Airbourne performing their Breakin’ Outta Hell Tour at Rock City Nottingham on Wednesday 22nd November 2017.


Images and review by Kevin Cooper

If you want to party, drink a lot of beer, thump your fist into the air and have a sing along, then just go to an Airbourne concert as a packed Rock City audience did last night.

Breathless, boisterous and brilliant this Aussie hard rock band have bottled the formula for a full throttle rock and roll show and proved to be one of the most compelling live acts of this generation.

Last night was the final night of an extensive eighteen month tour, but there was no sign of any complacency as the quartet, led by vocalist and guitarist, Joel O’Keefe, bounced on to the stage for their opener, Ready To Rock. And if this had been a question rather than a statement, the answer would have been very much in the affirmative as the crowd erupted and as usual at an Airbourne show, more beer was sprayed than actually drank.

All the ingredients for a great rock and roll show were present with new songs being mixed with their old classics. Songs from their fourth and latest album, Breakin’ Outta Hell dominated the first half, with the likes of I’m Going To Hell For This, Down On You and the fabulous rousing Rivalry going down a storm.

Girls In Black and Bottom Of The Well saw O’Keeffe jumping off stage into the audience and going on walkabout while still playing his guitar and bashing himself on the head with a can of beer until it exploded, showering everyone with frothy lager.

Stand Up For Rock ‘n’ Roll proved to be a suitable set closer, whilst their three song encore, Live It Up, Raise The Flag and the title track from their debut album Runnin’ Wild, saw this too short set brought to a close.

With no special effects or gimmicks, just raucous lyrics and fabulous musicianship, there aren’t many bands left on this level that still plays good old rock and roll like this, but last night Airbourne showed that they still carry that flag with pride.

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