Aerosmith Concert
Wow.
I've seen Aerosmith live at least 3 times before, but tonight at Great Woods was impressive. The highlight, easily, was the performance on the "second stage": a tiny stage at the front of the lawn. About half an hour into the show, they finished "Mama Kin" and ran up through the crowd.
We had chosen a spot on the lawn specifically to be close to the second stage, so with minimal crowd-wading I was about 3 person-widths back from a club-size stage (really, for that bit of time and that 20'x20' block of crowd, it honestly did fee like a club) to hear "Same Old Song and Dance", "Dream On", and "Toys in the Attic".
Or, as it said on the setlists taped to the floor, "Song and Dance", "Dream On", and "Toys". How do I know what was on the lists? Because I'm holding one right now. Must get it framed tomorrow, and then... well, my first thought, before even of getting myself a souvenier, was to grab one for [elided] who would have loved to go if I'd been able to get her a ticket. I'd still make me really happy to give it to her, but I'm also growing more and more attached to the stupid thing, and my housemate is really looking forward to our "Aerosmith Shrine" with my setlist and her single feather from Steven's pink boa. We'll have to see what the future brings wrt [elided].....
So how did I acquire this unique icon of fandom? After the band returned to the main stage I hung out at the gate in front of #2... the bouncer there repeatedly explained "they're taped down, they're not going anywhere" to anyone who asked for a list. But a minute or so later, the guys beside me asked a different bouncer who had walked up, who turned around and carefully cut the 2 front lists from the stage.
Seizing the opportunity (before the last one disappeared), I jumped in with "I've got a twenty if you'll grab me the list by the drums" (with a $20 bill peeking from my hand). Surprised, he just said "Um, OK...", and walked toward the back stairs; returning a minute later, he gave me the list and said "Keep your money, it's just a piece of paper to me."
To this anonymous Tweeter Center Security Professional, wherever you are out there: Thank you!
What else... the lighting setup was awe-inspiring: huge curving booms wrapping the stage, and excellent integration with the huge LCD screen behind the stage's raised platform (especially the feedback loops during "Livin' On the Edge"). And whlie a few of my favorite songs were missing, I got to hear "I'm Down" for the first time live (I don't think I've even heard a recording of a live performance before)... the middle of Permanent Vacation was way underappreciated.
::Glances at guitar hanging on wall:: Yet again, I'm disappointed at letting the little practice I've had fester... even moreso with the electric trombone that I actually had a bit of skill at.
Probably more on this experience later... I hope I haven't forgotten too much by tomorrow.
Tonight's Moment of Zen: "I like stories." -- Homer Simpson
I've seen Aerosmith live at least 3 times before, but tonight at Great Woods was impressive. The highlight, easily, was the performance on the "second stage": a tiny stage at the front of the lawn. About half an hour into the show, they finished "Mama Kin" and ran up through the crowd.
We had chosen a spot on the lawn specifically to be close to the second stage, so with minimal crowd-wading I was about 3 person-widths back from a club-size stage (really, for that bit of time and that 20'x20' block of crowd, it honestly did fee like a club) to hear "Same Old Song and Dance", "Dream On", and "Toys in the Attic".
Or, as it said on the setlists taped to the floor, "Song and Dance", "Dream On", and "Toys". How do I know what was on the lists? Because I'm holding one right now. Must get it framed tomorrow, and then... well, my first thought, before even of getting myself a souvenier, was to grab one for [elided] who would have loved to go if I'd been able to get her a ticket. I'd still make me really happy to give it to her, but I'm also growing more and more attached to the stupid thing, and my housemate is really looking forward to our "Aerosmith Shrine" with my setlist and her single feather from Steven's pink boa. We'll have to see what the future brings wrt [elided].....
So how did I acquire this unique icon of fandom? After the band returned to the main stage I hung out at the gate in front of #2... the bouncer there repeatedly explained "they're taped down, they're not going anywhere" to anyone who asked for a list. But a minute or so later, the guys beside me asked a different bouncer who had walked up, who turned around and carefully cut the 2 front lists from the stage.
Seizing the opportunity (before the last one disappeared), I jumped in with "I've got a twenty if you'll grab me the list by the drums" (with a $20 bill peeking from my hand). Surprised, he just said "Um, OK...", and walked toward the back stairs; returning a minute later, he gave me the list and said "Keep your money, it's just a piece of paper to me."
To this anonymous Tweeter Center Security Professional, wherever you are out there: Thank you!
What else... the lighting setup was awe-inspiring: huge curving booms wrapping the stage, and excellent integration with the huge LCD screen behind the stage's raised platform (especially the feedback loops during "Livin' On the Edge"). And whlie a few of my favorite songs were missing, I got to hear "I'm Down" for the first time live (I don't think I've even heard a recording of a live performance before)... the middle of Permanent Vacation was way underappreciated.
::Glances at guitar hanging on wall:: Yet again, I'm disappointed at letting the little practice I've had fester... even moreso with the electric trombone that I actually had a bit of skill at.
Probably more on this experience later... I hope I haven't forgotten too much by tomorrow.
Tonight's Moment of Zen: "I like stories." -- Homer Simpson