The energetic Aussies were Runnin’ Wild promoting their newest release “Boneshaker” in Edmonton at Midway Music Hall.
For the uninitiated, Airbourne is easily one of the world’s most energetic, straightforward, no bullshit, hard rock bands around. Taking a page from forefathers AC/DC, their music is a driving force of energy, aggression and all-out fun. Oh, and LOUD – almost obscenely loud. A friend measured the peak of their Vancouver date at a whopping 129db.
Let’s start off with openers The Native Howl – I hadn’t heard them before, and a friend who joined me at the show described them as “metal meets bluegrass”. They know it, and they embrace it. Coining the term “ThrashGrass”, The Native Howl meshes country twang and bluegrass chicken pickin’ with fast heavy riffing most commonly seen in metal. The output is a rockin’, foot-stomping good time with songs that not only easy to catch on to, but have a familiarity that makes them really palatable. I was blown away. FANTASTIC band. Check out their song “Harvester of Constant Sorrow” I have linked.
When the drapes came off the gear, fans knew they were in for an incredible experience… 6 full Marshall stacks lined the stage – 3 on each side. Airbourne exploded out of the gate, launching into a full on rock n’ roll assault with their 2013 single “Ready To Rock“, which has a familiar feel to it if you’re an AC/DC fan – as does much of their catalogue. This isn’t a bad thing though. It’s high-energy rock n’ roll, and they do it extremely well.
During their third song “Girls In Black”, frontman Joel O’Keeffe came off the stage on a roadie’s shoulders and was walked through the crowd. When he hit the far side of the stage he whipped out a can of beer and cracked it open on his head, spraying the crowd with suds… then they made their way back through the crowd, depositing O’Keeffe back on the stage to finish the song.
Next time I’m definitely bringing earplugs, but man oh man – what a show. Gallery and setlist below!
Setlist:
Ready to Rock
Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast
Girls in Black
Burnout the Nitro
Heartbreaker
Diamond in the Rough
Back in the Game
Breakin’ Outta Hell
It’s All for Rock ‘n’ Roll
Raise the Flag
Stand Up for Rock ‘n’ Roll
Encore:
Live It Up
Runnin’ Wild
