Airbourne live at Sweden Rock Festival 230607

6/10

Joel O’Keefe

Australian act Airbourne seems to have brought their Aussie climate with them to Sweden Rock Festival when they entered the main stage in a late afternoon gig. In a blistering sun and with the festival area covered in dust due to the lack of rain lately Airbourne opened in a furious tempo.

Having had their perhaps first claim to fame in the somewhat odd way of having their 2007 song Runnin’ Wild included in their soundtrack to the videogame NHL09 they soon gained international fame. Now they have been around for 20+ years but still appear hungry on stage.

The first 3-4 songs are very good – Airbourne’s AC/DC heritage is obvious, although they are somewhat harder and more modern than their national heroes. This is only the second show on their European tour and they are full of energy and seem to thoroughly enjoy themselves on stage. Singer/guitarrist Joel O’Keefe know all the traditional tricks from the rock’n’roll playbook. It is neither original neither very unexpected, but it is actually quite fun and energizing.

Airbourne’s problem is that after 20+ years in the game they still do not have a strong enough setlist for an entire show. After about half an hour everything starts sounding the same and the cacthy riffs from the begginning of the set is just not there anymore. On a hot day like this you simply lose interest and start thinking about finding some shade instead.

When they are good Airbourne are very good, but the rest of the time they are just another AC/DC-esque boogierock band.

Still worth the visit though!