AC/DC-themed dive bar pops up in Indio ahead of Power Trip with free (permanent) band tattoos
About 50 AC/DC fans stood in line on Thursday to get into the band's pop-up experience High Voltage, which will run through Sunday at Indio's Club 5 in tandem with the Power Trip festival at Empire Polo Club.
Many fans were dressed in denim vests displaying patches of several rock and metal bands, including AC/DC. One of those fans was Gavin O'Driscoll, who had come all the way from Cork, Ireland for the festival and was excited to get into the bar.
"AC/DC are my life and like a religion to me," O'Driscoll said. "They're the greatest band in the world, and that's why I'm here."
John Arnold of Taunton, England, who has seen AC/DC over 40 times, was the first in line at 8 a.m. and said the pop-up experience gives people "a unique place to gather" ahead of the festival.
"Normally, when we go to see them on tour, we all meet up at Hard Rock Cafes. This is phenomenal for the band to put something like this on," Arnold said.
According to Shiloh Uhlir, one of the production staff members, Club 5 was selected because "we wanted a dive bar" as part of the City of Indio's revitalization plans for the downtown area.
"The owners were happy for us to come in and add a little magic to the building. It's a classic dive bar, great location, AC/DC is playing at the festival, so let's celebrate the greatest rock band of all time," Uhlir said.
What's inside and out
AC/DC fans will appreciate how the bar's interior has been decorated with memorabilia such as a deer head wearing the band's signature illuminated devil horns with red eyes, and features several TVs playing music videos. The outdoor patio features a mural of the band on the side of the building, exclusive merchandise and local food trucks.
If you're looking for the ultimate display of fandom, you can get a free tattoo of one of the many different AC/DC logos over the band's 50-year history.
According to Tony Gardner of Oxcart Assembly, who designed the pop-up with business partner Jeff Jetton, planning for the experience began in August and installation started on Monday. The team will be adding additional items to the pop-up through the weekend.
"We want everyone to leave having enjoyed the experience. The fans want it to be cool and we're highly motivated to keep it going. Unfortunately on Sunday, it'll be gone," Gardner said.
Paying tribute to the bar's late owner
Inside the bar, there is a tribute to Club 5 owner Alfredo Franco, who passed away on July 24 after a battle with cancer. When talking about the tribute to her late husband, Carmen Franco became emotional and described it as "very touching."
"This bar was his dream. Losing him has been very devastating for us," Franco said. "When I came in yesterday, one of the (production team) sent me a picture and asked 'Do you mind if we use your husband's picture?' You can tell these people are also humans. They're professionals, but they have a heart to acknowledge all this hard work and everything he did to keep this bar open."
Franco said she is not a rock 'n' roll fan and when she initially received the offer to host the pop-up, she wrote the band's name down as "CDC." Her son, Randy, owner of Supreme Caffeine, said he and his mother initially underestimated the size of the event and described it feeling like "being on a movie set" while setting up his coffee stand.
"It feels weird to be a part of it, we've always done events, but nothing like this," Randy Franco said.
Carmen Franco said there is something happening this weekend her late husband would have loved to see — acknowledgment from the City of Indio.
"That has been very hard for us to get," Franco said. "Since the first day and initial phone call (from the city), I'm like 'Wow, after 11 years, I hear from you?' It was kind of shocking. But I'm sure he'd love to see this and believe he's here somewhere."
The band's performance on Saturday will be its first in 7 years
In 2020, AC/DC released the album “Power Up,” but left fans waiting on tour dates coming out of the pandemic. Power Trip will mark the band's first show in seven years, so there's a lot of warranted excitement around the performance — especially considering the obstacles the group faced in 2016. That's when frontman Brian Johnson left AC/DC because of medical issues and bassist Cliff Williams retired, but both returned in 2018, including former drummer Phil Rudd, who was fired in 2015 due to legal issues.
AC/DC’s comeback will feature Johnson, Williams, guitarists Angus Young and Stevie Young, but Rudd will not be at Power Trip. Matt Laug, who has drummed for Alice Cooper, Slash’s Snakepit and Alanis Morissette, will fill in.
"The first time I saw AC/DC was in 1982 and this could be the last (show) they do," Arnold said. "The event is special."
If you go
What: The AC/DC High Voltage Dive Bar (a pop-up experience)
When: From 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Sunday
Where: Club 5 Bar, 82-971 Bliss Ave., Indio
How much: Free admission, with items available for purchase
More: AC/DC-themed pop-up bar opening in Indio ahead of band's set at 2023 Power Trip festival
Desert Sun reporter Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment. He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com or on Twitter at @bblueskye.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: AC/DC pop up dive bar in Indio: Free tattoos and more
