it played in 2016 at the then-named Quicken Loans Arena, it was in transition.

Co-founder and Angus Young’s older brother Malcolm Young was sidelined (he died in 2017) and replaced by their nephew Stevie Young on rhythm guitar. Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose also filled in for Johnson, who was dealing with severe hearing problems. And Chris Slade was on drums in place of longtime stickman Phil Rudd.

Johnson and Rudd later returned to the fold and played on the 2020 album “Power Up.” But five years later, Rudd isn’t on the road, nor is bassist Cliff Williams, meaning one of rock’s most powerful rhythm sections is missing in action.

Their replacements, bassist Chris Chaney and drummer Matt Laug, laudably emulated the pair’s interplay, even if they did little to show off their own styles. Their job, along with Stevie Young’s was simple: hold down the tunes and the back of the stage and let Johnson and Young do their jobs.

It’s something close to a miracle that, in 2025, AC/DC is still out there in anything that resembles its original form. It’s certainly not something to take for granted. And if Wednesday’s show was any proof, the band still has some gas left in the tank.

Openers The Pretty Reckless turned in a 55-minute set that answered the question, what if a grunge band sanded off the rough edges of its music and made it slicker? Frontwoman Taylor Momsen, best known for her role on the teen drama “Gossip Girl,” twirled and skipped her way (though I must stress, not in a happy-go-lucky manner) through one hard-ish rock tune after another. A few interesting interludes were overshadowed by unmemorable melodies, and the quartet sorely lacked what AC/DC has in spades: a sense of fun.

Concert Photos: AC/DC and Pretty Reckless at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland

Setlist:
1. If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)
2. Back in Black
3. Demon Fire
4. Shot Down in Flames
5. Thunderstruck
6. Have a Drink on Me
7. Hells Bells
8. Shot in the Dark
9. Stiff Upper Lip
10. Highway to Hell
11. Shoot to Thrill
12. Sin City
13. Rock ‘n’ Roll Train
14. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
15. High Voltage
16. Riff Raff
17. You Shook Me All Night Long
18. Whole Lotta Rosie
19. Let There Be Rock
Encore:
20. T.N.T.
21. For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)

Eric Heisig is a freelance writer in Cleveland. He can be reached at eheisig@gmail.com.

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This article appears in May 22 – Jun 4, 2025.