REVIEW | Aerosmith and Motley Crue

(Photo by Dick Whipple, The Kansas City Star)

Oct. 17 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

This was no co-headlined show. Nor was it a battle of two bands. Had it been, Motely Crue would have been smoked like a brisket at Jack Stack's.

Tuesday night, Aerosmith and the Crue drew nearly 15,000 people to the Cell Phone Music Bowl in Bonner Springs, a huge number given the steep ticket prices: Lawn tickets went for $54, the best seats up front for $200.

Anyone who shelled out two Ben Franklins to see the Crue got shafted, unless they expected to endure inferior sound (like most opening bands, the Crue didn't seem to get full use of the system) and accommodate a band that went through the motions most of the night.

If I'd earned a dollar for every time Vince Neil yelled "Make some (bleeping) noise!" I could have afforded a Motley Crue hoodie ($65). How about giving us something to yell about, Vince? Watching you and Nikki Sixx hop around half-heartedly didn't do it. And the sound was weak all night -- no low end, the vocals were murky and Tommy Lee's drums were way out in front. Can you hear me now? Yes, but the reception sucks.

There were several loud outbursts of recognition when the Crue played its hits. The sing-alongs during the power ballads ("Same Old Situation" and "Home Sweet Home") were impressive; and there was plenty of fist-pumping and head-banging during "Dr. Feelgood" and "Looks That Kill." But nearly all of the energy was coming from the crowd, not the stage.

Aerosmith changed that quickly (despite playing with a stand-in for bassist Tom Hamilton, who is recovering from throat cancer). Granted, they had a much fuller sound and they had access to the long platform that ran out into the high-dollar seats. Steven Tyler and Joe Perry made good use of that all night.

This seemingly was Aerosmith's fifth appearance here in eight years or fourth in seven. Whatever; no matter. Each time they show up, rock the hell out of the place and the crowd goes nuts all night, without once getting ordered to make some freaking noise.

They opened with "Toys In The Attic" -- so much for foreplay. From there, they bounced around their 36-year catalog, from classic-rock staples like "Dream On" and "Sweet Emotion" to later hits like "Crazy."  They also plugged yet another Aerosmith greatest hits collection by playing the brand-new single "Devil's Got a New Disguise." That one paled in comparison to similar rock-blues exercises like "Walkin' the Dog" and the cover of "Baby Please Don't Go."

Tyler and Perry are both in their late 50s, but long clean and sober, they have evolved beyond rock stardom. They are also entertainers. At the end of "Draw the Line," Perry stood at the end of the platform, bare-chested (because he has the pecs and abs for it), beating his guitar with his shirt. And Tyler showed all night why he rivals Mick Jagger, whether he was honking on his blues harp, strutting and dancing around suggestively or coercing a few women up front (with help from the videographers) into giving the rest of the crowd a little mammo-cam.

The show lasted a hair over 75 minutes, which seems like a light work day given the ticket prices. But by then more than three hours had passed since Motely Crue appeared and became the perfect act to follow.

Motley Crue set list: Dr. Feelgood, Shout at the Devil, Looks That Kill, Live Wire, Same Old Situation, Home Sweet Home, Don't Go Away Mad, Louder Than Hell, Sick Love Song, Primal Scream, Girls Girls Girls, Kick Start My Heart.

Aerosmith set list: Toys in the Attic, Walkin' the Dog, Eat the Rich, Cryin', Baby Please Don't Go, Stop Messin' Around, Hangman Jury, Seasons of Wither, Dream On, Devil's Got a New Disguise, Last Child, Sweet Emotion, Draw the Line, Walk This Way.

| Timothy Finn, The Star

Comments

[Amber Morton]

I agree with you on the Motley Crue show. It was a little weak. Vince seemed to be out of breath and not able to sing all words to songs, in full sentances. I will say that Tommy Lee, was awesome on the drums as expected. He is one of the best drummers in rock and roll. Also he and Nikki Sixx seemed to be more into the fans than Vince Neil was. Mick Marrs never lost his guitar playing abilities, he was on it strong all night. He is the quiet one of the bunch, but makes up for it with his playing. Good review for Aerosmith, and I agree with you about the performance of the whole group. I only wish I could have heard my favorite song, Amazing. Overall, it was a great night for some rock and roll!

[Jane]

I thought Aerosmith was horrible and and big rip-off. Only playing for 75 minutes after paying over $80 a ticket. What a joke. Had they played longer, we may have heard some of their good songs....

[Mandy]

I was extremely disappointed in Aerosmith!!! It definately did not seem like 75 minutes that they played. They should've played their songs that everyone wanted to hear...like 'Don't Want To Miss A Thing'. Also, I thought Motely Crue kicked ass!!! Vince definately needs to get his lyrics down, but the rest of the band made up for it. Also, at least we all recognized the songs they were playing. I thought they sounded better than Aerosmith.

[Dean]

Motley Crue's sound mix was brutal. I have seen Aerosmith twice before, in 1978 and 1979 so it's been awhile. While the show last night had its highlights (opening with 'Toys', 'Walkin' The Dog') I felt it was Aerosmith who was going through the motions. At times I wondered if Brad Whitford had fallen asleep and the rest of band acted as if they were late for an appointment. I dropped $200 for my seat and I knew the set would be shorter than usual but I expected a little more than a one song encore. The show was entertaining but it was also overpriced. I'm a Joe Perry fan and enjoyed watching him work but I walked out feeling ripped off.

[Holly]

I liked the Crue better too. They were more interactive with the fans and really got my energy going. Their songs sounded great to me and they seemed to be having a good time playing for us. Aerosmith had a short set and didn't play enough of anyone's faves. When you're only playing 75 minutes and have a hit catalog like theirs, it makes no sense to waste 10 minutes on a jam session covering someone else's song. ("Baby Please Don't Go") The only song I really enjoyed from them was Joe Perry's bluesy "Stop Messin' Around." The rest of the songs seemed like they were just going through the motions, like another reader said. My vote definitely goes to the Crue.

[Mary Beth]

I have to disagree with your comments regarding Motley Crue......They rocked!!!! They came out with Dr. Feelgood and it was hot and heavy all night. I was second row on Sixx's side of the stage and he was totally into the crowd. This is my 4th Motley show in 2 years and it was one of the best! I do agree Vince needs some new material when talking to the crowd but they had a hard rockin' edge that never stopped. Aerosmith was good, a clean sound and they were entertaining but rockin' they were not! I payed $300 for my ticket, drove 4 hours from Tulsa, payed for a hotel, and I had a hell of a night!

[liss]

This lineup was in Houston Sunday before Thanksgiving and Aereosmith rocked and Crue...well time to get off the stage. Vince was clearly drunk (looked horrible) and kept messing up the songs forgeting the words and falling on the floor. Six thru a big bottle of Jack at the audiance and hit someone. Just sad.

[spsully]

I don't really get you people. My wife and I saw the Crue and Aerosmith in Calgary in Dec. I have seen alot of shows in my day but NEVER have I walked away from a show more satisfied. Just so you know this little trip of ours was a 6 hour drive with hotel, meals and tickets. Well in the $1200 range.
Motley Crue: Sound was very poorly mixed. Loud and distroted. We couldn't tell what song they were doing till the corus came up. It was Nikki's Birthday so they were clearly wasted. Mick did awesome and Tommy too. Tommy came out from behind the drums and did alot of front work, really got the crowd going. The good points, their stage show was totally and absolutely awesome. The smoke, the falmes, the girls, always something to look at and be amazed by. What they lacked in proper sound quality they more than made up with in blowing my hair back with one of the best stage shows I've ever seen. Hey, face it, it was Nikki's Birthday so I really didn't expect anything less then them to be smashed. Regardless, I loved the show.
Aerosmith: Being a musician myself and being a real Blues lover, they couldn't have done any better if they had tried. They were awesome. Sound was crisp and clear. Song selection was everything I love without all their commercial BS. They were pure musical perfection. They had basically nothing for a stage show but then, they don't really need it with the quality of sound they offer. Steve's movements and interaction with the crowd were great. Had my wife stunned anyway. Joes Guitar was excellent. My only puzzlement came with a 15 minute bass solo by a stand in bassist. Not to put him down, he was awesome. It just kind of confused me but being a bass player I really enjoyed watching him showcase his talents. My hats off to him, I was quite impressed and he isn't even what I paid to see.
Overall: I had my head blown off and was thoughrly amazed by the Motley Crue stage show and I was entranced by the guitar playing of Joe Perry and the actions of Steven Tyler. This was probably the best 4 hours I had ever spent. It was the best of both worlds. The flames, smoke and hard driving rock of the Crue and the pure and perfected sounds of Aerosmith and their Blues rock music.
PS Just as an off note, my daughter saw the Crue in Saskatoon a year prior as a headlining band and said the sound was absolutely pure. The Crue did their job correctly by not overstaging the headliner, Aerosmith, but still entertained me more than any opening band ever has. My hats off to both bands....We were satisfied.