IN THE NUTSHELL

Photo by Gary Crouthamel

Aerosmith Still “Rockin The Joint’
By lynn Ramage’

Legendary Rockers Aerosmith graced the stage of the Wachovia last night to promote their latest Live effort “Rockin the Joint’ (Columbia Records) for one hell of a show! I keep saying with each Aerosmith show I see, Oh this one was the best! Granted with the “Nine Lives’ tour we won’t forgot the superior production in that! But last nights show? It was get down and dirty with the band. Get Raw with the band is the best way to describe it. You felt like you were watching a band practice maybe. It was relaxed. And Sex God himself Steven Tyler not only looked fabulous but sounded just superior! I’m telling you even in his 50’s that man just ooozes with sex. I vote him the Most “doable man’ in the country, I swear! He was right there in front of me MEOW... I think I needed a bib while shooting him LO! All these women were screaming all around me! This rather bulbous woman next to me who had to be at least in her fifties was screaming, arms extended (blocking my shots) like a smitten teenager and crying “I just wanna F*K him.’ I’ve never seen anything like this in the pit! Excuse me? You call yourselves Ladies? Thank goodness for Big Chief Ike Richmond down there at the Wachovia for literally hand pulling photographers Steve Trager, Alex Gross, Gary and myself out of the pit (very front of stage) and let me tell you we came out kicking and clawing from the thousands (mostly women mind you) pushing their way to get close to the band! Whew! It was brutal, they lost me buried on the foor at one point LO! When we got back stage, Ike exclaimed with a glee in his eye “Now that is Rock n Roll!’ Got to Love Ike, But I do love Steven Tyler more LO!
Aerosmith opened with “Love in an Elevator, and did 15 hits, such as; Sweet Emotion, Lord of your Thighs, and Seasons of Wither. Joe Perry did his single; “Shakin My Cage’ from his self titled solo effort released last May. Did you know Joe has his own Hot sauce out on the market? We rolled after my all time favorite “Train Kept a Rollin’ which I am proud to report that not one person in the house was still for! It was great to see the Radio support like Pierre from MMR and Jacky Bam Bam from YSP out there too! Our seats were incredible as there were these two 200 foot ramps coming off the front of the stage going back into the audience with platforms, so that all could get a clear look at Steven and Joe Perry who took reins to the center of attention. The whole band looked and sounded great!

Lenny Kravitz opened for them and I was the only photographer in the house shooting him, my God what an honor! I was disappointed to see our boy cut his hair but he still looked Marvey and played incredible! He has a really great band with a cool funky look mind you! Now When you are shooting I usually really don’t hear what the artists is performing as you are just so centered on getting that one awesome shot, but Lenny did Fly Away, Where are We Running, Baptized and played for about forty minutes! Everyone loves Lenny!
As close as you are going to get to Depeche Mode will be at the Borgata On Dec. 3. Their 11th Album out called “Playing the Angel’ is climbing Hot dance club play charts! You may have heard the song “Precious’ on the radio by now. I preferred “The Pain That I’m Used To’ and “John the Revelator’ as Depeche Mode has stayed true to their dark sound and energized almost sinister electronic over tones. This is a must for your holiday stockings!
Last but not least, I missed Audioslave this time around recently but hey I got some killer shots of Chris Cornell last time in. Their label finally got around to sending me their last release “Out of Exile’ and this too is a great idea for anyone for the Holidays! I can’t stop listening to this one either. “Be Yourself’ has had much popular airplay and understandably so. “Doesn’t Remind Me’ is such a simple song basically but as they say a hit is a song that stays in your head, and Cornell just blends his vocals so naturally and effortlessly it seems through out this whole disc, he is so amazing!

I hope everyone out there gets everything they hope for and deserve this holiday season and please have a safe Holiday! I have to wish our Ray Gun Jane who is a big supporter of the original bands a Happy Birthday girlfriend! My dearest friend Lizzy West-Massi flew into town for the Janes Birthday and I’m signing off to meet up with them and turn this town upside down tonight! Cheers! WWW.LynnRamage.com