Oh boy, it’s happening. The legendary hard rockers AC/DC have embarked on the 2026 North American leg of their “Power Up” tour, because the world clearly needed more face-melting guitar riffs and Brian Johnson’s signature scream. The 18-date trek kicked off on July 11 at the Bank Of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, marking the band’s first performance in the city since 2008. We’re not sure what’s more impressive, the fact that they’re still touring or that they managed to find a venue that could accommodate their epic setlist.
The band opened the 21-song set with “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)” and proceeded to run through classics like “Back In Black”, “Thunderstruck”, “Highway To Hell”, “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”, “You Shook Me All Night Long”, and “T.N.T.” before concluding with “For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)”. They also played two tracks from their latest “Power Up” album, “Demon Fire” and “Shot In The Dark”, because who needs sleep when you can have more AC/DC?
The “Power Up” Tour: A Never-Ending Saga
The “Power Up” world tour, which takes its name from AC/DC’s 2020 album, has been going strong since 2023, with the band selling out dozens of stadiums across four continents. Because, you know, the world was just missing that one thing: more AC/DC concerts. The tour has included stops in Europe, where they played 12 dates across 10 countries, and even marked their first-ever show in Estonia. We’re not sure what the Estonians did to deserve such an honor, but we’re sure it was something worthy.
The band’s current tour lineup consists of longtime singer Brian Johnson, founding member and lead guitarist Angus Young, rhythm guitarist Stevie Young, drummer Matt Laug, and former Jane’s Addiction bassist Chris Chaney. We’re not sure what’s more impressive, the fact that they’ve managed to keep the same lineup for this long or that they’ve found a way to make it work despite all the personnel changes.
AC/DC: The Greatest Rock Band of All Time (Apparently)
AC/DC has sold more than 200 million albums worldwide, including “Back In Black”, which ranks as one of the top-selling LPs of all time. We’re not sure what’s more astonishing, the fact that they’ve sold so many albums or that people still actually buy albums. The band has been touring for decades, and their current tour comes eight years after Johnson bowed out of a 2016 run of shows due to a hearing condition. We’re not sure what’s more impressive, the fact that he’s still touring or that he’s managed to find a way to overcome his hearing condition.
The band’s setlist for the Charlotte concert on July 11, 2026, was a veritable greatest hits collection, with songs like “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)”, “Back In Black”, “Thunderstruck”, and “Highway To Hell” making appearances. We’re not sure what’s more impressive, the fact that they’ve managed to keep their setlist so consistent over the years or that they’ve found a way to make it still sound fresh and exciting.
In conclusion, AC/DC’s 2026 North American leg of the “Power Up” tour is a testament to the band’s enduring legacy and their ability to still rock out with the best of them. We’re not sure what’s more impressive, the fact that they’re still touring or that they’ve managed to find a way to make it still relevant in today’s music landscape. Either way, it’s a good thing they’re still around, because the world would be a much duller place without them. 🤘
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
