The opening song of Aerosmith’s fall setlists at Park Theater had special resonance for die-hard fans who remained faithful through the band’s high times and lowest moments. “Let the Music Do the Talking” is the opening cut on 1985’s Done with Mirrors, Aerosmith’s eighth studio album that marked the return of guitarists Brad Whitford and Joe Perry. The album didn’t fare well but the song, originally the title cut of The Joe Perry Project’s 1980 debut, was a hard rocker on par with any of Aerosmith’s previous hits.
Aerosmith had completed a tour before the album was released, and although the individual members had yet to undergo drug rehabilitation that led to a career resurgence, attendees of the concerts knew Aerosmith was back in the saddle again. The band’s late-’80s albums Permanent Vacation and Pump made them superstars and Perry, Whitford, singer Steven Tyler, bassist Tom Hamilton and drummer Joey Kramer have stayed together and kept themselves in top shape to ensure they would deliver the ultimate in hard rock performances.
Tyler, who arguably created a frontman template that would be copied for generations, still moves with athletic freneticism and makes the most of scarf-draped microphone stands. His cohesiveness with fellow former Toxic Twin Perry, with Perry’s penchant for leaning into Tyler’s microphone stand to sing backing vocals emulated by countless bands that followed in Aerosmith’s footsteps, is still unmatched.
“Let the Music Do the Talking” isn’t the only deep cut or rarity the band has played at Park Theater. Rufus Thomas’ “Walking the Dog,” Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” and Fleetwood Mac’s “Stop Messin’ Around” received the Aerosmith treatment this fall, while “Walk This Way” was supplemented with snippets of “Mother Popcorn” by James Brown, who may not be an obvious influence but was the king of letting the music do the talking.
Park Theater at Park MGM, 8 p.m. Jan. 29, 31, Feb. 3, 5, 8, 10, 13 & 15, starting at $75 plus tax and fee. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster
