Courtesy / Katarina_Benzova
Aerosmith performs at Park Theater for the launch of their residency Saturday, April 10, 2019.
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019 | 11:28 p.m.
Since launching its Las Vegas residency in April, classic rock outfit Aerosmith has already completed four legs of the “Deuces Are Wild” concert production at Park Theater. In that time, the bad boys from Boston have honed and perfected their show, not that it needed much fixing to begin with.
The biggest faux pas Steven Tyler and company made during the group’s initial run was the long video montage that preceded the band’s actual show. Now that visual display comes with a countdown on the theater’s gigantic screen, alerting people as to how much time is left to run to the bathroom or grab a drink before the real show begins — to which I say, thank you. Expect the band to appear around 8:40 p.m., not 8, and plan accordingly.
One of the best parts about a rock and roll residency is the feeling that everyone is, at one point or another, flying by the seat of their pants. On the final show of Aerosmith’s October run, Tyler began the setlist with an unusual choice, “Let the Music Do the Talking,” a track that was originally recorded by the Joe Perry Project in 1980 and re-recorded by Aerosmith in 1985.
That’s the kind of thing you can and should expect to hear during “Deuces Are Wild.” Yes, you’ll get the hits, but you’ll get a handful of b-sides and rarities, too. The result is a show made for the true fan more than the casual listener, though there are plenty of moments for everyone.
Of course, the show-stopping moment of that October 8 gig was when Johnny Depp made a surprise appearance on guitar for 1975 cut “Toys in the Attic.” It was a pinch-me moment, the kind that only happens in Las Vegas, and even more reason to justify the price of a ticket. You simply never know what could happen.
Tyler, Perry, Brad Whitford, Joey Kramer and Tom Hamilton all know how to work within the confines of this residency without sacrificing the intimacy of a live concert. There are just as many loud and raucous in-your-face guitar solos (“Last Child”) as there are stripped-down acoustic cuts (“Hangman Jury”). And Aerosmith’s inimitable singer never fails to impress with his superb range. At 71, Tyler can hit nearly every high note as if he just recorded them yesterday, return to a slow and breathy howl and then croon softer ballads like “Cryin’” with ease. “This is so good,” I overheard one fan say during the show. I could practically hear her smiling as she continued. “This is the best concert ever. He is so awesome,” she said of Tyler’s incredible energy.
While the boys are consistently playing at Park Theater to a crowd from all over the world, the residency has a key Las Vegas element in its string section. Cellist Sarah Chaffee, violinists J Lynn and Monique Olivas and viola player Jennifer Hellewell have become the band’s secret weapon. Bolstering songs like “I Don’t Want To Miss a Thing” and “Dream On,” the players are often joined by Tyler singing alongside them as they perform iconic arrangements to two of Aerosmith’s biggest songs. He’s even posted clips of the girls rehearsing on his Instagram page.
“Deuces are Wild” has grown into one of the best concert residencies on the Strip, and like the band itself, its Vegas show continues to morph and evolve with age.
Aerosmith picks it up at 8 p.m. on November 14, 16, 19, 21, 24, 26 and 29. More information can be found at parkmgm.com.
