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Review

Aerosmith tears through classic set

Lenny Kravitz, struck down by illness, is unfortunately a no-show in the double bill with the rockers from Boston.

By LOUIS HAU
Published January 18, 2006

TAMPA - How's this for an exciting double bill: Lenny Kravitz opening for Aerosmith!

It sounded too good to be true. Unfortunately for the 14,056 fans who turned out Tuesday night at the St. Pete Times Forum, it was too good to be true.

Struck down by an ill-timed case of laryngitis, Kravitz turned out to be a no-show. In his place, an intrepid Sarasota vocalist introduced as Twinkle performed a fine mini-set of soulful numbers accompanying herself on a baby grand piano.

It was an admirable, well-received performance. But by the time a photographic collage of the headlining act began flashing on a giant video screen above the stage about 9:20 p.m., the audience was restless and ready for some rock 'n' roll.

Aerosmith was only too happy to oblige, coming out swinging with a thunderous version of the Beatles' Helter Skelter. Having established the tone for the evening, the hard-rock veterans wasted no time getting down to business, performing Walk This Way, Same Old Song and Dance and Cryin' in rapid succession.

That last number dates from the remarkable second chapter of the band's 30-plus-year existence. Long after drug problems and band dissension appeared to leave Aerosmith a spent force in the early '80s, the band caught a second wind thanks to hip-hop group Run DMC's 1986 cover of Walk This Way, which featured cameos by Aerosmith vocalist Steven Tyler and lead guitarist Joe Perry.

Before long, Aerosmith was back on the scene again with a string of new hits that actually managed to surpass their earlier classics in terms of chart success.

The band performed some of those latter-day songs Tuesday night, including a sharp take on Livin' On the Edge. But make no mistake - it was Aerosmith's blues-drenched early material that established the band's legend as one of rock 'n' roll's most fearsome ensembles.

Now well into their fifties, Tyler, Perry, guitarist Brad Whitford, bassist Tom Hamilton and drummer Joey Kramer were at their most vital when they tore through classic numbers like Mama Kin, Sweet Emotion, Train Kept A Rollin' and, best of all, a blistering performance of Back in the Saddle.

During an encore, Cheap Trick frontman Robin Zander made a surprise appearance to share vocal duties on a cover of Come Together.

Aerosmith finally closed out the evening with a rocking Draw the Line, helping support their publicists' claim that they are "America's Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band."

[Last modified January 18, 2006, 01:10:21]