The energy level was at full capacity at LA’s Fabulous Forum Wednesday night (July 30) as legendary Bostonian rockers Aerosmith took to the stage for their “Let Rock Rule” tour featuring special guest Slash with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators.
Having ruled the airwaves with several rock hits throughout the ’70s, ’80s and the better part of the ’90s, Aerosmith have had years to perfect its live show, and it was clear last night that they’re still on top of their game.
Breaking out with the 1976 hit “Back In The Saddle,” the “demon of screamin’” himself, Steven Tyler, rushed on stage dressed in an all-white suit and long jacket with a matching hat to screaming fans. Even at 66 (and looking better than ever), Tyler’s captivating stage charisma can still make all the ladies scream.
Aerosmith rolled through a selection of hits spanning their entire career, starting from the early ’90s with hits like “Eat The Rich,” “Love In An Elevator,” “Cryin’” (which featured a harmonica solo) and “Living On The Edge” and working backwards. They also covered crowd favorites like “Don’t Want To Miss A Thing,” “Dude Looks Like A Lady” and “Walk This Way.”
Tyler worked the crowd as he strutted up and down the extended ramp, stopping at the end to sing into a blowing fan or ham it up for a psychedelic video camera. Always in constant motion, fans cheered as Tyler swung around his colorful mic stand or used it to play a little air guitar. In contrast to the always cool and collected Joe Perry, Tyler would playfully drape his arm around his longtime band mate or sing back to back as Perry wailed on numerous guitar solos.
And what can be said about Tyler’s astounding vocals, which shook the Forum walls, and guitarist Joe Perry’s mind blowing guitar solos that hasn’t already been said. Not to mention, band mates Tom Hamilton, Brad Whitford and Joey Kramer were all in top form as they held down the stage.
Fans even got to see Perry take the lead on vocals while Tyler made a quick costume change on the band’s 2012 hit “Freedom Fighter,” which led into an exciting surprise.
Tyler emerged back on stage playing a solo harmonica intro to their cover of Bull Moose Jackson’s “My Big Ten Inch Record” only to stop and shout, “I need some help on this – Johnny Depp are you here?” A stunned audience collectively lost their minds as Depp walked out on stage to jam on guitar alongside Perry. Just days ago, Depp made a similar guest appearance on stage in Boston, where he was shooting a movie, on the band’s cover of “Train Kept A Rollin’.”
Here’s some fan-shot video of his surprise appearance below:
Other highlights of the night included a stunning encore kicking off with the band’s iconic hit from their 1973 self titled debut “Dream On,” which Tyler sat and played on a white grand piano. For the song’s powerful climax, a curtain revealed the Southern California Children’s Choir providing chilling backing vocals with Tyler.
The band wrapped up their two-hour set with an extended jam of “Sweet Emotion” and a confetti shower on the cheering and satisfied audience. Aerosmith declared to ‘let rock rule,’ and more than delivered that promise last night.
Aerosmith Set List:
“Back In The Saddle”
“Eat The Rich”
“Love In An Elevator”
“Cryin’”
“Living On The Edge”
“Monkey On My Back”
“Kings and Queens”
“Toys In The Attic”
“Rag Doll”
“Freedom Fighter”
“Big Ten Inch Record” (with Johnny Depp)
“Lord of the Thighs”
“Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”
“No More No More”
“Dude Looks Like A Lady”
“Walk This Way”
Encore
“Dream On”
“Sweet Emotion”