Aerosmith, Motley Crue leave it all on the stage
Calgary Herald, Canada
December 12, 2006
Motley Crue and Aerosmith performed a sold-out show Monday at Pengrowth Saddledome
First thing's first, it's inevitable that these double-bill arena rock shows become a battle of bands and, at press time at least, Aerosmith destroyed Motley Crue on Monday at the Saddledome. And that's saying something because, in their own motley way, the Crue put on a fabulous show.
Call it a case of raw rock 'n' roll substance over style.
Going back to the beginning, whether you love or loathe their brand of horny, hard-rock crash and burn, you have to give both Aerosmith and the Crue their props as far as showmanship goes. At their best, both bands are top dogs in the world of tongue-waggin', crotch-grabbin', devil horns in the air arena-rawk bluster.
'Smith singer Steven Tyler is the kind of jive-talking Mick Jagger-on-steroids weapon that other bands can only dream of wielding. As for the much-maligned Crue -- well, as sloppy, off-key and wasted as they can be -- they're also the most fun cartoon of rock excess this side of KISS.
But the Crue's been on the same tour now for over two years, having looped through Alberta four times on this journey. How fresh can it be? As for Aerosmith, age is creeping up on those boys, with Tyler, 58, in need of throat surgery in recent years, not to mention the revelation he struggled with hepatitis C recently -- though the infection is now reportedly "non-existent" in his blood stream. Bassist Tom Hamilton is currently MIA, undergoing treatment for throat cancer.
Despite the fact they're on the umpteenth leg of their reunion tour, the Crue was a blast Monday. Singer Vince Neil's voice sketchy at the beginning, though he gained momentum as the night went on. And there was the odd stumble musically. But the bombs were loud, the pyro scorching and the strippers sleazy, which meant all was right in Crue Land. The girls on tricycles during the revving motorcycle intro to Girls Girls Girls were a kick, too. And, with the newly streamlined opening set, the pacing kept excitement high throughout as the band pounded out one crowd favourite after another.
The Crue is all about the show, with drummer Tommy Lee, an overgrown kid whose spirit is infectious and bassist Nikki Sixx, who radiates rock cool.
Aerosmith, on the other hand, was the polar opposite of the Crue in terms of presentation. Tyler and company took to a stage stripped bare of all the flash and fire of the gang before them. And, as much of a ball as the Crue's show was, Aerosmith proved almost immediately a truly killer band can out-fire all those artificial explosives.
Then again, Aerosmith is no ordinary band. Any worries about age and health were instantly blown away as Tyler and company kicked off their set with the Yardbirds chug of Toys In The Attic followed by the heavy blues standard Walking the Dog. Tyler put Vince Neil to shame with his red-hot moves and his soulful, high-powered vocals.
As for Joe Perry, the Keef to Tyler's Mick -- make that an uncannily healthy looking version of Keef -- he was a force to be reckoned with all through the night, his funky blues-based licks driving the band.
Yep, both bands threw their share of lethal punches, but Aerosmith certainly landed the knockout.
December 12, 2006
Motley Crue and Aerosmith performed a sold-out show Monday at Pengrowth Saddledome
First thing's first, it's inevitable that these double-bill arena rock shows become a battle of bands and, at press time at least, Aerosmith destroyed Motley Crue on Monday at the Saddledome. And that's saying something because, in their own motley way, the Crue put on a fabulous show.
Call it a case of raw rock 'n' roll substance over style.
Going back to the beginning, whether you love or loathe their brand of horny, hard-rock crash and burn, you have to give both Aerosmith and the Crue their props as far as showmanship goes. At their best, both bands are top dogs in the world of tongue-waggin', crotch-grabbin', devil horns in the air arena-rawk bluster.
'Smith singer Steven Tyler is the kind of jive-talking Mick Jagger-on-steroids weapon that other bands can only dream of wielding. As for the much-maligned Crue -- well, as sloppy, off-key and wasted as they can be -- they're also the most fun cartoon of rock excess this side of KISS.
But the Crue's been on the same tour now for over two years, having looped through Alberta four times on this journey. How fresh can it be? As for Aerosmith, age is creeping up on those boys, with Tyler, 58, in need of throat surgery in recent years, not to mention the revelation he struggled with hepatitis C recently -- though the infection is now reportedly "non-existent" in his blood stream. Bassist Tom Hamilton is currently MIA, undergoing treatment for throat cancer.
Despite the fact they're on the umpteenth leg of their reunion tour, the Crue was a blast Monday. Singer Vince Neil's voice sketchy at the beginning, though he gained momentum as the night went on. And there was the odd stumble musically. But the bombs were loud, the pyro scorching and the strippers sleazy, which meant all was right in Crue Land. The girls on tricycles during the revving motorcycle intro to Girls Girls Girls were a kick, too. And, with the newly streamlined opening set, the pacing kept excitement high throughout as the band pounded out one crowd favourite after another.
The Crue is all about the show, with drummer Tommy Lee, an overgrown kid whose spirit is infectious and bassist Nikki Sixx, who radiates rock cool.
Aerosmith, on the other hand, was the polar opposite of the Crue in terms of presentation. Tyler and company took to a stage stripped bare of all the flash and fire of the gang before them. And, as much of a ball as the Crue's show was, Aerosmith proved almost immediately a truly killer band can out-fire all those artificial explosives.
Then again, Aerosmith is no ordinary band. Any worries about age and health were instantly blown away as Tyler and company kicked off their set with the Yardbirds chug of Toys In The Attic followed by the heavy blues standard Walking the Dog. Tyler put Vince Neil to shame with his red-hot moves and his soulful, high-powered vocals.
As for Joe Perry, the Keef to Tyler's Mick -- make that an uncannily healthy looking version of Keef -- he was a force to be reckoned with all through the night, his funky blues-based licks driving the band.
Yep, both bands threw their share of lethal punches, but Aerosmith certainly landed the knockout.
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