Set List:
Train Kept A Rollin'
SOS Too Bad
Same Old Song And Dance
Love In An Elevator
Falling In Love
Rag Doll
Dream On
Janie
What Kind Of Love Are You On
Lord Of The Thighs
Pink
Draw The Line
Stop Messin
Walk This Way/Mother Popcorn
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
Cryin'
Dude Looks Like A Lady
Encore
What It Takes
Sweet Emotion/HeartBreaker
Another great show but they're all great to me!!! I think I had so much fun at this show because so many of my friends were there, Angie, Veronica, Pam, Laura and Chad, I'm glad I had a chance to spend a little time with them. We got to the venue about 6, btw, the Schottenstein Center was not at all what I expected, it wasn't near as large as I thought it would be. Anyway, We got there just in time to watch the soundcheck. I was really excited about this because I've never seen one before!!! The first person we seen when we got out by the stage was Steven, he was busy up on stage making sure things were just right. We stood around for a little bit and he came down and Angie got a big hug from him!!! I was standing there (wishing I was Angie!) and Steven turned around and looked at me and said hi :) I guess this was one of my highlights of the night!! A few minutes later, Tom, Joey, Brad and Joe came out (I love it when Joe walks past me!!!) they went up on stage and started playing some different songs. They played some of Full Circle, so we figured they might do that one but they didn't, then of Stop Messin' then they did it again with Joe singing this time. It was great, I got to hear him sing twice in one night!!! Then Steven came back out and they did SOS Too Bad and a little bit of Train. They kept doing the beginning over and over and telling the crew what to do while they were doing the song. Then we realized that they were going to open with that song. The monitors still said Back In The Saddle, so I guess they weren't for sure until the worked on it a little bit if they were going to open the show with or not. Watching a soundcheck is something I've always wanted to do and I was so happy that I finally got my chance. It seems strange to see the boyz up on stage playing like that to an empty venue, it's like they're putting on a little show just for you :)
The Afgan Whigs opened the show (I have nothing more to say about this band hehe) The show started a little late and Aerosmith came on stage a little later than normal. At the last minute they did a unplanned meet and greet. There wasn't suppose to be one at this show but a few people showed up with passes so they did one at the last minute, which proves how great the boyz are!! Like I said the show opened with Train, I love the song, but I'm not sure if I like them opening with it. I still think Nine Lives or Eat The Rich just seems to get the crowd going a lot more and make it more exciting. Of course Joe looked great and so did the rest of the boyz :) The stage was the same, nothing new except some spinners at the end of the show. Seems like the stage was a little smaller, but the big snakes and the ramp that was behind Joey was gone. It was really kinda plain compared to the beginning of the tour. The set list was basically the same too with the exception of SOS Too Bad. It seems like everyshow I go to they play something I've not heard before which is nice.
Steven's leg brace is gone but still no flips, it may be a long time before we get to see him do that again, if at all!! Tom's hair is a little shorter but I'm sure everyone noticed that at the Oscars, Joe's was a little bit longer (please let it grow long again hehe!!!) At the beginning of I Don't Want To Miss A thing I figured Steven would sing the wrong words again but this time he got them right!! Can't say that for a lot of the other songs though!! hehe At one point Steven asked the crowd "What would you do if you could have an hour alone with Joe Perry?" I didn't even have to think about this one!!! Draw The Line seemed a little different and Joe wasn't on the floor as long, don't mind seeing him on his back myself!!! hehe And his solo during Sweet E wasn't as long. Mama Kin was cut from the encore because of the time, I always love to hear that song so I kinda missed hearing it.
This was a pretty good show, there were a few minor mistakes but I'm sure only the true Aero fans noticed. I think that all the boyz seemed happy enough but maybe a little nervous because the new management was there btw, no noticeable changes because of the new management. It'll be interesting to see if there are any changes during the next couple of weeks and in Europe. I'm not sure if this was my last show or not, but if it was all I can say is thanks to Aerosmith and a few other special people for all the great times I've had, I've had things happen during this tour that I'll remember for the rest of my life! :)
It was great to see the bad boyz from Boston in concert again after such a long absence. The opening act, Afgan Whigs went on stage at 8:09, and they were okay....I've seen 8 opening acts and still believe Johnny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shephard were the best warmup bands. Aerosmith took the stage at 9:26 and played until 11:17 and it was an added bonus getting to listen to the sound check while waiting for the doors to open. At that time, I was talking to Pam and Bill Sharp, whom I'd met earlier that Sunday afternoon (wearing the same t-shirt I have!). Anyhow, it had been decades since I'd heard SOS (Too Bad) which was the "opening trio" from GET YOUR WINGS. Enough said about that.
I took notes about the set lists, attire, and lyrical changes but I decided not to go into that much detail with this review. The guys seemed to really enjoy themselves and got off on the energy, but it seemed that it all went off without little effort. Maybe they just make it look that way, that easy and comfortable. Or it could have been with the new management enroute, that they were just doing what comes naturally, that easy. On the last leg, JFP spent alot of time smiling, making contact with the audience, and being animated, and I think this show, being the first one back, he had to get back to that zone. He looked awesome as usual, but he had been dressing to the nines. No suit this concert. Maybe the suit hinders that duckwalk he does so well. And to answer Steven's question, "Yes, we do want Joe Perry! But for more than an hour!" I would have liked to gone to the shows 2 weeks later, and by the reviews, they were all that. The guys (I've seen first, middle, and last shows of legs over the past 20+ years) and I think they need "time" to get "Back in the Saddle". Steven and Joey seemed the most into it, and by the way, during the break before the encore, they were the only two who changed clothes.
I guess the most important highlight was going to Columbus and meeting up with friends. Saw Veronica at the show and met some of her family and met up with some other Aero friends that I've seen at various US MidEastern region concerts. We all stayed at the same hotel, and my husband Darrell and I, finally got to meet Angie, and Pam & Bill, and visit again with Debbie. Those times, (although I missed breakfast), running up and down the hallway, were fun. Wished we could have hanged out together more. And a special thanks to Debbie Jones for everything, and she knows what I mean.!!
Hopefully another show and/or travel package before winter and this last leg ends. See ya there :) Laura Weitkamp at ecoweika@acs.eku.edu
