Just several blocks away from 1325 Commonwealth Avenue, the Bad Boys from Boston, Steven Tyler (vocals), Joe Perry (guitar), Tom Hamilton (bass) Brad Whitford (guitar), and John Douglas who replaced an ill Joey Kramer on drums – finally got the green light to bring the band’s Boston’s 50th-anniversary show to Fenway Park. The anniversary shows had been delayed, not just once but twice by the never-ending curse of COVID-19 that has haunted concert-goers and bands alike for over two years. However, the wait was ultimately worth it as Aerosmith brought all thriller and no filler to the party on Lansdowne Street.
Naturally, the legendary Toxic Twins, Steven Tyler, and Joe Perry, were the main attraction and they spent a solid chunk of their time on stage down at the end of the catwalk that graced centerfield. Whitford played it cool alongside Hamilton on the main stage for most of the show as Douglass kept beat for the four living rock legends in front of him. Together, the band left no stone unturned with choice cuts from the majority of their catalog and a pair of covers – mostly straight-up rockers. Opening with “Back in the Saddle”, Aerosmith didn’t hold back in making it clear that they were in town to party. Tyler, mostly clad in gold and Perry in black, dazzled both visually and musically. Tyler was on fire from the start, looking and acting decades younger than he is. Perry oozed cool as he sauntered back and forth focused on his guitars.
Highlights from the first half of the show included the sleazy and sexy “Rag Doll”, “Mama Kin” and “Seasons of Wither” – the latter came after Tyler tossed his harmonica into the crowd and said something to the effect of, “I’ve got a present for ya!” It was unclear if he was referring to the harp or to the treat of listening to “Wither” – which was glorious. “Toys in the Attic” turned the heat up before the second half commenced. Highlights from the second half before the encore included the first of only two ballads, the commercial “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” which might have been the only questionable song in the set. The horned-up “Elevator”, riff-laden “Draw the Line” and the quasi-comical rocker “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)” got things back into the groove!
During a lengthy pause before the expected encore, fans anxiously awaited what was sure to be the last handful of hits for the night. Tyler finally chimed in from atop the Green Monster as he stepped up on top of a white baby grand piano. As he tickled the ivories, Joe Perry appeared alongside Tyler for the epic “Dream On” accented by fireworks before and after the song. Tom Hamilton, Whitford, and Douglas drummed up a tasty jam as Tyler and Perry meandered back to the stage. Hamilton then made his way out to the front, looking sharp in black leather, sunglasses adorned by his bass guitar. Hamilton toyed with the audience for a few minutes before plugging away at his iconic opening riff for “Sweet Emotion”.
At this point, Aerosmith were giving it their all and their fans were right there with them. Anyone who left early missed out. “Emotion” absolutely slayed and to up the ante, Aerosmith capped off the set with “Walk This Way”. C’mon! What else could you ask for? More fireworks followed as confetti fell in and outside of the park. As stated before, waiting two more years for the 50th-anniversary showcase was without a doubt – worth it. ‘nuff said!
Fellow local-rock notables Extreme were honored with the opening slot, and they wisely played to the Fenway faithful during their hour-long set that included mostly hits, a couple of deep cuts, and some fun covers to rile up the crowd. Guitar God, Nuno Bettencourt took full advantage of the opportunity and ultimately opened the whole show with his rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, center stage with an enormous image of Old Glory on the LED screen towering behind him – the first of three solo spots. Drummer, Kevin Figueiredo masterfully helped at the end before master entertainer, Gary Cherone and bassist Pat Badger joined in for a trip down memory lane.
Rabid Extreme fans gorged on “Decadence Dance”, “Am I Ever Gonna Change”, “Play with Me”, “Cupid’s Dead” and “Get the Funk Out”. The casual Extreme fans lapped up the acoustic hits “Hole Hearted” and of course “More Than Words”. Cherone showcased his theatrical side mid-set, as he morphed into a rock and roll version of a Red Sox player. Badger was rock solid on bass, not to mention his incredible vocal range. Fun was had by all during an abbreviated “Sweet Caroline”. Having Extreme as the warmup act was an easy and brilliant choice on Aerosmith’s part and it worked!
