The Hindu : Front Page : It was an electrifying performance

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 03, 2007
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It was an electrifying performance

Anand Sankar

IN ACTION: Steven Tyler and Joe Perry (right) of Aerosmith performing at Palace Grounds in Bangalore on Saturday. — Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

Bangalore: They came with intent to experience the sweet taste of India and left Bangaloreans with an aftertaste that will linger for long.

The performance by rock `n' roll legends Aerosmith, simply put, had everything one could ask for — a powerful sound and impressive stage act — that just made for a thoroughly entertaining evening.

After an interminable delay, the giant display that formed the backdrop to the stage lit up to welcome the band on stage.

In a departure from the set they are playing around the world for this tour, they began with the apt number "Taste of India". And if that was not enough to warm the crowd they followed with one of their biggest hits "Love In An Elevator".

It did not take very long to realise that Aersomith do live up to their billing as one the legendary acts of all time.

In Steven Tyler it has a voice, which probably will never be paralleled again. And, it is not just his voice. He tied the trademark scarves and bandanas to the mike and his antics with it were a feature throughout.

Every album the band has released has gone to tower over the music charts, and thus the live set did not disappoint.

There was "Falling In Love (is hard on the knees)" followed by "Crazy".

All along the massive backdrop kept playing superb animation, the band large-size or clips from the original videos.

Tyler is 59, but the energy he exudes on stage is phenomenal. There was not a single moment he stood still, instead to preferring to prance around.

Every wrinkle on face and every muscle in his body was tense.

He showed off the many tattoos on his torso, including the one on his lower back that simply said in bold: "Lick me". The origins of the band were in no doubt when Tyler went on with the typically drawled "Baibey".

The almost full moon in the sky made the perfect setting for the atmosphere the performance generated. The mood reached frenzy when it was time to "Dream On". It is a power ballad from their debut 1973 album and is never omitted. It is famous for Tyler's scream and he proved he is blessed with a vocal range as big as his mouth.

Joe Perry was imperious as ever on the lead guitar with some really crisp solos and riffs.

Tom Hamilton ably backed him on the bass and was urged to "fuzz it up" by Tyler before the number "Sweet Emotion", which features a funky bass intro.

Together with Brad Whitford (guitars) and Joey Kramer (drums), the band went through their entire repertoire, which included elements from blues, glam rock, heavy metal, punk music, psychedelia and pop.

The numbers from their last album Honkin' On Bobo have won critical acclaim and here too they managed to give the audience something different as they delved into the Blues past of the band.

Perry has a flourishing career as a solo artist and he had time for a number of his own.

In the prelude to his number, he said in typical rockstar humour: "India is not about vindaloo, not about elephant rides or the painting stuff on your hands (mehendi). Aerosmith appreciates Kamasutra, it's all about messing around."

People had come from all over the country and there was excited chatter when groups from different cities ran into each other.

There was a significant expat contingent too which did not want to miss out on the opportunity of watching legends.

Security this time around was more stringent, but the crowd still managed to smuggle in the elements that keep them in good spirits.

The organisers had banned carrying ladies handbags into the venue, but curiously any other type of bag was waved through. For the large part, the crowd was well behaved except towards the end when a few created a flutter tearing down a portion of the makeshift wall at the entry to force their way in.

It was a pity there was not enough time to satisfy all the fans requests. Still there was "Livin' On The Edge", "Walk This Way" and "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing".

Tyler made no secret of the fact that they wanted to play on and on. Parting he simply said: "They are dragging us off."

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