Aerosmith, Kravitz Rock Ottawa
Canoe.ca, Canada
November 17, 2005
Doubly sweet emotion
Aerosmith and Lenny Kravitz thoroughly rocked the Corel Centre last night, even if the two acts make a puzzling pairing.
While Kravitz fans might see it as a double bill, those who have been following Aerosmith for three decades now might beg to differ.
First off, you won't catch me saying anything ageist about 57-year-old frontman Steven Tyler.
From his scraggly hair, with bits of woven things hanging down from it, to his oversize lips, AC/DC T-shirt and chap-ish pants down to his stylish sneakers-clad toes, that man is strangely compelling if not downright hot. One only needs to observe his endless vocal and physical gyrations live to get the appeal.
Musically, it was a raucous trip back through time for 14,200 fans, ranging from teens to, well, Tyler's contemporaries. The group opened the show with a surprising cover of "Helter Skelter," moving quickly into the pre-Run DMC version of "Walk This Way."
Soon Tyler had a white fedora atop his head to goof with a more staid -- but fierce, oh so fierce -- guitarist Joe Perry during "Same Old Song and Dance."
There was lots of room for the almost-childlike singer to play to the crowd, with two giant stage extensions halfway out onto the floor and risers out to either side.
Each time he got close enough, an audience member would try to grasp his scarf, or leg or even his foot. Tyler seemed to slap every hand he saw; he frequently locked eyes with the ladies close to the stage.
There was lots from the reincarnated Aerosmith: Tunes like "Cryin' " and "Livin' On the Edge" from 1993's Get A Grip.
Old-school fans were treated to a long and low "Sweet Emotion" and the group's powerful first hit, "Dream On." After a pre-encore costume change, they closed the show for the by-now hoarse crowd with "Draw the Line."
Earlier, Tyler made a surprise appearance onstage during the end of Kravitz's 70-minute set.
As Kravitz walked risers on stage left encouraging a singalong of his anthem "Let Love Rule," out of nowhere Tyler appeared in front of his mike, saying, "Hey Lenny, does it go like this?"
The pair soon embraced and continued singing together, with Tyler popping out a digital camera to snap off a shot. It was a joyous chance to hear two of the most distinctive, bottomless vocals of our time bouncing off each other.
Kravitz -- who says he hasn't been here since his first album tour some 15 years ago -- was both playful and upbeat, likely glad to be free of the foot cast that has been slowing him down during this fall road trip.
He opened with "Where Are We Running?" and moved quickly into last year's can't-forget-it-was-a-Gap-commercial-tune "Lady."
"Fly Away" was lifted by its funky fist-pumping bass beat, though the highlight was the elongated "Let Love Rule," and not because of Tyler, either.
Kravitz closed out his set with a rowdy version of "Are You Gonna Go My Way?," proving that even for a band as big as Aerosmith, he's no opening act.
November 17, 2005
Doubly sweet emotion
Aerosmith and Lenny Kravitz thoroughly rocked the Corel Centre last night, even if the two acts make a puzzling pairing.
While Kravitz fans might see it as a double bill, those who have been following Aerosmith for three decades now might beg to differ.
First off, you won't catch me saying anything ageist about 57-year-old frontman Steven Tyler.
From his scraggly hair, with bits of woven things hanging down from it, to his oversize lips, AC/DC T-shirt and chap-ish pants down to his stylish sneakers-clad toes, that man is strangely compelling if not downright hot. One only needs to observe his endless vocal and physical gyrations live to get the appeal.
Musically, it was a raucous trip back through time for 14,200 fans, ranging from teens to, well, Tyler's contemporaries. The group opened the show with a surprising cover of "Helter Skelter," moving quickly into the pre-Run DMC version of "Walk This Way."
Soon Tyler had a white fedora atop his head to goof with a more staid -- but fierce, oh so fierce -- guitarist Joe Perry during "Same Old Song and Dance."
There was lots of room for the almost-childlike singer to play to the crowd, with two giant stage extensions halfway out onto the floor and risers out to either side.
Each time he got close enough, an audience member would try to grasp his scarf, or leg or even his foot. Tyler seemed to slap every hand he saw; he frequently locked eyes with the ladies close to the stage.
There was lots from the reincarnated Aerosmith: Tunes like "Cryin' " and "Livin' On the Edge" from 1993's Get A Grip.
Old-school fans were treated to a long and low "Sweet Emotion" and the group's powerful first hit, "Dream On." After a pre-encore costume change, they closed the show for the by-now hoarse crowd with "Draw the Line."
Earlier, Tyler made a surprise appearance onstage during the end of Kravitz's 70-minute set.
As Kravitz walked risers on stage left encouraging a singalong of his anthem "Let Love Rule," out of nowhere Tyler appeared in front of his mike, saying, "Hey Lenny, does it go like this?"
The pair soon embraced and continued singing together, with Tyler popping out a digital camera to snap off a shot. It was a joyous chance to hear two of the most distinctive, bottomless vocals of our time bouncing off each other.
Kravitz -- who says he hasn't been here since his first album tour some 15 years ago -- was both playful and upbeat, likely glad to be free of the foot cast that has been slowing him down during this fall road trip.
He opened with "Where Are We Running?" and moved quickly into last year's can't-forget-it-was-a-Gap-commercial-tune "Lady."
"Fly Away" was lifted by its funky fist-pumping bass beat, though the highlight was the elongated "Let Love Rule," and not because of Tyler, either.
Kravitz closed out his set with a rowdy version of "Are You Gonna Go My Way?," proving that even for a band as big as Aerosmith, he's no opening act.
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