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What Else Could Aerosmith Do But Rock?

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Among the short list of veteran rock bands that are still making a go of it, Aerosmith has by far the sharpest survival instincts. It’s almost as if the quintet has thrived by cleaving itself into two separate entities: There’s the band that churns out power ballads for action-adventure movies, and the band that keeps the heavy-metal flame burning bright on stage. Say what you will about the former incarnation, as a live act Aerosmith is about as sturdy as a Mack truck and as reliable as Big Ben.

At the Hollywood Bowl on Friday, Aerosmith stuck to its guns and played to its strengths, turning in a set that could have been determined by a Roper Poll. Long known for its playful, boisterous live shows, Aerosmith has added a few ‘90s-era nips and tucks. The result was no-frills guitar-rock gussied up with gaudy pyrotechnics.

The band members struck the usual poses: Bassist Tom Hamilton and guitarist Brad Whitford stood stoically to one side while singer Steven Tyler played the lascivious court jester and lead guitarist Joe Perry radiated regal cool.

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The band rolled out the hits, both old and new--”Dream On,” “Love in an Elevator,” “Walk This Way”--while strobe lights provided visual punctuation for choice riffs and vocal phrases. In other words, it was a typical ‘90s Aerosmith show--no surprises, but no real liabilities, either.

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