Aerosmith in Texas -- Live Review
Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 12:01AM 
Photo by Christian GrausA few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Austin, Texas to see Aerosmith. I had seen them once before, in San Franscisco, but I had poor seats and their setlist was entirely songs from the 70s, which left me feeling I'd not really seen them (I love the 70s stuff, but I am a child of the 80s). So, I was very excited to go again. I had also bought VIP tickets that gave me excellent seats and a 'meet the band' opportunity for only $300. Remember, for an Aussie, it's usually $150 just to see a band from the average seats, so that all feels like a bargain to me.
So, we drove in to Austin and went to the venue. Given that we had to gather at 3:30 pm on a Friday, it was perhaps not surprising that numbers were low. We got let in and left standing for an hour before we go in to the arena. From there, we were seated near the front of the extension on the stage, and Joey Kramer came out. He came down from the stage to talk to us. In theory, there were people who had his name under their seat and they could ask questions, but he walked around encouraging people to ask. I asked him why they don't come to Australia and he said they don't really sell albums there. Someone else asked him to sign her book, and I found out later she was taken backstage to get it signed and met Steven Tyler. Joey was really down to earth, open and friendly, he seemed to really enjoy meeting some fans. Tom Hamilton came out next. He stood on stage, as he had a bass on. He also answered a lot of questions and was very friendly. Finally, Brad Whitford came out. He had his strat on and played an extended free form solo. It felt a little self indulgent, but I admit I was blown away, I had no idea he played so well. I had intended on asking him about his involvement in the Deep Purple Remachined CD, but in the moment, I decided to ask him if he knows a lot of theory or plays entirely by feel (as I was under the impression that a lot of players of his vintage didn't have access to a lot of resources to learn theory). I got tongue tied, I am sure Brad Whitford thinks I am a moron. He said he did learn a lot of theory, but tries to play by feel.
It was advertised that there were give aways, but this equated to two copies of the new CD Music From Another Dimension (standard edition), not signed or anything. I thought that was a little cheap.
So, we got early access to the merch, where I spent too much, as always, and we went in and took our seats. We were 5th row on the sides, with a stage extension going right out by us, the seats were terrific. Cheap Trick opened. There are things I don't get with Cheap Trick. They don't play "If you want my love" or "The Flame" live, but they play a lot of songs no-one knows. Steven came out and did a Beatles medley with them (the one on the end of Abbey Road, not their own) and then Brad came out and played a 60s rock n roll song with them ( I confess, I forget which one ). It was OK, but I would not go and see Cheap Trick.
The setlist for Aerosmith was:
Mama Kin
Love in an Elevator
Jaded
Oh Yeah
Livin' on the Edge
Movin' Out
Walkin' the Dog
Last Child
Drum Solo
Rag Doll
Boogie Man
Combination
Lover Alot
What It Takes
No More No More
Come Together
Dude (Looks Like a Lady)
Walk This Way
Dream On
Sweet Emotion
I could live without "Jaded," but the rest was brilliant. The thing with their extended front stage area is there's no one perfect spot, and certainly being as close as we were, I looked at the back of Steven and Joe Perry for most of the night. However, we had our time with both of them being right up on our side, so it seems like the system is democratic enough, and it always sounded great. The new songs fit in well with the set list, I had two copies of the CD, but had not played it yet, but even then the new songs sounded great and were not a lull in the show. I was ecstatic to hear "Dude Looks Like A Lady" and "Love in an Elevator" live. Joey said in the meet and greet that they make up their set list every night, and he doesn't know until they go on. He said several times, sometimes they just start something they've not discussed, and he has to wing it. That may happen from time to time, but the setlist they had been playing and was on record online, was the setlist we got. I have no complaints, I just wondered if he knew that we can see what they played every night, on the web.
There was another level of meet and greet, for $1400, you got a photo with Steven and Joe. I'm not sure I would ever pay that, but the level I bought at was definitely good value. I would do it again ( if only to convince Brad that I'm not an idiot...). Aerosmith put on a great show, with a lot of energy, and they were clearly all having a great time up there. There were people in the audience requesting new songs (they did three, but people asked for others ), so the album seems to be well recieved, which I think it deserves. If you don't have the CD, I recommend it, it's way better than the last few. If you get a chance to see Aerosmith, I recommend checking them out, but if you don't have VIP, there's no need to show up for Cheap Trick.
Reader Comments (27)
Rock-It's got it right. With few exceptions, Aerosmith's quality output virtually ground to a halt at "Done With Mirrors". It's called intelligence, talent, humor, wit, irony, cleverness and groundbreaking. Why does it not surprise me that it's completely lost on you.
Cheap Trick IS one of THE Greatest Rock & Roll Bands of All Time! And Neilsen's iconic ironic shtick is the epitome of punked out guitar anti-hero. I suggest you get their first 3 albums. Believe me, most REAL Rock and Rollers KNOW virtually ALL of the songs you heard.
You are lucky you saw them, Christian, even though you are obviously incapable of appreciating that reality. Neilsen can do a run like Page, then play with his fingers crossed and the next minute, flick a pick and hit a mouth breathing idiot 5 rows back square on the forehead and then proceed to twirl one of his signature checkerboard print Hamer Explorers 20 feet across the stage to some bearded Cat Power capped dude in a flannel shirt without so much as batting an eye. How do I know all this? Because I witnessed it with my own four eyes as I've seen 'em over 16 times since 1979! And now I'm kickin' myself I didn't see 'em sooner!
Still, a very thorough, workmanlike interview despite the fact that you don't realize "Jaded" is Aerosmith's only good song since "Done With Mirrors" besides the Jack Blades penned "Shut Up And Dance".
There's a reason why so many monumental bands from Nirvana to Mötley Crüe to Smashing Pumpkins cite Trick as a major influence. Too bad you are clueless to "get" what it is.
p.s. "Dude Looks Like A Lady" and "Love In An Elevator" are two of THE worst Aerosmith songs ever recorded. Listen to "Lover Alot" to hear what is clearly a Cheap Trick influence. Whitford's unearthed gem, "Street Jesus" is the best thing they've done since "Jaded". To borrow one of their album titles, "Get a Grip", Christian!
I've seen Cheap Trick a few times and they were fantastic. But, when I saw them open for Aerosmith in the summer, they did play an awful lot of songs I didn't know. Frankly, I found a few of the songs they played boring. There were a lot of fantastic songs they didn't play, which was also a bit disappointing. Nonetheless, they are amazingly talented and deserve way more credit than they get.
Cheap Trick is amazing. Maybe Christian doesn't get it because he didn't live here in the late 70's when Cheap Trick toured non stop keeping rock n roll alive while disco was trying to stomp out real music. Cheap Trick is an amazing band that influenced so many and never got their due recognition.
Thanks for the review it still must have been great meeting Brad Whitford he looks half dead now but he can still play some mean guitar..
Just because Christian does not have the same opinion as you does not make him 'passive aggressive' or 'clueless' and he does not deserve your insults.
In my opinion (and I am sure you will not agree with mine either) your comments here make you seem like a right twat! (if that term does not translate, have fun looking it up).
Call me whatever you want, Tony, though i find that comment innappropriate in mixed company, but why would i expect YOU to know what THAT is since you more than likely never have any which is why you would say such a thing.
Calling me an a*shole, or the equivalent, would be far more respectable toward our female counterparts here than what you said. But it's not going to change my observations of the ENTIRE situation here.
I'll go with Shawn here. Maybe it's because Christian didn't grow up here and has never seen The Bowery Boys to get Nielsen's whole "Satch" armed with a crazy shaped guitar approach.
Here's another review of the same show. YOU decide:
httpp://themetalfiles.com/2012/11/17/aerosmith-cheap-trick-concert-review-austin-tx-11162012/
Christian, like I said, listen to the first three Cheap Trick albums from start to finish. If you still don't get it, I will let you pass. But, in the future, I strongly suggest you try to live up to your name a little more.
As for Aerosmith - as I said, I saw them once before and they did all 70s songs. I love that stuff. BUT, no matter how good it is, the stuff I grew up with will always resonate with me BECAUSE I grew up with it. So, having seen a good 70s based show, it was good to see them do the songs I identify with more, this time. The show was still 70s heavy, and that was fine with me. I just didn't see why they'd do a show that ignores their second wave of success, and I think they did it b.c they had circled the country and were changing the set list as they went, so people would come the second time around.
And, I knew Cheap Trick have covered lots of 60s songs over the years. I just didn't care enough to look it up.
Jaded is not a terrible song, but I do think it's a lame Aerosmith song, and sure does not compare to songs like 'Monkey on my back' or 'Fever' or 'Flesh'. Methinks that those who say that everything after 'Done with mirrors' sucks mean to say 'everything after that was really popular and so I don't like it'. Just Push Play was awful ( which is where Jaded comes from ). Pretty much everyone knows that, I thought.
Not sure what my name has to do with not liking Cheap Trick though ?
I wasn't at that show, obviously, so I wouldn't know how BORING it was. Certainly couldn't have been as boring as Maiden, however, hahaha!!!
But what the HELL. How do I expect you to like Cheap Trick if you don't understand what ROCK & ROLL is.
p.s. READ the review of the same show you attended at that link I posted. The reviewer didn't sound bored to me. I can only conclude, you are a frickin' lost soul when it comes to ROCK & ROLL. I pray for you, man. Well, at least you like Accept!
As for Aerosmith...Get Your Wings was my first forray into the vortex. I stuck with them until "Just Push Play." Some of the tunes were catchy in these latter years but the discs just never grabbed me the way they did. The 80's stuff wasn't ALL great, I never really liked the "hits" that Pumped and beyond spawned. Some of the ones that never hit radio were the real gems. Their new disc, while fans are loving it, I think it just regurgitaited crap. It all seems "safe" to me, like they're trying to hard to capture the magic again. Even headed into the 4th quarter of their lives and career, I'd say Aerosmith live are better than thousands of bands new and old. On the disc, meh.
The beauty of music, it IS subjective. As they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure. As long as we're all dumpster diving in the same dump...who cares. KEEP ROCKING!!
I'm sure that, just like my fond memories of 80s Aerosmith, growing up with Cheap Trick would change your view of what they are like, as a live band today. Neither of us is wrong, we just have a different opinion. Not sure why it's unChristian to not like Cheap Trick, or to like 80s Aerosmith, but, whatever.
Given that I met people at my last Maiden show who attended 18 shows on the last tour run, I'm sure there's more online reviews than mine raving about the Maiden shows. Again, if you don't like them, you're not wrong, you just have a different view.
Sweet Lou - I don't disagree with you. The new Aerosmith CD stacks up really well next to recent releases. It will never be Rocks. Even Rocks, today, could not be Rocks, if you see what I mean. The guys are older, and coming from a different place, but more important, the music we grew up with cannot be replaced, it's about our experience with it, as much as quality of the music itself. AC/DC, Metallica, Maiden, you name it. None of these bands can ever equal their earlier work, and it would be foolish for us to hope they might. I will enjoy the new Aerosmith for a while, but when I go back to listen to them, I'll go back to Get a grip, or earlier ( and to the 70s stuff more often than not ).