Sound Script

Allegiant Stadium – Las Vegas, Nevada

Photos and Review by Sam Howard

For the first time ever, Soundscript hit the road all the way to Las Vegas, Nevada to review our first ever show out of the state of Utah. On August 1st, 2026, Allegiant Stadium set the stage for AC/DC on their “PWR UP” Tour. With a capacity of nearly 72,000 people, this show was going to be a big one. Going into it, I was not sure what to expect, nor was I sure I had even prepared enough to be able to capture this legendary lineup. From the front gate, we were checked by multiple security checkpoints and escorted all the way to the tunnels to get to the floor ground. Getting ready for the opening band, The Pretty Reckless, to take the stage and looking around the stadium from the photo pit, it was surreal to look up and see just how big everything was. I could not imagine playing a show in this big of a building, but The Pretty Reckless were about to start, and the night of pure rock and roll was about to begin. 

Based out of New York, The Pretty Reckless is a hard rock band with frontwoman Taylor Momsen on lead vocals. Having the biggest stage I have ever seen, the band walked out and began to play. Starting off with their song “Death by Rock and Roll,” Momsen had an extremely powerful presence on stage that demanded the attention of every single crowd member in attendance. Though the stage was huge, the band and the sounds they produced filled it with ease. The stage belonged to The Pretty Reckless, and they were more than comfortable with taking what was theirs. 

Getting to experience the music of The Pretty Reckless live was very exciting. Their sound channeled classic hard rock idols such as Joan Jett and Ann Wilson, but gave the feeling as if the world was experiencing hard rock for the first time. Ending off the set with their song “About You,” I was left wondering what a headlining show would look like for The Pretty Reckless. If they were ever to come to Utah, they could easily sell out shows at The Union or even Sandy Amphitheater, and you should not skip a chance to see them perform live. 

Now that the opening set had ended, and the stadium was filled up with eager fans, it was about time for our headliner to take the stage. Being escorted back out to the photo pit to even more people than before filling up the seats and pit, I couldn’t help but feel the electric energy of the crowd even before the show started. Once the clock hit 8:30 PM, it was time for AC/DC to take the stage. As the lights dimmed low, the crowd roared with excitement. 

Formed in Sydney, Australia in the year 1973, AC/DC is one of the most legendary and most talked about hard rock and roll bands to ever exist. There isn’t much that hasn’t been said about AC/DC as their music continues to be intergenerational. So many bands and artists you know and love would not exist without the groundwork that AC/DC has put down. So with that introduction in mind, let’s get into their set. 

As the crowd continued to roar, and the introduction on the stage screen played, AC/DC took the stage by storm. With frontman Brian Johnson on vocals, and Angus Young, the only original member of the band, on lead guitar, they began the set with their song “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)” Being a band that has such a huge catalogue of songs to choose from, this was a satisfying choice of opener, leading into their second song “Back in Black,” to which the whole crowd sang every word. I have never quite heard a crowd be so deafeningly loud at a concert like this before, and it felt like with each song they just got louder and louder. 

AC/DC had an explosive setlist for the night. Each of their big hits were sprinkled in perfectly. Making their way through it with legendary tunes such as “Thunderstruck” and “Hell’s Bells,” we were making our way to about halfway through the set. It was at this point they played probably one of the most notoriously well-known songs in the history of rock and roll, “Highway to Hell.” I did not think it was possible for a crowd to get louder than this one already was, but they proved me wrong. The chills I had from hearing this song live were overwhelming, and with their song “Shoot to Thrill” following it, there was nothing to do but headbang and shout every lyric as Angus played those legendary guitar solos while doing his signature duck walk on stage. 

An AC/DC show wouldn’t be complete without those facemelting solos, and believe me when I tell you, it felt as though there was an endless amount of them. Playing through hit after hit such as “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” “You Shook Me All Night Long” and “Whole Lotta Rosie,” the band would end off their set with “Let There Be Rock.” This being the last song of their main set, the rendition that was played live on stage was incredible. Angus went on to play the single longest guitar solo I have ever heard in my life, and it was mindblowing just how much he played on. He would go on to strike the last few chords of the song, and the stage went black. 

After desperate demands of an encore from the crowd, AC/DC came back out on stage to play a two song encore. Going into it, they began playing their song “T.N.T.” getting the crowd to shout “OY… OY…OY…” as loud as they possibly can. The final song of the night was “For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)” to which AC/DC played off with a bang. It felt as though this was the only song that should be played at the end of an AC/DC show, and it did not disappoint. 

Once the show ended, one thing was clear: though AC/DC has been around for nearly 53 years, they still remain to rock just as hard. With each member of the band in their early to late seventies, they still have the moves and seemingly nothing is going to slow them down. Though there were some notable absences of hits such as “Moneytalks,” “Who Made Who,” and “Big Balls” from their setlist, I would say that this show was a perfect testament to how rock and roll keeps us alive, and there is no rock and roll without AC/DC.