Aerosmith July 24, 2010 Oakland Coliseum Arena Oakland, CA, United States Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock 2010 Tour
Opening Rats In The Cellar Monkey On My Back Love In An Elevator Falling In Love (Is Hard On The Knees) Eat The Rich Pink Livin' On The Edge What It Takes Janie's Got A Gun Last Child / Sing A Simple Song Cryin' Lord Of The Thighs Stop Messin' Around I Don't Want To Miss A Thing Sweet Emotion / Third Stone From The Sun Baby Please Don't Go Draw The Line Dream On Walk This Way Toys In The Attic Crowd
Notes of taper: Aerosmith played at the outdoor venue at this complex 32 years to the date prior 7/23/78 at a Day On The Green. AC/DC and Van Halen were also on that bill, would be nice if a tape popped up of that one! I have seen some footage, maybe from BGP archives. Anyway, present say: Aerosmith, the same five guys but a different approach. The defininitely burned the bridge to their old Blue Jean Army who supported the band in the 1970s and 1980s. Lots of pop and schlock in the last two decades. But hey, I scored a ticket for $20 and knew they would be some of the old stuff, so what the hell....here are my impressions, just one man's thoughts... A promising opening to the show...My seat was on the side of the stage, so I could peer in and see the band as they gathered. Kinda cool as they all began talking as the house music played, Tyler talking with Perry and the rest....then suddenly "Rats!!!" Ah it was the 1980s all over for me again (the first time I saw Aero was in Oakland at this venue 1/7/83.) What a great opening tune, maybe the "deepest" cut of the night..."Going under, rats in the cellar..." "East side west side blues..." Wow. "Monkey" was next, not bad...Pump was an OK album for me, some of the slickness was creeping in obviously, but the band was still acceptable as a rock outfit and this tune ain't half bad. "Elevator" after that, er, from Pump....um, barely acceptable and "Falling In Love.." while not a bad song, just doesn't do it for me, more of a Steve Tyler "solo album song" along with "Pink," "What It Takes," "Cryin'," and "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing." I don't know how Perry/Whitford/Hamilton/Kramer stomach these night after night...the band (or Tyler) was seduced by the these bubble gum songs...hey not against ballads, I mean "Dream On" is one, but the later seem more structered to be hits for soccer mommies. "Eat the Rich" seems to be like it should just be called "Eat Ourselves" cuz those Aero guys are some rich ass mofos.. but not bad for later stuff. "Janie's Got A Gun" again, eh, OKish, I guess. "Last Child," ah good, a chance for Brad to grab the spot. They get into a bit of Sly Stone's "Sing A Simple Song" which Hendrix also copped at the begining of "We Gotta Live Together" on the Band Of Gypsys Lp. Pretty cool shit. Ah now, "Lord of The Thighs" a good rocker, nice one band really does it well, again they gather together on stage, feeling the tune out. Tyler grabs a big African horn and blows into it, then puts it down, good idea Steven, doesn't work, but nice try. Before "Stop Messin' Around" Tyler refers to his brief ouster from the band, "Ya they wanted a new singer and here he is...Joe Perry!" Perry takes he mic for the tune, with his recent motorcyle accident still in mind, he tells riders in the crowd to wear their helmets. Good advice. "I don't wanna sound like an old man up here but...." Perry says as he issues the warning. Great version of the tune, nice blues, Tyler blowing the harp...reminds me of the band in 1974! "Sweet Emtion" gets a good workout, with Hamilton at the top of the ramp out in the crowd starting it off. Perry whips out his Jimmy Page-like radio device to create some sound waves mid song, before Kramer smashing his drum kit to bring the song to a close (I love how Kramer crashes in rat tat tat!!) with Tyler sticking his mic stand near the drums for added volume. Perry and Tyler do a little of Hendrix's "Third Stone From the Sun" scat as well before it's all over. Such a great tune, hard to get tired of it. "Baby Please Don't Go" is another bluesy romp, again harkening back to the bands (long lost?) roots. Maybe that's why the band can deal with the pop crap each night, to get to jam outon gems like this. Nice to see the band playing "Draw The Line," a real whip cracking rocker (in fact that whole "A Side" of that album has a great feel, the band rocking and rollicking, never coming up for air, one to crank to 11 on the cd player in the car.) "Dream On" is always nice to hear and they did it well, although "Walk This Way" and "Toys" seem a bit rote now, but not wholly unenjoyable either. The band talks to the crowd after the show, Perry earnestly being happy to be onstage after his recent motorcycle accident, thanking God he is still alive. Tyler also seems genuinely enthused after all the drama of recent months surrounding his issues..the dude is a sick fuck, but gives it his all on stage still and is a legend. Anyway, I still wrestle with these guys, and the corporate crap....but what will be what will be...
