Aerosmith close Sunday night at Download

A phenomenal set from the Boston bad boys to close Download 2010

The Aerosmith logo was emblazoned on a flag the size of the stage, Bob Dylan’s Rainy Day Woman #12 & #35 echoing out from the PA speakers with the immortal lyric “everybody must get stoned” along with the sound of guitars a being tweaked.

The stage was set.

Boom! With guitars cranked up to eleven, the opening chords to Love In An Elevator ring out, the flag drops to the floor and the stage lights up like a Christmas tree. Revealing a sequin robed Steven Tyler flanked by Joe Perry and Brad Whitford. The crowd goes wild. Hands are aloft.





Back In The Saddle is up next, the perfect foible for Tyler to stretch those trademark vocals to the adorning crowd.

"Britain have you missed us?" Yes scream back the crowd. "Have you got your freak on?" Before stripping the sequins and throwing then into the front row. You can tell the band were enjoying the show just as much as everyone else by the smiles beaming across their faces.

A rapturous Eat The Rich is followed by a touching Living On The Edge with Perry and Whitford’s guitar licks interweaving and a middle eight so steamy it had Tyler panting down the microphone directly into the camera lens.

With a piano twinkle things slow down a little. Before Tyler’s lungs hit a pitch perfect high and the band join in for a rendition of What It Takes taking a break midsong to point to a woman in the front row saying "where were u when I needed you?”.

Followed by the lush Crying, sweet harmonica solo an all. A psych wig out. Before Joe Perry stepped up to the mic for lead vocal duties and "A lot of blues in a short amount of time" as he put it.

Closing the weekend in formidable style the Boston boys climaxed with an encore which included fan favourites Dream On and Walk This Way.

This will take some beating.

Sun13Jun Share on facebook Tweet this