Catching Aerosmith from top perch
THE Kats! Bureau at this writing is in close proximity to Aerosmith, not just spiritually but in fact. This particular seat is in the the VIP On Stage Thx-perience at Park Theater. As the name indicates, these ticketed platforms flank the main stage and offer seating and standing-room-only positions. These have to be the premiere seats in all of rock ’n’ roll. I’ll ask Joe Perry, between solos.
This seriously feels like watching the band in a music club, if the music club itself were the show. To put this experience in financial context, a single ticket costs about $295.
It’s a lot, but so is the experience.
You’re provided an ipod and a pair of 1More earbuds (a $100 value, which you keep), and given the choice of the band’s or Tyler’s audio feed. You might have heard about this system, and how you can hear Tyler alternately sing and deliver directives — and complaints — to the audio crew and his sidemen. The band feed is a more balanced audio mix, actually, and you can toggle the two.
But what is new to me tonight is that any ticket holder, from these seats to the upper balcony, can access this system by hitting the Mixhalo app. Bring a pair of earbuds and you can actually hear the Tyler and band feeds anywhere in the room.
Fortunately, the buds keep this historically loud rock band at a manageable level. Otherwise it’s earplug time.
The onstage scene is rife with pretty women, not so incidentally. They are part of the show, wrangled by Aerosmith superfan and able Vegas networker Tiffany Masters. She contacts women around town, some friends and many strangers, to arrange an onstage experience. Many are entertainers, including Jojo Hammer of “Crazy Girls” and busy Vegas club DJ Liz Clark.
There are a pair of motherdaughter tandems, as Aerosmith’s music rocks multiple generations.
“I want to see what you’re saying about me!” Masters says as she stops at my perch. “I don’t want to wait!” Masters studied journalism at the University of Kansas and senses she is the subject of this sentence.
It’s not all females, of course. We have gentlemen of certain achievement here. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak — who at age 65 is six years younger than Tyler — is in the mix somewhere, along with his wife, Kathy Ong. Saturday, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker was in the house, and he’s a bona fide, lifelong Aerosmith fan.
The show blasts off with “Let the Music Do The Talking,” and Tyler is already into it with the crowd. “What the (expletive) can be bigger than this!?” Hey, no quizzes!
Tyler has the crowd chanting what I’m reliably told is the LVCVA’S new promotional campaign. He shouts, “What happens here?” The crowd shouts back, “Only happens here!” Shania Twain, Christinaaguilera and Gwen Stefani have also recorded clips using that phrase (Twain, Aerosmith and Lady Gaga bandleader Brian Newman have all said Jan. 26 is the time for some big announcement).
“Home Sweet Home” is one of many singalongs. Something to know about Perry, by the way: No in-ear monitors. Goes with the speakers on the floor. Old school.
Tyler just sauntered down a walkway to the bar on stage right, performing most of “Walkin’ The Dog” there. He pointed near me, or maybe at me, and shouted, “What the (expletive) are you doin’?”
Holding out for my interview!
Tyler just says whatever’s on his mind. Much of the time what’s on his mind is, “Stand the (expletive) up!” Sit at your own risk. As another rock star once said, “If you want to play, you’ve got to pay!” That’s how it is in “Deuces Are Wild.”
“Sweet Emotion” is up now. Tyler is up with sub drummer John Douglas (still in for Joey
Kramer), thrashing through this classic.
After Perry swings through “Stop Messin’ Around,” Tyler hustles back to his spot, shouting, “My turn!” This guy just commands the stage, literally.
“Cryin’” is the next anthem. This is the song Tyler dedicated to Ryan Seacrest on Saturday night, posting custom lyrics, “I WAS RYAN’ WHEN I MET YOU, NOW I’M RYAN’ CAUSE I GET YOU.” Dyin’, here …
Tyler just ventured to our section, which for Masters and her entourage is social-media gold. Hey, don’t grab his hair. You’ll lose a ring.
“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” stars a Vegas string section. Jennifer Lynn (or, Jennifer “Vio” Lynn, as I call her) just looked over but dang I don’t think she saw me. I am shouting for a solo. The lineup is Lynn, Jennifer Hellewell, Sarah Chaffee and Monique Olivas. Applaud whenever you see them.
Hey, I think I just spotted our governor, leaning on the rail near the stage. No earbuds. He’s missing out.
“Walk This Way” is performed with Tyler and Perry on the walkway leading from the stage to the balcony. The song ends in a mini-medley, with Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.” Tyler answers a shout about the image on his tank top, saying, “Yes, this is Britney Spears, right here!”
And as he leaves, you hear him call to an unseen sound man, “You might want to turn these up!” meaning the house speakers. The man is a perfectionist. You can see it, and hear it, loud and clear.
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As of 9 p.m. Wednesday:
1. Slots player at Las Vegas airport wins more than $300K
The winning spin hit just after 5 p.m. Monday for $317,795.94 on a 25-cent Wheel of Fortune Triple Red Hot 7 machine. 2. Las Vegas Valley sets date’s rain record; 110-plus crashes reported
Widespread rainfall late Tuesday and Wednesday — the first for the Las Vegas area in two months — led to water rescues, traffic tie-ups and power outages across the valley.
3. Machine tool builder buys 279 acres in Henderson
Plans include a 2.3 millionsquare-foot, $327 million manufacturing facility as well as buildings that would be leased or sold to others. 4. Marc-andre Fleury’s ‘Save of Century’ lights up social media
Golden Knights goaltender Marc-andre Fleury made one of the best saves of his career in a 4-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night at T-mobile Arena.
5. Snow falling on Mount Charleston
Snow was falling in the Spring Mountains Wednesday morning, a part of the storm that brought rain to the Las Vegas Valley and Southern Nevada.
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As of 9 p.m. Wednesday:
1. Golden Knights’ MarcAndre Fleury makes jawdropping save
Marc-andre Fleury dived across his crease to glove Nic Petan’s shot late in the third period and preserve the Golden Knights’ 4-2 win over Toronto on Tuesday at T-mobile Arena.
2. Flooding at Linq parking garage
Heavy rain caused flooding at the Linq parking garage on the Strip.
3. Snow on Mount Charleston
Snow fell in the Spring Mountains while the Las Vegas Valley saw some rain.