ACtion in DC


ACtion in DC is a Dutch covergroup. Normally, covergroups are a mixed bag. My friend Matthias Meersmans once said : "It's easy for a covergroup to get gigs. The audience digs covers. But for a young, hardworking band with original material, things are different."

Whatever the case with coverbands is, this one stands above the crowd. They are great!

The 'Angus Young'-imitator does it all : the schoolboyuniform, the spastic movements, the duckwalk made famous by Chuck Berry ... it's a spot-on Angus.

ACtion in DC's leadsinger is 'more Bon Scott than Brian Johnson', although he does know how to scream (which is more Johnson-style). A powerful singer, he never fails.

The playlist is strong (notable favourites "Whole Lotta Rosie" and "Thunderstruck" are included), but they even play a few songs the real AC/DC never plays live. "The Jack", "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" and "Jailbreak" are present too. It's nice to see the crowd is excited, even though they're seeing an imitation. Almost everybody is shouting "Oi! Oi! Oi!" during "T.N.T."

What impressed me the most was their commitment to stage props. They had (great) balls of fire during "Highway To Hell" and even the working cannons during "For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)". Granted, the explosions do not match those of the real AC/DC's, but it still is an achievement.

ACtion in DC is the closest I'll ever get to "AC/DC live" (here's hoping the Australian lads will do another tour in the near future) for the moment. In short : a must!



Julian De Backer, 25 July 2006