AEROSMITH Live at the Air Canada Centre: August 17th 2010

I’ve been listening to Aerosmith for almost as long as I knew what music – or at least good music – was. But I’ve never had a chance to see them live. I would have liked to see them last year when they toured with ZZ Top – but for one reason or another, I just wasn’t able to make it. Last night I made it – and it was amazing!

Now I am most certainly NOT a fan of Van Halen, but Sammy Hagar – one of the ban’s many singers – has got some pipes! He blows “Diamond” David Lee Roth out of the water! I was definitely impressed! His talents were somewhat lost on the rest of the crowd though; but let’s face it – nobody was here to see Sammy Hagar - we came to see Aerosmith! I’m glad to have finally made it; with all the fighting in the press, this could very well be their last tour. I’m glad I can cross them off my “Bands to see before I/they die” list.

Insults and injuries aside, you can not tell that this band has their issues. They run like a well oiled party machine! From the moment Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and co. strolled onto the stage and began their set with “Train kept a Rollin’” they had the whole place going insane!

They rocked and rolled their way through current hits and old classics throughout the night, heavy on the hits! “Last Child”, “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing”, “Rag Doll” – they just kept them coming! I was surprised that they didn’t play “Deuces are Wild” – but I guess if they played every song I wanted to hear spanning their career the show would be a whole day! They definitely aimed to please. This band knows what their fans like.

I was dreaming though. Dreaming of a moment I’ve been waiting for since I first tried hitting the high notes of “Dream On” when I gave it a shot at Karaoke – I wanted to hear him do it for real! And he hit it and held it! (editors note: I hit the note but not nearly as strong as Tyler does!) It was amazing to finally see and hear that in person!

The rest of the night is a bit of a blur. So many good songs become one massive experience – the band didn’t miss a note, and I didn’t miss a thing.