Never too soon to see Aerosmith

TAMPA -- Sure, veteran rockers Aerosmith last performed here less than a year ago, but with three decades of hits that include some of rock 'n' roll's most delicious tunes, is it ever too soon to see the band again? That was the sentiment of a sellout crowd of 15,486 Thursday at the St. Pete Times Forum who savored every sassy antic dished out by singer Steven Tyler and his guitar-slinging sidekick Joe Perry.

From the bombastic opener Love In An Elevator, which the band performed on a catwalk in the middle of the arena, Aerosmith had the audience on its feet and shouting along. That song's sauciness sums up what Aerosmith is about: wild times, debauchery, and risk-taking. Tyler looked fit and funky in a sleeveless black shirt as he worked every inch of that catwalk. A video screen provided footage of Tyler's shenanigans and his famously large and lascivious lips. Tyler goes down in rock history, along with Mick Jagger, as a frontman who holds crowds spellbound. (Is it something in the lips?) Tyler's swagger, and his still capable vocal chops -- hear those high notes on Dream On? -- prove that the truly great rockers age as well as wine.

Aerosmith again treated fans to hot renditions of vintage tunes such as Back In the Saddle. Perry shredded sound from his guitar on Same Old Song and Dance. Fans howled when they heard the funky, rumbling opening of Sweet Emotion, performed now on the Times Forum's proper stage, where the band remained. Tyler sang a cappella at first on What It Takes in a bluesy wail that hovered in the air. Janie's Got a Gun's harmonies sounded sublime and spooky.

The hits continued, old favorites -- and some not so old -- sounding fresh, delivered by a band that hasn't lost an iota of oomph.

Rap-rock superstar Kid Rock opened the show with hits from his breakthrough Devil Without a Cause and Cocky. Kid Rock's sound, which he calls "hick-rock," is a zany mix of bravado rapping, crunchy guitar riffs and warbly country crooning that would make his idol Waylon Jennings proud.

Thursday's set had all the trappings of a Kid Rock show including nearly naked go-go dancers in cages and big-time pyrotechnics. Kid Rock's flashy red duds and bowler hat added to the party atmosphere created by his Twisted Brown Trucker Band.

For all his naughtiness and bravado, Kid Rock is a talented guy who likes to dabble in every genre. The rapper performed the hits Bawitdaba, Cowboy and God Know Why. He also treated fans to revamped versions of classic rock numbers by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Led Zeppelin, sat on a stool to sing a tender ballad, and later jumped behind the turntables to do a little vinyl scratching. Fans sang along as Kid Rock briefly segued -- during Cowboy -- into the bad-boy theme from The Dukes of Hazzard, made famous by Jennings.

-- To contact Gina Vivinetto, email gina@sptimes.com .

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