Story by Angus Green - “Macleay Argus”
You would been Thunderstruck deaf but happy, after hearing AC/DC tribute band ACCA/DACCA use high voltage and even higher volume to pay homage to the greatest rock band Australia has ever seen. Five musicians with amazing talent, who took remarkably like the real thing, burst onto the stage into the auditorium at South West Rocks Country Club in front of a crowd there for one thing loud music and memories.
The young guns were left for dead and the baby- boomers hit the dance floor and rocked, moshed and chanted the classics as the boys on stage hammered out their play list from the Bon Scott years, right through to the more gravelly Brian Johnson era.
Those about to rock were saluted again and again by the lads on stage, Angus Young (Matt Rath), Bon Scott (Larry Attard) backed up by drummer Phil Rudd (Damon Joel), guitarist Malcolm Young (Mick Bristow), and bassist Shane Fluery played their list to perfection.
Instead if you shut your eyes and just listened to the music exploding from their instruments, you could swear you were hearing AC/DC in front of a 200,000- strong crowd. While the size of the auditorium limited the crowd, a steady stream of rock fans flowed through the doors, not wanting to miss any part of the memorable show. It is little wonder AC/DC sales have increased since the boys hit the road as ACCA/DACCA in 2000.
The quality of the music pumping out of the Marshall speakers inside the club was fitting testament to the committed and respect ACCA/DACCA has for the original AC/DC. Larry Attard’s narrative falsetto mimicked Bon’s rasp effortlessly, as you cannot have an AC/DC tribute and sing like Tom Jones. Larry’s voice and Matt’s guitar combines to take where long unruly hair, groupies and road trips dominated the rock culture.
The younger fans were not forgotten though, while a blistering rendition of Thunderstruck finishing the night off after cries of ‘one more song ‘pounded throughout the club. Dozens of people without tickets sat near the door of the auditorium, just to feel the music, however they were not disappointed as the volume went up and up.
After the show the band chilled out over a couple of quiet beers, and mingled with the locals. The mere mortals treated the lads like royalty, and were respected in return, the quality of there music skills and detail to which they adhere to the style to the original AC/DC band was effective in creating the echo of the Australian gods of rock AC/DC were.
The tribute was more than just five musicians playing loud covers of AC/DC tracks it was a tribute to a band that helped define the rock culture. These guys are a must see next time they hit the valley, as the ACCA/DACCA - AC/DC Tribute show injected the South West Rocks Country Club with a dose of molten heavy metal rock. The five members live the rock life, love the rock music and lift the rock name to a new level.