Flamboyant Steven Tyler moves with the energy of a boy band
In the wake of Sept. 11, many artists are refusing to tour. Others, like Aerosmith, are using their gigs as an opportunity to whip up some good ol' American patriotism ... even in Canada.
Take the band's Saturday show at the Skyreach Centre, for example. American flags were waving everywhere -- on the video screen, in the crowd. The stars and stripes were even emblazoned on Joe Perry's guitar and Steven Tyler's long coat.
Patriotism aside, it was also a night of two energetic frontmen playing instruments not frequently used in today's rock 'n' roll. Tyler pulled out his harmonica several times while The Cult's Ian Astbury furiously tossed around a couple tambourines.
Tyler was the more likable and flamboyant of the two. Even at 50-plus, he has the energy of a Backstreet Boy -- humping the stage, draping himself over Perry's shoulders and preening around the stage catwalks with his trademark microphone stand of scarves as he sang Love In An Elevator, Jaded, Just Push Play, Mama Kin and Dream On. During it all, he made an effort to acknowledge his 12,500 fans -- shaking some hands, even taking one man's pink boa and hanging it out of his pants like a cat's tail.
What's a man with a boa doing at an Aerosmith show? If you raise your eyebrows at that question, you obviously don't know much about the Boston band. Thanks to Tyler's supple, cat-like moves, screechy voice and raunchy lyrics, he's allowed men to rock out while getting in touch with their feminine sides at the same time. Much like KISS.
Astbury, on the other hand, is all about being a man. The Cult frontman looked as if he was about to kick someone as he belted out goth-rock classics such as She Sells Sanctuary, Love Removal Machine, Rain and Fire Woman. When he wasn't shaking his tambourine, he was flinging it into the crowd -- along with two half-empty water bottles -- pointing the microphone at his butt, kicking his mike stand or kneeling on the stage as in prayer.
Talk about frenetic. It's a miracle Astbury didn't end up tripping over himself or guitarist Billy Duffy, who was actually wise enough to hang back for most of The Cult's 45-minute set of greatest hits. It was a great set, too, even though Astbury's vocals were drowned in Duffy's searing guitars for the first few songs. But by True Believers, one of the band's newest tunes, he could be heard loud and clear: "Gotta move on with your lives." Amen.
Wow what a rockin' set!!!! it was quick cuz they were opening (I think it should have been other way around-personally). The only downer with the set it seemed as I watched Billy was that he was having volume problems as he kept giving looking over to the sound both and giving the thumbs up.
The rest of the band seemed really into it, Billy Morrison is a great addition to the band,Matt hammered away and Ian well, Ian is himself. And Mr. Duffy doesn't need to take a back seat to anyone.
Hopefully the Cult wil lreturn soon on their own.
PS: If you were at the show and sitting on the right side of the stage: get up off your asses.
The Cult forever.