Former Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry put it perfectly when he said, “It’s great to be home.” For the first time since Perry and Aerosmith canceled their “Peace Out” Farewell Tour, the Aerosmith guitarist returned to Boston, Massachusetts. In tow, Perry was accompanied by an all-star band including Chris Robinson from The Black Crowes, Aerosmith bandmate Brad Whitford, Robert DeLeo from Stone Temple Pilots, Jason Sutter, and Buck Johnson.
As fans filed into the beautiful Wang Theatre, they were first greeted by another New England native. David Hull and the Dirty Angels were announced as the openers at the end of May and did not disappoint. Fans of the Joe Perry Project are no strangers to Hull. During Perry’s last stint with his band, Hull played bass and filled in on bass during some Aerosmith shows.
You can tell that Hull is a music veteran. Throughout the show, he didn’t have to do much moving around the stage to get the fans’ attention. He’s a firm believer that his music will convey feelings much more effectively. Hull and his band’s setlist clocked in around 45 minutes of classic tunes, wicked covers, and a few originals.
Only two other members make up the Dirty Angels besides Hull. Guitarist Pete Cassani and drummer Steve Hart rounded out the band, but they packed a punch. For only three members, they had a heavier sound than most three-man bands. Hull and the Dirty Angles were a tight group, and it showed during their set. Their harmonies were together, they played off each other and they all sang well. At one point, during a cover of “Walkin’ the Dog,” Hull passed the vocals along to Hart. Hearing how well Hart sang was a pleasant surprise to his already groovy drumming. By the end of the set, they slowly but surely won the crowd over properly.
David Hull and the Dirty Angels Are:
1. David Hull – Vocals / Bass Guitar
2. Pete Cassani – Guitar / Background vocals
3. Steve Hart – Drums / Vocals
Setlist:
1. Dark World
2. Route 66 (King Cole Trio Cover)
3. Soul in Motion
4. The Seeker (The Who Cover)
5. Cool Runnin’
6. Buzz Buzz
7. Walkin’ the Dog (Aerosmith Cover)
8. Skinny Waitress
9. Strange Devices
10. I’ll Go Crazy
11. Good Times
12. Them Changes
By the time 9:15 p.m. rolled around, the Joe Perry Project hit the stage and blasted into “Let the Music Do the Talking.” This would be one of four Perry songs that the band would play for the evening. The rest of the night, the band darted around Aerosmith’s deep discography. They even dipped their toes into some Black Crowes and Stone Temple Pilots music.
It was magical to see Whitford and Perry share the same stage again. There is an undeniable chemistry between the lifelong bandmates. When it came time to trade guitar parts on some of Aerosmith’s most famous songs like “Walk This Way,” “Last Child,” or “Draw the Line,” it seemed routine for half of the “Bad Boys from Boston.” While Perry and Whitford kept to their sides of the stage throughout the night, there was an unmistakable aura between the guitar gunslingers.
Robinson – fresh off a Black Crowes tour – made sure to add even more energy to a vibrant evening. Throughout the show, Robinson would add his patented dances and stage moves to each song. Robinson crafted each song, whether it was for Aerosmith or Stone Temple Pilots, and made it his own. Robinson was not out there to copy Steven Tyler or Scott Weiland – he added his own flair to the music, which many fail to do.
Flanking Robinson was DeLeo, who stood tall and strong throughout the night. He didn’t move much, but when he did, he slithered around and stalked the stage. Being on the taller side, especially next to Whitford, DeLeo draws a lot of attention to himself. It’s not easy playing some of Tom Hamilton’s basslines, but like Robinson, DeLeo played them well and added a new edge to the songs.
As if the band wasn’t unique already, Sutter had a rather dramatic and sudden entrance to the tour. One week ago – right before the tour – the band announced that STP drummer Eric Kretz was unable to participate in the tour. But, luckily for fans, Sutter jumped in. It seemed that Sutter played with a chip on his shoulder. He beat and banged the drums so hard that you could feel them in your chest at certain points. It’s hard to imagine the band without Sutter. Throughout the night, he sat perched behind the kit, providing a steady and reliable beat to any song they played.
What Perry was able to do well was pay homage to his bandmates and play some of their music. You would think that most fans would want to hear just Aerosmith and Perry’s solo music. But when it was announced that they would do a Crowes or STP song, the crowd erupted with cheer. The best and most unique song was the group’s rendition of “Interstate Love Song.” What normally is a hard rock tune was stripped back more. Perry and Johnson played together and over each other, and Robinson provided more bone-chilling vocals, which created a spooky feel.
In Aerosmith’s long history, it’s hard to believe that some songs haven’t been played before. But, before “Get It Up,” Perry announced that this song had never been played live by either Perry and Whitford before. The night was special in that way because they unlocked their inner Led Zeppelin by tying in “Heartbreaker” to the end of “Get The Lead Out,” which Perry also announced was a first for the group.
Throughout the entire show, it’s clear that the band was feeding off the raw energy of the crowd. Robinson had a massive smile on his face the whole show and even messed around with Whitford during the ending of one song. As the set got deeper and the night got older, the fans got louder with each song that the band played. The last three songs all featured some of Aerosmith’s best songs, which, by the dramatic “Right, yeah yeah,” the entire lower bowl began to headband and jump to the music.
The Joe Perry Project’s summer tour is the project’s best tour in recent years. While Perry’s band always brings a punch, this version is undeniably at the top of the mountain. Two have one half of the original Aerosmith is plus, then take Stone Temple Pilots, Smashmouth and the Hollywood Vampires and mix it in with some Black Crowes, and you have one of the hottest tickets of the entire year, let alone the entire summer.
The Joe Perry Project Is:
Joe Perry – Guitars / Vocals – (Aerosmith)
Brad Whitford – Guitars / Vocals – (Aerosmith)
Chris Robinson – Vocals (The Black Crowes)
Robert DeLeo – Bass – (Stone Temple Pilots)
Jason Sutter – Drums – (Smash Mouth & Cher)
Buck Johnson – (Hollywood Vampires)
Setlist:
1. Let the Music Do the Talking
2. My Fist Your Face
3. Mama Kin
4. East Coast, West Coast
5. Get the Lead Out / Heartbreaker (Led Zeppelin Cover)
6. Twice as Hard (Black Crowes Cover)
7. Fortunate One
8. Interstate Love Song (Stone Temple Pilots Cover)
9. Combination
10. Get It Up
11. Vasoline (Stone Temple Pilots Cover)
12. Won’t Let Me Go
13. Jealous Again (Black Crowes Cover)
14. Bright Light Fright
15. Last Child
16. Chip Away the Stone
17. Draw the Line
18. Walk This Way
19. The Train Kept A-Rollin’
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My love for live music started with my first concert ever, Guns N’ Roses back in 2016. Since then, I’ve been able to capture photos of some amazing artists like Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Ace Frehley, and Post Malone. I am based in the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut area. I am always looking for the next concert to attend.