Cool Cherry Cream

Aerosmith Concert

Thursday, July 19, 2007 at Sarnia Bayfest, Ontario [Photos]

My brother and I decided to leave for the concert a bit earlier this time, at around 5:20. When we got there, all three entrances already had huge lines. Earlier in the day, the local rock station had been there and was talking to people who said they'd been in line since 9:00 that morning! So, that kinda made me nervous that we wouldn't get good seats. 6:00 came and went and still the line hadn't really moved, except when they let the Aerosmith fan club members in earlier. Doors were supposed to open at 6:00, but I don't think they really started letting people in until at least twenty minutes later.

Our mom and dad showed up and found us in line, by which time we could see the line from the other entrance snaking around the sidewalk. They figured we'd have gotten in already, but 'twas not so. Eventually, someone came down the line and told us that people who were VIPs could get in a separate line. We walked up to the other line, but then someone stopped us and said it was only for the people who were just Aerosmith VIPs. There was a couple that had left the line with us and we were all worried that we'd lost our spot in line, but it all worked out. Too bad we didn't know about it earlier though. We got in and there was already a crowd in the VIP area, but we did get a spot right at the end of the catwalk, which turned out to be really good.

The first opening band was Suzy McNeil (forgive my spelling), who was on "Rockstar: INXS". I thought she was good, but I don't really like girl singers, so I'm not going to go out and buy her CD or anything. She sang "Good Times Bad Times" and "Bohemian Rhapsody", so that was cool, especially because she didn't totally decimate them. A good cover of a good song is always good, and I think it gets the crowd going a little more if they actually know the song, you know?

Then, a nice long wait, then a band called State of Shock came on. I don't remember anything about them, because I wasn't really paying any attention. They were kind of boring.

And then, a REALLY long wait. I think Aerosmith came on sometime after 10:00. Steven Tyler was wearing, well… I guess I'll just show you a picture!

As you can see, our "seats" were really good. Now, those pictures are zoomed in, but we were really only a metre or two away from them, which is freaking awesome.

They started with "Love In An Elevator" and then "Same Old Song and Dance". Well, since I don't have the best memory, and a set list is available, I'll just show you that.

SET LIST

1. Love In An Elevator
2. Same Old Song and Dance
3. Cryin'
4. Eat The Rich
5. I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
6. Jaded
7. What It Takes
8. Come Together
9. Baby Please Don't Go
10. Hangman Jury/Seasons Of Wither
11. Dream On
12. S.O.S. (Too Bad)
13. Livin' On The Edge
14. Stop Messin' Around
15. Sweet Emotion
16. Draw The Line
17. Walk This Way

Steven Tyler seemed to yell out "Joe Perrrrryyyyyy!" or "Joe Perry in the house!" a lot, so that has now become a bit of an in-joke, and an enthusiastic cry of "Joe Perry" is the answer to everything.

When the opening of "Come Together" started, well, that was pretty awesome. My brother shook his head at me, for just before the concert I had been talking of the "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" movie, which he claims he hates. I wanted to yell out "Future Villain Band rocks!" but I restrained myself.

I believe it was during "Baby Please Don't Go" that Steven Tyler walked down the catwalk zombie-like with a red microphone and then played the harmonica. I guess it was also sometime during "Baby Please Don't Go" that one of the roadies must've put two chairs at the end of the catwalk, for when the lights went up, they were there. So, Steven and Joe came down and sat down right in front of us and started into "Hangman Jury", which was so cool, because it's one of my favourite Aerosmith songs. Unfortunately, they only did a verse or two and it was a bit slowed down, then they went into "Seasons of Wither". I hadn't heard this song much before, but I think this is also becoming another of my favourites, so I can forgive them for not doing all of "Hangman Jury". Now, the set lists I've seen have no mention of this, but in between those two songs, I'm sure they sang something else. Something about love. And Steven Tyler so looked at me several times during that song.

I'm told it was during "Livin' On The Edge" that Steven was down on the catwalk again. Someone on the other side of the catwalk must've given him their cell phone and he held it up to the microphone and sang into it, which was so cool. Shortly after, as he was making his way back, someone on our side of the catwalk have him a rose. I was taking pictures, so I didn't quite see all that happened, but I'm told that he smelled the rose a few times, then bit half of it, blew out the petals and gave the rose back, which again was cool. He really seems quite personable. Especially when someone gave Hedley something the other day, after which he said "oh cool, I rock", and then threw it at the drum set. Steven was all really good about it.

"Stop Messin' Around" was a song that Joe Perry sang while Steven took a break. At some point, although I think it was earlier in the show, Joe said that they'd been on tour in Europe and he'd gotten a bug, and he said we could probably see the snot coming dripping down his face.

At the end of "Draw the Line", I think it was, Joe was at the end of the catwalk and playing his guitar, then he took off his shirt and started hitting the guitar on the ground, and sparkles started spraying out. After that, he went back to the stage and laid down on top of the drum set while Joey played the guitar with his drum sticks.

The band left the stage and on the screen was a short animated movie with Aerosmith, as quick snippets of their songs played. At one point, there was a road sign that said "Sarnia" on it, which made the crowd cheer rather loudly. Shortly after, the band came back and played "Walk This Way".

All in all, pretty cool. :) Got lots more good pictures, will post later.