Before the advent of MTV and the internet, before bands could be seen and heard instantly with the click of a button from any corner of the globe, there was one skill that needed honing and perfecting in order to ensure success: the art of live performance. Veteran hard rock outfit Aerosmith learned this early on, and has always placed supreme emphasis on dazzling audiences while onstage since their inception in the early 1970s. Thankfully, the band hasn't forgotten that valuable skill; elated fans who were treated to a two-hour rockshow at the nearly sold-out 1-800-Ask Gary Amphitheatre on Saturday night will gladly attest to that. [All photos by Jeff O'Kelley.]
Getting off to a rousing start at around 9 p.m., the band kicked things off by dipping into their early catalog for the opening number. Their version of "Train Kept A Rollin' " (from the 1974 sophomore album, Get Your Wings) was traditionally a show closer in the band's heyday. In clever fashion, the band chose to open Saturday night's show with it, which gave their set an instant air of familiarity and inspired the entire audience to stand and cheer. And cheer they did … for the entire night! There were few instances when the rowdy crowd felt the need to take their seats. Hell, the majority of the house was still on foot during drummer Joey Kramer's solo. How's that for dedication? And the band gladly obliged the loyal throng. Mixing up their setlist and touching on all stages of their recorded output, it was clear that they intended on pleasing everyone in the house from the old-timers to the teens who discovered the band via their more recent ballads.
This article appears in Aug 5-11, 2010.