This Band's Got Rhythm

So who's shorty with the big axe?

It was at one of my high school dances back in the late 70's that I saw a local cover band tear off a really smokin' version of AC/DC's Shot Down In Flames. First time I ever heard the song, in fact, and I knew right then and there I'd have to get that song - pronto. After the show, one of my friends took us backstage to see the band. He knew some of the band members, and that was our ticket behind the scenes. Not that this was a big deal. A small-time rock band playing at a high school. Still.... it was my first exposure to this world of real musicians. Hangin' with the band. I did have a little guitar experience under my belt by now so I didn't feel completely out of my element. Plus I did recognize a lot of the songs that were played that night. 

Oh, as a little aside, what ever happened to bands playing at school dances? At least here in my home province in Canada, it sounds like the whole concept was banned at least a decade ago. I suppose it was a money issue.... cheaper to hire a single DJ to play CDs all night than to pay a band - who would have many equipment and electrical issues to deal with. But the energy and connection that you feel with real live people playing instruments onstage is what makes the show special. Sure, some people can get all funky and down with it if there's a good recorded song blasting. But it's not the same. I'm glad I had the chance to grow up in that truer live music atmosphere.

Back to my story: the day after my fun evening at the school dance, I headed for the record store, where I located AC/DC's classic (and best, in my opinion) album Highway To Hell - on cassette, which contained the song I wanted so dearly. I remember loving that whole groovin' album (for there was indeed an indelible groove, marked by the aggressive drums and anchored by the rock steady bass) from top to bottom, but I know I lingered over Shot Down In Flames, listening to it much more than the other tracks, at least for a while. 

That album has aged well, much like fine wine and cheese (beer and chips might not hold up as well over time). The crisp, gritty guitar sound always impresses me, especially when I consider that back in the day, effects pedals weren't necessarily used to achieve distortion; instead, guitarists simply turned up the amp's volume until natural distortion occurred... then they'd fiddle with tone knobs and whatnot to fine-tune that sound. Early AC/DC guitar sounds were solid and palatable as slabs of musical notes, unlike the thunder and lightning crashes and stabs of the era after Bon Scott passed away. Nothing wrong with those later albums.... just a different feel.

Even though the whole album rocks evenly, and I have many favourites, the one that really stands out from the bunch for me is Girls Got Rhythm. The infectious riffs on bass and guitar drive the song like no other. And good ol' Bon squeals and burps just like we expect him to... sad that he didn't live to see another AC/DC album after this one.