After two solid nights of shows and a quick twenty-four hours in Quebec City, I had almost forgotten that Airbourne was in town. To be honest, it didn’t even feel like a Saturday because the week had passed by so fast. But that quickly changed as I arrived at the Corona Theatre. The party had clearly started early for some who were drinking PBR in the parking lot or just enjoying a pint or five at the pubs surrounding the venue. Anything to save a few bucks inside.
The Native Howl
I had heard about The Native Howl and was excited to see their unique self-described “Thrash Grass,” a mixture of thrash metal and bluegrass. From afar, the singer looked like Jason Momoa, bearded, barefoot, long flowing hair and built like a brick wall. From the very first strum of the banjo mixed with the quick-paced electric wall of sweet sounds, you couldn’t help but get out of your seat and dance.
“We are just fucking shitheels from America and thank you for making our dreams come true by opening up for the legends Airbourne on this stage tonight,” exclaimed singer Alex Holycross, showing his gratitude between each song.
Inquiring if there were still Metallica fans in the audience, which some people were embarrassed to admit. The Detroit natives introduced the next song as a mixture of Metallica’s Harvester Of Sorrow and the Soggy Bottom Boys I Am a Man Of Constant Sorrow, which gives you Harvester Of Constant Sorrow. A dark bluesy song with great bass breakdowns along with a banjo solo.
Their raw energy onstage was contagious, everyone was smiling and cheering them on. Though they haven’t existed long, their chemistry spoke for itself with the introduction of a flute and a bouzouki during select songs. Not something I was expecting at all. The eleven-song set was over super fast.
With a standing ovation, the band thanked everyone for coming out as early as they did and encouraged them to stop by the merch table and say hi. After such a good set, I wanted more music, but unfortunately, after a few days of concerts, it wasn’t in my budget. I encourage anyone who loves country, metal, rock and thrash, music in general, to check these guys out; you won’t be disappointed.
Airbourne
I could tell choosing to sit upstairs was the right decision by this point of the night. From the amount of smoke being pumped into the crowd to the wall of amps set up at the back of the stage, it was about to be turned up to eleven. Most of the older crowd around me chose earplugs to protect what was left of their hearing.
The only way you could tell it was starting was with the sounds of the first song, The Terminator theme, the band barely visible through the haze. Leading right into Ready To Rock, the spectators packed into the Corona were way past that point already. Followed by a crowd pleaser, Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast, an absolute ode to their love of AC/DC.
These sweaty Aussie rockers were here to entertain, inciting the pit to get closer as they taunted the fans at the edge of the stage. By the third song, singer and lead guitarist Joel O’Keeffe decided it was a better view from the side balcony. Handing his guitar off to his faithful roadie, he climbed the scaffolding to be closer to the fans, finishing up the song with a guitar solo while piercing a beer can before spraying the audience. The singer had already slung out about six beers into the crowd, so one more wasn’t going to hurt, right?
By the time he got back down to the stage, someone tried to copy him jumping from the balcony to the stage, then from the stage into the audience. Narrowly missing the photographers in the pit but still soaking their gear in sticky beer. The security on hand had their work cut out for them, as wave after wave of crowd surfers and beer came crashing over the barrier in both directions for most of the set.
“We released an album five years ago or something then some bloke ate bat soup and the whole world went to shit.” yelled O’Keeffe. Two years of no shows is two years too long; you could tell that others felt the same way, excited to be rocking out once again. In that hiatus, Netflix’s popular Cobra Kai series had featured three of Airbourne’s songs on the show. Probably helping them gain some new fans along the way. “Maybe we should be their house band,” said O’Keeffe jokingly.
The audience was thoroughly drenched in beer, though the singer had a spot-on throw as if he practiced in the NFL beer league. On the balcony stood a younger special needs teen who had been rocking out the entire time with a smile ear to ear. O’Keeffe spotted the kid and tossed up a full beer to him, which he caught and chugged, everyone applauding the toss. It was impressive as he continued sending out more flying to the middle of the balcony. Including two more to that same teenager which were caught as well.
A road case was rolled out on stage, with the Motorhead logo painted on the side. On top, a forty-ounce bottle of Jack Daniels, four cups and four cans of coke. “We wrote this song for Lemmy Kilmister because he took us out on so many tours; we wouldn’t be here without him.” The bottle was then emptied amongst the 4 cups, topped off with coke and consumed by the band in Lemmy’s honour, while the crowd chanted “Lemmy! Lemmy! Lemmy!”
After a few more head-banging rock and roll anthems, it was time for them to take a breather before the encore. They never stopped once during the whole set. The Ole’s began in true Montreal style to encourage the band back onstage. They reappeared with a hand-cranked air raid siren as if it wasn’t already loud enough. Then went right into a rocking rendition of our beloved Ole song. I think they should record it and sell the single, it would sell out here for sure. With their last guitar solos extended to about ten minutes, they humbly thanked each and everyone for coming out to rock with them. The venue, staff and crew included.
Review – Samantha Morris
Photos – Kieron Yates
