Aerosmith Proves There's Rock and Roll Left in Those Old Bones
TheNewsTribune, WA
February 16, 2006
I got a call from an Aerosmith hater the other day in response to an interview with bassist Tom Hamilton.
"Aerosmith died in the '70s," the guy says. Except I'm still recovering from a head cold at the time, so I'm hearing, "Darryl Smith died in the '70s," which leads to a brief, confused silence.
But he adds, "They should start taking drugs again" - a cheap shot aimed at the band's embattled past -- and something about the poor quality of albums that followed "Toys in the Attic." I realize he's calling the Boston hit makers washed up.
But I and apparently the bulk of the 14,500-plus who turned out to see the venerable quintet rock the Tacoma Dome Wednesday night beg to differ. Over the course of 90 scorching minutes they proved there's still some good rock left in those old bones.
The lights went down to a recording of Sly & the Family Stone's "I Want to Take You Higher" (Joe Perry and singer Steven Tyler recently paid homage to Sly Stone at the Grammy Awards) followed by a montage of Aero clips on a big screen above the stage.
Bright LED curtains ascended to reveal the band - also guitarist Brad Whitford and drummer Joey Kramer - which kicked off, oddly enough, with a cover of the Beatles' "Helter Skelter."
The stage featured runways jutting to the sides and longer, L-shaped catwalks that fenced in part of the crowd, allowing band members to meander about and get up close and personal with hundreds of lucky fans down front.
Tyler displayed his usual charisma, galvanizing fans during early numbers "Walk This Way" and "Same Old Song and Dance" as he lead them in waving their hands in the air and extended his tasseled microphone as a cue to sing along. The singer was mobbed by a cluster of fans when he went down to the floor for "Cryin'," but was back onstage in time for his harmonica solo.
The front man introduced Perry after '80s hit "Livin' on the Edge," and the guitarist took center stage to sing lead on "Shakin' My Cage," a song recorded for his solo album last year. The legendary guitarist's sweltering licks made up for muffled vocals on that and follow-up "Stop Messin' Around" (the latter also enhanced by lively pounding from keyboard player Russ Irwin.)
Hamilton delivered a funky, crowd pleasing solo lead in to "Livin' on the Edge." "You know what the next song is," said Tyler, pulling a handmade sign for "Janie's Got a Gun" out of the audience.
But those '80s hits couldn't hold a candle to "Dream On," one of the most enduring rock anthems of all time. Fans held their lighters high and roared their approval as Tyler shrieked the song's finale.
Another rarity, "No More No More," felt a bit anticlimactic after that. Bluesy follow up "Baby, Please Don't Go" was a bit more satisfying but lost focus as Tyler kept mugging for the camera. But the band pulled it together for a primal delivery of "Train Kept a Rollin'" before taking a bow.
Aerosmith whipped fans back into a frenzy with "Back in the Saddle" - literally. Tyler swung the tassel on his mike like a big cat o' nine tails, and roadies had to rush out after Tyler tried to walk away and fans at front of the stage wouldn't let go. They were back a moment later as fans ripped the jacket from the singer's back.
Aerosmith remained in the '70s for a fitting set closer "Draw the Line."
Opening act Lenny Kravitz' popularity may have waned in recent years. But he was a perfect compliment with a classic rock aesthetic that owes a lot to Jimi Hendrix.
He and his band kicked off with "Why Are We Runnin'?" and delivered a solid hour of hits, including "Dig In," "Believe" and "Fly Away."
"Always on the Run" is his best song for my money. And it was a clear set high point, as it morphed into a sprawling funk jam during which Kravitz' band mates got a chance at the spotlight during a series of solos. A 19-year-old horn player from New Orleans, identified only as Trombone Charlie, was an especially big hit.
Kravitz appeared to be pulling some random guy out of the crowd during late '80s hit "Let Love Rule," and surprisingly the guy could play a mean guitar. It turned out to be Earth, Wind & Fire's Seldon Reynolds (a friend of Kravitz's who is also married to Hendrix estate caretaker, Janie Hendrix) who happened to be down front taking photos.
Kravitz took a bow only to return, sans horn section and backup singers, for his biggest hit "Are You Gonna Go My Way?"
It was a solid set, but it would have been better if Kravitz had subbed something like "Mr. Cabdriver" or even "Rock and Roll is Dead" for that boring cover of the Guess Who's "American Woman" he had a hit with a few years back.
February 16, 2006
I got a call from an Aerosmith hater the other day in response to an interview with bassist Tom Hamilton.
"Aerosmith died in the '70s," the guy says. Except I'm still recovering from a head cold at the time, so I'm hearing, "Darryl Smith died in the '70s," which leads to a brief, confused silence.
But he adds, "They should start taking drugs again" - a cheap shot aimed at the band's embattled past -- and something about the poor quality of albums that followed "Toys in the Attic." I realize he's calling the Boston hit makers washed up.
But I and apparently the bulk of the 14,500-plus who turned out to see the venerable quintet rock the Tacoma Dome Wednesday night beg to differ. Over the course of 90 scorching minutes they proved there's still some good rock left in those old bones.
The lights went down to a recording of Sly & the Family Stone's "I Want to Take You Higher" (Joe Perry and singer Steven Tyler recently paid homage to Sly Stone at the Grammy Awards) followed by a montage of Aero clips on a big screen above the stage.
Bright LED curtains ascended to reveal the band - also guitarist Brad Whitford and drummer Joey Kramer - which kicked off, oddly enough, with a cover of the Beatles' "Helter Skelter."
The stage featured runways jutting to the sides and longer, L-shaped catwalks that fenced in part of the crowd, allowing band members to meander about and get up close and personal with hundreds of lucky fans down front.
Tyler displayed his usual charisma, galvanizing fans during early numbers "Walk This Way" and "Same Old Song and Dance" as he lead them in waving their hands in the air and extended his tasseled microphone as a cue to sing along. The singer was mobbed by a cluster of fans when he went down to the floor for "Cryin'," but was back onstage in time for his harmonica solo.
The front man introduced Perry after '80s hit "Livin' on the Edge," and the guitarist took center stage to sing lead on "Shakin' My Cage," a song recorded for his solo album last year. The legendary guitarist's sweltering licks made up for muffled vocals on that and follow-up "Stop Messin' Around" (the latter also enhanced by lively pounding from keyboard player Russ Irwin.)
Hamilton delivered a funky, crowd pleasing solo lead in to "Livin' on the Edge." "You know what the next song is," said Tyler, pulling a handmade sign for "Janie's Got a Gun" out of the audience.
But those '80s hits couldn't hold a candle to "Dream On," one of the most enduring rock anthems of all time. Fans held their lighters high and roared their approval as Tyler shrieked the song's finale.
Another rarity, "No More No More," felt a bit anticlimactic after that. Bluesy follow up "Baby, Please Don't Go" was a bit more satisfying but lost focus as Tyler kept mugging for the camera. But the band pulled it together for a primal delivery of "Train Kept a Rollin'" before taking a bow.
Aerosmith whipped fans back into a frenzy with "Back in the Saddle" - literally. Tyler swung the tassel on his mike like a big cat o' nine tails, and roadies had to rush out after Tyler tried to walk away and fans at front of the stage wouldn't let go. They were back a moment later as fans ripped the jacket from the singer's back.
Aerosmith remained in the '70s for a fitting set closer "Draw the Line."
Opening act Lenny Kravitz' popularity may have waned in recent years. But he was a perfect compliment with a classic rock aesthetic that owes a lot to Jimi Hendrix.
He and his band kicked off with "Why Are We Runnin'?" and delivered a solid hour of hits, including "Dig In," "Believe" and "Fly Away."
"Always on the Run" is his best song for my money. And it was a clear set high point, as it morphed into a sprawling funk jam during which Kravitz' band mates got a chance at the spotlight during a series of solos. A 19-year-old horn player from New Orleans, identified only as Trombone Charlie, was an especially big hit.
Kravitz appeared to be pulling some random guy out of the crowd during late '80s hit "Let Love Rule," and surprisingly the guy could play a mean guitar. It turned out to be Earth, Wind & Fire's Seldon Reynolds (a friend of Kravitz's who is also married to Hendrix estate caretaker, Janie Hendrix) who happened to be down front taking photos.
Kravitz took a bow only to return, sans horn section and backup singers, for his biggest hit "Are You Gonna Go My Way?"
It was a solid set, but it would have been better if Kravitz had subbed something like "Mr. Cabdriver" or even "Rock and Roll is Dead" for that boring cover of the Guess Who's "American Woman" he had a hit with a few years back.
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