Hometown Aerosmith Still Rocking And Rolling

Steven TylerPublished in The Message, June 24, 2009
Aerosmith has always been known as Boston’s greatest rock band, but all of us fans up north know they are really a Sunapee, New Hampshire band first...and don’t you forget it! Having experienced past Aerosmith concerts that now reach into double digits, this show was much different than your “standard” Aerosmith set list, quite frankly producing mixed results.
Right from the opening “Train Kept A Rollin’,” which is usually an encore–closing song for the band, Tyler and company took a different approach for this sold–out Comcast Center show in Mansfield, MA, starting off with a combination of new and classic tracks (“Cryin’”, “Jaded”, “Dream On”, “Love In An Elevator”) before guitarist Joe Perry stepped out front for the lead vocal on “Combination” from the 1976 Rocks album. This was a rare gem for long-time fans, however leaving this Perry admirer wanting more as in the past, Joe usually runs through a couple more bluesy lead vocals including a rousing version of Jimi Hendrix “Red House.”
Joe PerryAfter Perry’s guitar–crunching romp, the band shifted gears dramatically again as they proceeded to crank out their 1975 classic album Toys In The Attic in its’ entirety. Almost. This segment seemed to produced mixed results from the crowd. Great for the long time fans as the boys jammed out rare Toys album cuts such as “Uncle Salty,” “No More, No More” and Round And Round,” however it was evident that some of the younger crowd was left wondering why they weren’t hearing “Dude Looks Like A Lady” or “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing.” However the run through Toys also featured enough hits – “Sweet Emotion,” “Walk This Way” and the title track – to satisfy the masses. Seeing this classic album performed from start to finish was a real treat, however also anti-climactic when denied the haunting, album–closing ballad “You See Me Crying.”
The Toxic TwinsThe set closed with “Living On The Edge” and a rocking version of “Draw The Line,” featuring a fuzz–toned, feedback Perry solo that practically blew the roof off the joint as he wrestled with two guitars and a free–standing slide instrument. The encore, quite frankly, left a little to be desired however – not in it’s sound or performance – but in it’s length.
After the band was joined onstage by members of the opening act Dropkick Murphys for a rollicking version of “Dirty Water” (”Oh, Boston your my home”), they pulled out another classic gem; a slow–and–slinky version of the Beatles’ “Come Together.” Yet another highlight as this was the very song that first made this fan hop onboard the Aerosmith train to begin with, way back when.
However here also lies the concern, as the show seemed at the end, to be cut just a little short. Perhaps because such usual closing–favorites as “Train Kept A Rollin” and “Walk This Way” had already gone by the boards. But lest we forget, say “Back In The Saddle,” “Mama Kin,” “Same Old Song And Dance,” “Last Child” or “Janie’s Got A Gun”? Surely one or two of these Aero–favorites could have been jammed out in order to push the show into the two–hour range.
Joe Fuckin' Perry!But overall, this was yet another fantastic performance from one of rock’s most enduring and timeless bands. Especially when one considers that Mr. Tyler is now 60 years old, with his band mates following close behind. But sure enough, the hometown boys can still get the job done. (All photos courtesy of Mr. Frank Viola)