Thunderstruck In The Windy City, AC/DC Ignites Soldier Field

May 27, 2025 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

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By Harrison Kristoff

Chicago, May 24, 2025 — Soldier Field

There are concerts, and then there are lightning-strikes-from-the-heavens, heart-pounding, soul-shaking rock and roll rituals. Last Saturday night at Soldier Field, AC/DC didn’t just play a show — they summoned the gods of thunder and turned the historic stadium into a roaring cathedral of power chords, pyrotechnics, horror props and pure, electrified chaos. All this, 50 years after it all began down under.

As the sun dipped below the Lake Michigan horizon and painted the sky with shades of purple and gold, the stadium’s 60,000+ fans — many in timeworn “Back in Black” shirts and devil-horn headbands — surged with anticipation. It wasn’t just another stop on the “Power Up Tour“. This was Chicago. This was Soldier Field. And this was the second-to-last U.S. date of a global tour that’s been melting faces since Sydney.

And boy, did AC/DC know how to mark the occasion. This tour, a slight delay from the initial album releases back in 2020, finally hit the road last year and the band are wrapping up the ride with this stop being the next to last for the US tour dates. This almost didn’t happen at all as turmoil in the band, health concerns and even legal matters nearly prevented this tour from even happening.

At 9:00 PM, the stadium lights cut to black, the speakers let out a low revving rumble, and a demon car (Christine) blazed through hellish flamed highways to get to Chicago as it rolled into Soldier Field on the giant video wall, igniting the opening riff of “If You Want Blood (You Got It).” A monstrous wall of flame erupted along the stage, briefly singeing the eyebrows of the front row faithful (figuratively… we hope), and Angus Young burst from beneath the floor in his classic schoolboy uniform — now slightly more grizzled with flowing locks of white wizardry hair, like a valedictorian of badassery.

Brian Johnson, seemingly powered by some internal amp set to 11, sprinted across the stage with the energy of a man half his age and the vocal cords of a power drill married to a chainsaw. “Hello Chicago! It’s been too long. Where Ya been?” “Let’s have a party so let’s go.”

The setlist was a fever dream of greatest hits and fan favorites. “Back in Black” had the crowd punching the sky in rhythmic unison, while “Shoot to Thrill” rolled in like a freight train — horns, fists, and beers aloft. Even a couple off the last album the tour is based on with two tracks, “Demon Fire” and “Shot in the Dark”.

Although the bands lineup is slightly different these days, they still rocked as they always do. A standard for 4/4 rock bands. Joining Angus and Brian are seasoned rockers in their own right. Another Young family member, Stevie Young providing rhythm guitar since 2014 when Malcolm stepped out for health issues and ultimately passed in 2017. Filling in for Phil Rudd on drums was Matt Laug. The low end was helmed by a LA based bassist, who’s played with just about everyone, Chris Chaney, the new guy.

The stage show was part Mad Max, part Vegas, and all AC/DC. Giant robotic cannons fired sparks during “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You),” while a 30-foot inflatable Rosie made her predictably decadent appearance during — what else — “Whole Lotta Rosie.” When Angus launched into his legendary duckwalk across the 150-foot runway, it was like watching a national treasure refuse to age. The man’s solos were blistering, sweat-soaked sermons. His final solo lasting a whopping 8 minutes!

And the fans? Every last one of them — from the old-schoolers who saw Bon Scott at the Aragon Ballroom to teenage first-timers raised on YouTube — knew they were witnessing something mythic. Chicago, the birthplace of electric blues, embraced AC/DC’s high-voltage spirit like a long-lost sibling. When Johnson paused to say, “This town knows its rock and roll,” the roar from the stands could’ve toppled the Willis Tower.

As the final cannon blast echoed over the lakefront, it brought the entire city to the brink of joyous combustion, there was an unspoken awareness in the air. This was one of the last chances to see the legends live in our home town. Their final U.S. stop? Just a few days away in Cleveland. But this night, in Chicago — on sacred Soldier Field ground — was one for the annals of rock. Johnson ended with, “Thank you Chicago, you’ve been brilliant.” As have you sir, as have you.

Fireworks lit up the sky and AC/DC took their final bow beneath a shower of sparks and devil-horn salutes, one thing was clear: Rock ain’t dead. It just wears a schoolboy uniform and carries a Gibson SG.

And Chicago? You’ve been thunderstruck.

For more on AC/DC, click here

Setlist: AC/DC live in Chicago at Soldier Field – May 24th, 2025

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. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
14. High Voltage
15. Riff Raff
16. You Shook Me All Night Long
17. Whole Lotta Rosie
18. Let The Be Rock

Encore:

1. T.N.T.
2. For Those About To Rock (We Solute You)

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• 2025, AC/DC, Angus Young, Brian Johnson, Chicago, concert review, In The Loop Magazine, March 24, Power Up, Soldier Field, US Tour, World Tour

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