It is not Steve Tyler's fault he grew old. and at MSG Wednesday night the boy was game as well as gamey, it is Steve Tyler's's fault he dresses like Stevie Nicks. And it isn't Joe Perry's fault he is the "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" of Keith Richards wannabes but that mustache? That's Joe's fault.
In a two hour set of high energy but bad hard rock, Aerosmith didn't embarrass themselves though not for the reason you might think. No, they have no shame but if you didn't enjoy their show, you simply don't like the band. Henry Rollins talks about misunderstanding what rock and roll was till Punk saved him because of Aerosmith in Boston Arenas. That's what they are, a vapid, obnoxious hard rock band mining the blues and the Stones and occasionally making it worth your while. I don't like them at all.
But I admired Steven Tyler. The man has had his ups and downs, and yet still managed to not make an ass of himself. At the age of 64 he risks life and limb trying to replicate and concussion replicating his old moves, he is like a running back who has been slammed once too often. On Wednesday night he was the center of attention, even stealing the thunder from drummer Joey Kramer's solo. But for all his attempts he and the band are a kinda sad thing.
Saddest of all is Joe Perry. Blown off stage by rhythm guitarist Brad Whitford, Joe's solo was the nadir of a set that didn't ignite very often. It started off OK, "Mama Kin", "Love In An Elevator" and "Jaded" is a sure handed triplicate to start the evening but it had nowhere to go. Perry moves himself into the background but not on purpose. He is just a bland guitarist.
And after Aerosmith grab you they don't know what to do with you. I think I've mentioned that I don't hate the new album Music From An Another Dimension and I do like that Aerosmith really are a straight ahead rock band; they are doing what they are doing. But so much of their material is tasteless, identity less hard rock. It is if they've filtered every rock and roll cliche through their psyche and from the lyric to the fretwork, the dancing to the closed circuit TV, the clothes to distracted, minimal audience conversation, they have nothing to do but be a cliche.
This is the second time I've seen Aerosmith, the first time I walked out after half an hour, this time was better but this time I'm a little older and more forgiving. Rumor has it the band are fighting, the album is tanking and the concerts aren't (MSG certainly wasn't) selling out. All of which doesn't stop them having a certain weird integrity, a willingness to stand up and do it again and really, I doubt very much they were any better forty years. I bet they ere the same egotistical, self-important putzes they are today… maybe even worse since Tyler and Perry sure look clean and sober.
I hate them but I can't completely hate them, they are a very successful rock and roll band who really have some spirit of rock in them. Perhaps we should tie them to a stake and burn it out?
Grade: C