Aerosmith, Tyler fill arena with energy, song
Chicago Daily Southtown, IL
September 25, 2007
Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler hit the highest of high notes and worked every inch of the stage as he led the bad boys from Boston through a two-hour set steeped in blues and heavy on ’70s cuts at the Allstate Arena.
(AP file photo)
Aerosmith is back in the saddle again.
After postponing its Chicago-area concert, the iconic quintet rocked for a ready crowd Monday night at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, two weeks after canceling its appearance just hours before showtime "due to illness." Days later, the Boston Globe reported Steven Tyler was "a bit hoarse" in concert. Here, though, Tyler hit the highest of high notes and worked every inch of the stage as he led the bad boys from Boston through a two-hour set steeped in blues and heavy on '70s cuts.
For its final concert in the continental United States this year, Aerosmith used the same layout and similar set list as last October at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park. A promenade stage stretched deep into the main floor and a video screen spanned the entire main stage. But this time bass player Tom Hamilton was back after being treated for throat cancer last year.
Fans in the good seats seemed so orderly as Tyler strutted along the catwalk in skin-tight pants, a shiny purple jacket and white cowboy hat as he sung the opener of "Love in an Elevator."
Nor did they rush the stage or paw at guitarist Joe Perry, who later stripped down to jeans and boots and beat his axe with a silk shirt full of silver confetti at the end of the promenade.
Perry and Tyler slowed it down with a sit-down jam featuring "Seasons of Wither" without the awesome fake snowstorm provided in Tinley Park in '06.
Mostly, though, Perry stuck close to guitarist Brad Whitford and Hamilton, all huddled by Joey Kramer's drums, and let Tyler rule the roost as he does so well.
Tyler, 59, has the energy of a punk kid pumped up on Red Bull. Perry, 57, is the epitome of cool. Kramer, 57, is one solid-built dude. Whitford and Hamilton, though, look older than 55.
Tyler smugly pulled a harmonica out of the front of his pants during "Cryin'," alternated between harp and primal screams during "Baby Please Don't Go," and only relied on the teleprompter for straddling purposes.
The crowd seemed bored during "Pink," and who could blame them when there are dozens of better songs? But Tyler rebuilt the momentum with an a cappella intro to "What It Takes."
Aerosmith, who plan to start recording in November, thankfully played plenty of material from its early days, including "Last Child," "S.O.S. (Too Bad)," "Walkin' the Dog," "Rats in the Cellar" and "Draw the Line," and closing with the usual "Walk This Way."
Seeing Aerosmith perform "Dream On" and "Sweet Emotion" should be on everyone's list of things to do.
September 25, 2007
Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler hit the highest of high notes and worked every inch of the stage as he led the bad boys from Boston through a two-hour set steeped in blues and heavy on ’70s cuts at the Allstate Arena.
(AP file photo)
Aerosmith is back in the saddle again.
After postponing its Chicago-area concert, the iconic quintet rocked for a ready crowd Monday night at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, two weeks after canceling its appearance just hours before showtime "due to illness." Days later, the Boston Globe reported Steven Tyler was "a bit hoarse" in concert. Here, though, Tyler hit the highest of high notes and worked every inch of the stage as he led the bad boys from Boston through a two-hour set steeped in blues and heavy on '70s cuts.
For its final concert in the continental United States this year, Aerosmith used the same layout and similar set list as last October at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park. A promenade stage stretched deep into the main floor and a video screen spanned the entire main stage. But this time bass player Tom Hamilton was back after being treated for throat cancer last year.
Fans in the good seats seemed so orderly as Tyler strutted along the catwalk in skin-tight pants, a shiny purple jacket and white cowboy hat as he sung the opener of "Love in an Elevator."
Nor did they rush the stage or paw at guitarist Joe Perry, who later stripped down to jeans and boots and beat his axe with a silk shirt full of silver confetti at the end of the promenade.
Perry and Tyler slowed it down with a sit-down jam featuring "Seasons of Wither" without the awesome fake snowstorm provided in Tinley Park in '06.
Mostly, though, Perry stuck close to guitarist Brad Whitford and Hamilton, all huddled by Joey Kramer's drums, and let Tyler rule the roost as he does so well.
Tyler, 59, has the energy of a punk kid pumped up on Red Bull. Perry, 57, is the epitome of cool. Kramer, 57, is one solid-built dude. Whitford and Hamilton, though, look older than 55.
Tyler smugly pulled a harmonica out of the front of his pants during "Cryin'," alternated between harp and primal screams during "Baby Please Don't Go," and only relied on the teleprompter for straddling purposes.
The crowd seemed bored during "Pink," and who could blame them when there are dozens of better songs? But Tyler rebuilt the momentum with an a cappella intro to "What It Takes."
Aerosmith, who plan to start recording in November, thankfully played plenty of material from its early days, including "Last Child," "S.O.S. (Too Bad)," "Walkin' the Dog," "Rats in the Cellar" and "Draw the Line," and closing with the usual "Walk This Way."
Seeing Aerosmith perform "Dream On" and "Sweet Emotion" should be on everyone's list of things to do.
| Permalink | E-mail this post 
