It wasn’t planned, but sometimes the best adventures aren’t.

We were already in Florida on a different mission when the lightning bolt struck—AC/DC was playing that night at Raymond James Stadium. One look at each other, and we knew: we were going. This was a perfect storm of spontaneity and rock ‘n’ roll fate. AC/DC has long been on our bucket list, and this was the chance to finally see one of the greatest bands to ever plug in a guitar and set a stage on fire.

Of course, no good rock tale is without its hurdles. Tampa traffic wasn’t about to make it easy on us. By the time we made it through the sea of tailgaters and flashing brake lights, The Pretty Reckless had already wrapped their set. A bummer, since they’re a favorite of ours and we’d been lucky enough to catch their fierce performance opening for The Rolling Stones in Vegas. Still, the night was young—and what a night it would become.

The moment we stepped into the stadium, we could feel the electricity. From the parking lot, a red glow shimmered over the crowd. Inside, we were greeted by thousands of fans donning glowing red devil horns, a fiery tribute to the band that practically invented thunder. The energy in the air was palpable—like stepping into a volcano just before it blows.

Then, AC/DC hit the stage, and all hell broke gloriously loose.

Angus Young, the eternal schoolboy of rock, duck-walked across the massive stage with the vigor of a young bull. For over two hours, he shredded and strutted, a guitar god reminding everyone why his riffs are stitched into the fabric of rock history. Brian Johnson, iconic cap and all, was in fine voice—gravelly, powerful, and completely magnetic. He belted every lyric with the kind of grit that makes your throat sore just listening, and the crowd roared back on every chorus with full force.

The setlist? Perfect. They hit every note a fan could hope for including my favorites—Dirty Deeds, Thunderstruck, Back in Black, Hells Bells, and the final, explosive encore: For Those About to Rock (We Salute You). As the cannons fired off with window-rattling force, our nearby security guard literally jumped in fright—clearly not briefed about the band’s signature artillery. The moment will be an unforgettable sidelight of the event. The grand finale crescendoed into a thunderous burst of fireworks, a blazing spectacle that lit up the Florida sky behind the stage.

Every seat in the house was filled—from the floor to the highest risers. It was a sea of glowing horns, fists, and faces singing in unison. A packed house. A legendary band. A night we’ll never forget.

We came on a whim, left hoarse and high on adrenaline, and walked away with one more notch on our belts (rather, another memorable entry in our Rock Logster concert app!) and a poster for the Rock Wall at home.

AC/DC delivered a stadium-sized masterclass in rock, and we were lucky enough to ride the lightning.

The only way you know it’s a long way to the top is if you get there, and this show proved AC/DC has been there for a while.