Rock This Way
The Guardian, Charlottetown, P.E.I., Canada
July 23, 2007
Keeping it tight is what a band like Aerosmith is all about. That, and rocking your socks off, which is what, from left, guitarist Brad Whitford, singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry do best.
(Guardian photo by: Heather Taweel)
Superstar rock band Aerosmith had everyone on cloud nine Saturday night when they performed to a sea of thousands at the Charlottetown Driving Park and Entertainment Centre.
When the band took the stage, concert-goers cheered and screamed with excitement at seeing the five rock legends live and in person.
“Oh my God, it’s really him! It’s really Steve Tyler! I think I’m gonna die,’’ screamed one female fan in the front row of the crowd.
Everyone on the concert grounds was excited to see Aerosmith, even though they had to endure some intermittent showers and a slick covering of mud on the grounds throughout the day.
Fans cheered wildly from the time the band opened with Love in an Elevator to the encore song, Walk This Way.
Approximately 35,000 people attended the event, which also featured performances by Cheap Trick, 54-40, Ciara and local band Intoxicado.
Several hundred concert-goers were lined up for hours before the gates even opened to the public. A few camped out overnight in order to be the first ones in.
“We got here at 9:30 (Friday) night and slept outside," said Tyler Ferdinand of Pugwash, N.S., jumping up and down with excitement.
“We wanted to be here to get a good spot. We’re so tired, but we were the first ones here."
Ticket-holders poured into the concert grounds at a steady pace throughout the day.
As the concert lineup drew nearer to Aerosmith, lineups got heavier, blocking the flow of traffic on Kensington Road in front of the CDPEC.
Upon entering by the Civic Centre doors, each person was frisked by security before being allowed onto the concert grounds.
A significant amount of alcohol and marijuana was confiscated from people through this process, security officials on site said Saturday.
Many tried to smuggle the intoxicants into the concert in everything from backpacks to cigarette packages and even on their person.
But overall, everyone remained orderly and was accommodating to the rules, security officials told The Guardian.
Once inside the venue, people scoped out their preferred viewing spots — many setting down tarps and garbage bags to protect themselves from the rain and soggy grounds.
The weather wasn’t ideal, and many were unhappy with the mud and dampness. But when Aerosmith took the stage, the weather wasn’t even a second thought.
“It was amazing," said concert-goer Laura Janey. “The rain, the mud — whatever. It was totally worth it."
Nicole Young from Fredericton was also impressed with the concert.
“Everyone here is having fun," she said as Aerosmith took the stage. “I’m so excited to be on P.E.I. for this concert."
As with any rock concert, many in the crowd had indulged in a few choice substances.
“There were a few people overindulging,’’ said West Prince physician Dr. Herb Dickieson, who was volunteering on site with the Red Cross.
One woman was sent to hospital with a cardiac condition as a precautionary measure as she had a previously known heart condition, he said.
“There were also a few twisted ankles and knees. Nothing serious."
Although the two Red Cross tents were busy throughout the day with people suffering mainly from heat exposure, exhaustion and intoxication — particularly in the late afternoon and evening — there were very few incidents for a crowd of that magnitude, Dickieson said.
“For the number of people involved — 30,000 to 35,000 people — we were certainly very fortunate that there wasn’t any serious incidents," he said.
Dickieson was also impressed with the overall organization of the event.
“There was a lot of security and volunteers who kept the whole thing very well-organized — I would definitely call it a success."
The cheers emanating from the crowd all night and the thousands holding their lighters and cellphones in the air proved this statement true.
July 23, 2007
Keeping it tight is what a band like Aerosmith is all about. That, and rocking your socks off, which is what, from left, guitarist Brad Whitford, singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry do best.
(Guardian photo by: Heather Taweel)
Superstar rock band Aerosmith had everyone on cloud nine Saturday night when they performed to a sea of thousands at the Charlottetown Driving Park and Entertainment Centre.
When the band took the stage, concert-goers cheered and screamed with excitement at seeing the five rock legends live and in person.
“Oh my God, it’s really him! It’s really Steve Tyler! I think I’m gonna die,’’ screamed one female fan in the front row of the crowd.
Everyone on the concert grounds was excited to see Aerosmith, even though they had to endure some intermittent showers and a slick covering of mud on the grounds throughout the day.
Fans cheered wildly from the time the band opened with Love in an Elevator to the encore song, Walk This Way.
Approximately 35,000 people attended the event, which also featured performances by Cheap Trick, 54-40, Ciara and local band Intoxicado.
Several hundred concert-goers were lined up for hours before the gates even opened to the public. A few camped out overnight in order to be the first ones in.
“We got here at 9:30 (Friday) night and slept outside," said Tyler Ferdinand of Pugwash, N.S., jumping up and down with excitement.
“We wanted to be here to get a good spot. We’re so tired, but we were the first ones here."
Ticket-holders poured into the concert grounds at a steady pace throughout the day.
As the concert lineup drew nearer to Aerosmith, lineups got heavier, blocking the flow of traffic on Kensington Road in front of the CDPEC.
Upon entering by the Civic Centre doors, each person was frisked by security before being allowed onto the concert grounds.
A significant amount of alcohol and marijuana was confiscated from people through this process, security officials on site said Saturday.
Many tried to smuggle the intoxicants into the concert in everything from backpacks to cigarette packages and even on their person.
But overall, everyone remained orderly and was accommodating to the rules, security officials told The Guardian.
Once inside the venue, people scoped out their preferred viewing spots — many setting down tarps and garbage bags to protect themselves from the rain and soggy grounds.
The weather wasn’t ideal, and many were unhappy with the mud and dampness. But when Aerosmith took the stage, the weather wasn’t even a second thought.
“It was amazing," said concert-goer Laura Janey. “The rain, the mud — whatever. It was totally worth it."
Nicole Young from Fredericton was also impressed with the concert.
“Everyone here is having fun," she said as Aerosmith took the stage. “I’m so excited to be on P.E.I. for this concert."
As with any rock concert, many in the crowd had indulged in a few choice substances.
“There were a few people overindulging,’’ said West Prince physician Dr. Herb Dickieson, who was volunteering on site with the Red Cross.
One woman was sent to hospital with a cardiac condition as a precautionary measure as she had a previously known heart condition, he said.
“There were also a few twisted ankles and knees. Nothing serious."
Although the two Red Cross tents were busy throughout the day with people suffering mainly from heat exposure, exhaustion and intoxication — particularly in the late afternoon and evening — there were very few incidents for a crowd of that magnitude, Dickieson said.
“For the number of people involved — 30,000 to 35,000 people — we were certainly very fortunate that there wasn’t any serious incidents," he said.
Dickieson was also impressed with the overall organization of the event.
“There was a lot of security and volunteers who kept the whole thing very well-organized — I would definitely call it a success."
The cheers emanating from the crowd all night and the thousands holding their lighters and cellphones in the air proved this statement true.
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