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By ALAN K. STOUT; Times Leader Staff Writer
Friday, September 11, 1998     Page: 12

SCRANTON- When Aerosmith performed at the Montage Mountain Performing Arts
Center last summer before a crowd of 12,000, the show was part of the group’s
“Nine Lives” tour. The weather was unseasonably cool and misty, and the band
played very well.
   
When Aerosmith performed at the Montage Mountain Performing Arts Center on
Wednesday before a crowd of 10,600, the show was also a part the group
extended “Nine Lives” tour. The weather again was unseasonably cool and misty,
and once again, the band played very well.
    And if parts of this concert review seem familiar, they should: the staging
was also the same and the set-list was very similar.
   
But the end result- like those who have seen “Titanic” 75 times might
attest- can still be quite satisfying.
   
Opening the set with the title track from the “Nine Lives” CD, the group
entered the stage behind huge curtains depicting exotic cats which tied in
with the album’s cover-art. The grand “Love in an Elevator” followed, with
vocalist Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry harmonizing at its conclusion.
   
“Falling In Love,” one of the best tracks from “Nine Lives,” was also one
of the show’s early highlights.
   
Cool temperatures appeared to take some of the life out of the crowd, but
hits such as the current No. 1 “I Don’t Want To Miss a Thing” still drew
applause from the audience and inspired an array of lighters to be shined over
the mountain.
   
“Taste of India,” one of the more interesting tracks on the latest album,
offered global sounds, Zeppelin-esque rhythms and a stirring bridge that
retained a distinct Aerosmith feel. The Grammy-winning “Janie’s Got a Gun,”
again showcased the band’s ability to rise above traditional hard-rock
formulas and Tyler donned a funky top-hat and sunglasses for a well-received
performance of “Pink.”
   
Horn sounds were accented by an on-stage keyboardist for a breezy rendition
of “Rag Doll” and the band dipped into its past with performances of “Draw The
Line” and “Back In The Saddle.”
   
Aeromsith- making its fifth stop in the region since 1988 and its third at
Montage- still plays hard and performs well. Tyler continues to hit the stage
as if he’s trying to make up for the band’s lost years in the early ’80s; his
shimmying, strutting and dancing continue to cement his place as one of rock’s
top all-time frontman. (That type of posturing that may be out of vogue, but
it’s still appealing to see.)
   
Perry’s blues-inspired riffs remain edgy and engaging, and Joey Kramer’s
modest-sized drum kit proved you don’t need an arsenal of equipment to lay a
solid backbeat to a driving rock band. A downside to the concert was the
almost complete lack of backing vocals, which could have bolstered a few
numbers. (Some songs did, however, appear to be augmented by pre-taped
samples.)
   
Classics such as “Walk This Way” and “Dream On” were also among the show’s
highpoints, as was the MTV/radio smash “Cryin.’ ” The set ended with the
group’s 1987 comeback hit “Dude Looks Like A Lady.”
   
Encores included “Mama Kin,” “What It Takes” and “Sweet Emotion.”
   
You just know they’ll be back. And even if the show were held next week,
10,000 plus would still likely show up.