Joe Perry Project
Irving Plaza
New York City, New York
November 7, 2009
Tony Pijar
When Aerosmith’s tour came to an abrupt end this past summer, Joe Perry shifted into high gear. He reassembled his solo band, put out a dynamic new album entitled “Have Guitar, Will Travel”, and is now on a nationwide tour that commenced at the Irving Plaza.
Perry’s band consists of log-time friend and part-time fill-in bassist in Aerosmith David Hull, vocalist Hagen, drummer Ben Tileston who plays with Perry’s two kids in TAB, and Willie Alexander on keys. The set list spanned Perry’s entire career with both Aerosmith and as a solo artist. The show kicked off with the slide-driven “Let the Music do the Talking” and was followed by “Vigilante Man” taken from Perry’s last solo effort in 2005. Several songs were lifted from “Have Guitar, Will Travel” including “Long way to go”, “the rag-top sleaze of “Slingshot”, the could be “Honkin’ on Bobo” outtake that is “Somebody’s gonna get their head Kicked in Tonite”, the ballady “Do you Wonder” where Hagen sounds uncannily like Steven Tyler, and “Sacre the Cat” as well. You should really pick up the new CD, as it is a strong reflection of Perry’s eclectic tastes without compromising his passion for sleazy, blues based rock.
Of course, his fans wanted to hear some vintage Aerosmith and got it in the form of the seldom-played “Get the Lead out”, a reggae-fused version of “Dream on”, “Other Side”, “Combination” from “Rocks”, a pulverizing “Toys in the Attic”, a blues rip-up in “Stop Messin’ Around”, and closer “Walk this Way”, with none other than Steven Tyler making a guest appearance and letting the audience know in no uncertain terms that he was in good health and not leaving Aerosmith.
It was also great to hear long lost solo gems such as “Discount Dogs” and “East Coast West Coast”, but sadly there was no room for “Buzz Buzz”, “Once a Rocker…”, “Walk with me Sally”, and “South Station Blues.” Nevertheless, Perry and his band delivered in aces at the Irving Plaza, and it was a real treat witnessing him without the blown-out, amped up, larger than life shows observed on the Aerosmith tours. The stripped down, intimate, no frills – ‘let’s kick down the doors and rock’ attitude is far more preferable to me and I’m sure others as well.
