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Two generations of rock n' roll
renegades come together

Aerosmith / 3 Doors Down
Alpine Valley Music Theatre
East Troy, WI
June 13, 2009

Aerosmith

3 Doors Down

Aerosmith review by Andy Argyrakis
Photos and 3 Doors Down review by Phil Bonyata

Even if Aerosmith doesn't have a new album to support, there still was plenty to celebrate on its latest tour, particularly a mostly complete reading of the now classic Toys In the Attic. Though every past set list included that project's key tracks "Walk This Way" and "Sweet Emotion," this summer's tour features loads of deep cuts that extend well beyond the paint by the numbers concert so many other classic rockers replicate.

While the show opened with the quartet of radio regulars "Train Kept A-Rollin," "Cryin,'" "Jaded" and "Dream On," a significant portion was dedicated to rarities sure to strike the fancy of longtime listeners and also encourage more casual fans to explore the old school Aerosmith vaults. Flamboyant front man Steven Tyler proclaimed this was the first ever outing when the Rocks album "Combination" was ever performed, while many Toys In the Attic tunes hadn't seen the light of day since the original road trip.

Amongst the most compelling was "Big Ten Inch Record," a bluesy, harmonica-doused jam in its own right, but one that benefited from additional amplification from guest guitarist Rick Nielsen (of Cheap Trick fame). But as the band flashed forward to more recent times for "Livin' on the Edge," the ultimate "Guitar Hero" Joe Perry proved he was boss, racing up and down a catwalk while Tyler incessantly twirled his fringe adorned microphone stand.

But just as the party was really getting revved up with "Draw the Line," the guys somewhat abruptly called in a night, encoring with just a cover of The Beatles' "Come Together" and clocking in at a lean 90 minutes. With nearly forty years of history and boatloads of additional hits omitted ("Seasons of Wither," "Back In the Saddle," "Rag Doll," "Janie's Got a Gun," "Crazy," and shockingly, "I Don't Want To Miss a Thing"), another half hour would've sufficed as the bare minimum.

The Mississippi based band 3 Doors Down set the tone just right with it's confidently straight forward brand of rock. Singer Brad Arnold's lyric's are rife with confusion, frustration and anger and sometimes with well-worn results. Arnold holds his court well as witnessed through his striking vocal range on the power ballad "It's Not My Time," off of their self-titled latest record. Arnold and bassist Todd Harrell are the two members who engage the audience, while the other three stay focused on the musical task at hand. "Here Without You" also displayed the band's precise musicianship. The band kept the crunch and roll in high gear with a blistering version of "Loser" and high-octane takes of "The Better Life" and "Kryptonite." While you'll find nothing truly original about the band and their music you still can't mistake the fact that you are entertained and pulled into their infectious melodies and the pile driving guitar work of Matt Roberts and Chris Henderson.