By Matt Kelemen
MGM Grand 7 p.m. doors, Dec. 1 $49.50-$149.50 plus tax and fee. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster
Of all the bands born in the ’70s, Aerosmith and Cheap Trick could always be counted on to put on great live shows no matter the stages of recovery and/or reunification they were undergoing.
Now, they’ve banded together for the Global Warming Tour. If you think that means each band trots out their warhorse anthems for the faithful, think again; Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler joined Cheap Trick onstage in Wichita on Veteran’s Day, and only a surprise appearance by Run D.M.C. is enough to keep Trick’s Rick Nielsen offstage if he gets the itch to play the riff to “Walk This Way” in unison with Joe Perry and Brad Whitford. Even if the bands go the separate-but-equal route at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, concerts in recent years demonstrate no slowing down in terms of adrenaline or inspiration.
Cheap Trick taps into a special energy in Las Vegas that thrills fans whether they are playing a mini-set at a John Varvatos boutique or Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in a large theater. Aerosmith are currently supporting their latest recording, Music From Another Dimension, and are offering meet-and-greet packages. Tyler and Perry only come in a Toxic Twin-pack for the “Wheels Up” VIP offer, but each of the three packages includes “The Amazing Joey Kramer Experience,” a Q&A with Whitford and a preshow experience “like never before” with Tom Hamilton.
