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Leila Navidi
Steven Tyler creeps along the stage, to the fans’ delight.
Let’s talk about the art of the set list for a moment. Paramount to any rock band’s staging, as important as the stage plots, strobes, spandex, smoke and rotating video screens, is determining just what the band will play.
The “what” is nearly as important as the “how long,” and even the “how.”
So Aerosmith fired up the old V8 last night at MGM Grand Garden Arena and put on a frequently inspired but maddeningly gutted 90-minute show. You give the band allowances for its age -- Steven Tyler is 61, and Joe Perry is 59 -- but still, such icons as Springsteen and the E Street Band and Paul McCartney (and The Rolling Stones and several other major acts in their late 50s and 60s) manage to put on 2 1/2-hour shows without leaving out their signature songs. (Rush, an Aerosmith contemporary, plays for nearly three hours with an intermission and no opening act.)
But Aerosmith, boosted by special guest ZZ Top (more on these guys in a bit) and asking a top ticket price of $194, mostly cruised through the performance and left a lot off the table. Granted, it’s not easy figuring out what to play when you have so much to choose from -- you can’t sample from the entire buffet, as it were. A band with the catalog (which is rock speak for “songs”) and duration of Aerosmith obviously has scads of material from which to choose. This is a band that has been recording music on a somewhat regular basis since the Nixon administration. It spans the eras of LPs to Rock Band, 45s to iTunes. But you wonder what happens in these meetings as the songs the band will play on a given night:
“Alright, we’ve got ‘Cryin',’ ‘Walk This Way,’ ‘Last Child,’ ‘Love in an Elevator,’ ‘Livin’ on the Edge,’ ‘Sweet Emotion,’ Joe’s solo on ‘Combination,’ ‘Eat the Rich,’ ‘I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing,’ Joe’s contest against himself on "Guitar Hero" and a long solo by the backup bassist. Any questions?”
Yes, here’s one: Where’s “Dream On?”
Aerosmith played just long enough for most fans not to complain that the show was too short before a near-sellout of 11,700. They did not play “Dream On,” which, I would argue, is one of its five most recognizable songs and without a doubt one of its most important -- the first single from the band’s first album, 1973’s cleverly titled “Aerosmith.” I can understand shelving, say, the cover of “Come Together.” But no “Dream On?” I’m reminded of how Pat Benatar says she doesn’t play “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” because it deteriorates into a trite sing-along. So what? Some rock bands are built on trite sing-alongs. Sometimes you have to concede to the fans, those who first heard “Dream On” droning from the tinny factory-issued radio of a 1974 Mustang Fastback.
This was likely a game-time decision, as the band has played “Dream On” on other tour stops (including Dallas on Monday night). It also was reported in Thursday’s R-J, in an interview with none other than lead guitarist Joe Perry, that the band would play in its entirety what might be its best album, 1975’s “Toys in the Attic.” What was offered were two songs from that release, “Sweet Emotion” and “Walk This Way.” They didn’t even play the song “Toys in the Attic,” and brother, were fans confused. After the show, a guy seated behind me asked if the band had played “Toys in the Attic” all the way through -- as if he’d blacked out 50 minutes of concert performance. Later, I went through a quick list of what was not played: “Jaded,” "Angel," "Pink," "What It Takes," “Back in the Saddle,” "Amazing," "Crazy," "Same Old Song and Dance," “Janie’s Got a Gun,” “Just Push Play” and “Dude Looks Like a Lady.” The omissions could have filled the first album of a two-CD greatest-hits compilation.
As for the “how,” Tyler is, understandably, limited in his movement and even vocally these days. Giving Perry the mic, allowing for a curiously placed bass solo from David Hull (standing in for cancer survivor Tom Hamilton, recovering from what the band’s publicist describes as “non-invasive surgery”), playing a well-paced 90 minutes gives him time to rest his voice and increasingly fragile body. Tyler has suffered foot and leg injuries over the past couple of years and tore a muscle in his leg early in this tour. So even as he sings, “Yes, I’m movin’, I’m really movin’,” it’s evident he’s not movin’ like he used to.
But when Tyler takes center stage, still credibly clad in skin-tight leopard-patterned pants, the gold-splashed scarves on the mic stand flying and his hair fanned out like a lion’s mane, he’s every bit the rock star. Perry, too, is the model for a rock lead guitarist. In a rather sad sell-out moment, he did compete against himself in Guitar Hero -- during the encore, which would have a good spot for “Dream On” -- and said, “I’m tired of people telling me they kicked my ass on this game.”
For sure, if anyone knows how to kick ass, it’s Aerosmith. But last night, it was just a sparring session.
More from the show
Does it get any cooler than ZZ Top? The legendary trio, which remarkably dates to 1969, played for nearly an hour. They resurrected their unique brand of slow-motion choreography (the slight sway of the shoulders and occasional Elvis double-leg shake) and offered a heavy dose of “Eliminator.” As expected, and even while smoking cigars, they tore through “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs” and “Gimme All Your Lovin.’ ” They also dropped in “Cheap Sunglasses,” “Tush” and the Jimi Hendrix classic “Foxy Lady.” Billy Gibbons’ first band, Moving Sidewalks, opened for Hendrix in the late ’60s. … Speaking of set lists, why didn’t ZZ Top bust out its terrific version of “Viva Las Vegas?” … Slash, celebrating his 44th birthday (which was Thursday), showed up to jam, and the audience sang “Happy Birthday,” then the band performed "Mama Kin" off Aerosmith's debut album, with lead guitar duties handled by Slash … Give the green-jacketed MGM ushers credit for rapid response any time the fragrance of pot wafts through the air. Those people have remarkably keen noses. … Ever notice how Perry plays the guitar as if it weighs, like, 150 pounds? He sometimes seems like he’s about to topple over. Keith Richards does this, too, one of the many comparisons you can make between those two. Perry’s in great condition, though, a distinguished streak of gray shooting through his dark hair. He’s got a great guitar collection; my favorite was the clear, green-tinted six-string he broke out late in the set. … During “Walk This Way,” Tyler ducked behind a set of black curtains off to the side of the stage and pushed the mic toward a young woman, who helped him shout the chorus. The woman was his daughter Mia. … The triplet-babe violin trio Alizma attended the show. They never seem to appear individually, and I wonder what will happen the day I run into a single Alizma. I always call them “Alizma” collectively. Better learn the first names … Thought that went through my head during “Sweet Emotion,” “The first time I heard this was on eight-track!”
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats.
"Home Sweet Home"? Are you sure you are not thinking of Motley Crue now? Or you might be referring to Aerosmith's song "Last Child," which has some "home" in the lyrics.
"Last Child," is the proper title and the fix is in. But to be honest, I often think of Motley Crue while I am working. It's something of a problem, actually.
Am I not correct in mentioning that ZZ Top filmed a video at the late lamented Glass Pool Inn? For that alone we are honored gentlemen.
C'mon suckers, Aerosmith is just going through the motions these days. These poseurs stopped caring about their fans when they released all of those sappy (and money-making) ballads. Thought you'd get your money's worth? Dream On!
Sounds lie another way overpriced snorefest.
I paid $16 in 1977 to see Aerosmith. They were phoning it in back then too.
Rock is simple, you keep playing till you kill your audience. Few bands have ever understood that. The ones that did play the Station's Casino circuit and cost what they should cost. Those are great shows well worth the cash. The MGM deals are a tourist rip-off.
I saw them in 1976 in San Francisco (Cow Palace) after a long hiatus and they were every bit the rock band that we had come to know and love. Only a year later, in the middle of a grinding tour I saw them again, this time on a Day on the Green in Oakland and it was a different band. They seemed put out that they had to show up at all. I guess it just depends on the night . . .
I saw the 'Smith a couple years ago at the MGM when they did a double-header with KISS. One of the best damn nights of my life...
I would have rioted if I was there. I would have at least taken Joe's guitar so I could sell it and get my money back. What a joke!
I've seen them about 5 times and by the far this was the worst, I was totally upset about how short the concert was, I don;t even think it hit 90 mins. They are still one of my favorite bands though!
It's just a job to them. Just like you're job, you don't feel like doing it half the time.
I remember Robert Plants comment when there was rumors that Led Zeppelin was going to tour after the London O2 concert. He said he's just sick of playing the same songs over and over that he and the band have played for decades. It was boring and monotonous to him. And this is a guy that probably could have made 50-100 million for a 1 year tour.
These bands play their songs so much at so many different places that they absolutely get sick of their own songs.
I mean how many times do you think Aerosmith has played Dream On? 10,000 ?
ssenjo,i was at those very same shows,and what a woosh back in time! i will agree that it was night and day,and i thought they were better in there drug years myself? any show these old guys put on is gonna be shorter and shorter,but will command that top dollar.so much for the good ol days of days gone by....
I would consider myself to be a huge Aerosmith fan. I saw them first in 1976 during the "Rocks" tour and I've seen them perform several times since.
I've seen them twice this decade in Las Vegas.
I decided NOT to attend this concert after I was watching their set lists from earlier performances this year. Their setlist has been published online for many years.
After seeing their weak list of songs, I decided that spending about $500-600 for a night out was not worth the frustration I'd have felt after seeing this latest version of their live show.
Funny thing is: I almost decided to attend the show just to see ZZ Top.
I am very happy to have missed this show after reading the reviews. I was miserable all day Saturday sitting at home while still thinking of picking up a couple tickets at the last moment. I really had the shakes.
"It's the same old story, same old song and dance -- my friends".
Seen Aerosmith for the first, last and only time in '79, the band appeared to be strung-out on heroin with Steve Tyler screeching like a hoot-owl -- simply awful.
Speaking of awful, the MGM Grand Garden Arena and the strip-search welcome is an awful good way to keep the old-time rockers away.
Aerosmith - Aerosmith, Toys in the Attic, Rocks and Get Your Wings is all any Aerosmith-junkie ever needs when seeking a fix.
Despite the complaints, this sounds like a great little concert. I'm not sure I would enjoy standing longer than this anyway.
http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/aerosmith/...
+++
Eat The Rich
Falling in Love (is Hard on the Knees)
Rag Doll
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
Mama Kin (with Slash)
Janie's Got A Gun
Last Child
Combination
Love In An Elevator
Cryin'
Livin' on the Edge
Bass and Drum Solo
Sweet Emotion
Walk This Way
Encore: Train Kept a Rollin'
I'm from the UK and always think you guys get short changed by the band.When the do very occasionally tour Europe the set list is longer and the do seem to play a wider variety of songs.
I think this may be because over the last few years on the Stateside tours they have always been touring with another sizeable band e.g.Kiss,Cheap Trick etc.
I been a fan of the band since I first saw them in Glasgow in 1976 but I would tend to agree with the review of the MGM gig as a set list that's been thrown together.Why say they are going to play TOYS in it's entirety and play two songs.It seems the fans at the start of the tour have fared better.