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California Dream On: Ten things we learned at Aerosmith & Friends (Night Two) at the Hollywood Bowl
Aerosmith’s second “Aerosmith & Friends” concert at the Hollywood Bowl brought together the band and a range of guest musicians for a night of covers and performances. The review suggests the show’s biggest successes came from strong guest pairings and familiar hits, while some deeper cuts and sets fell short of expectations.
Comedian Bill Burr hosted, and the house band included drummer Kenny Aronoff, bassist Don Was, and guitarists Phil X and Audley Freed. Lzzy Hale earned particular praise for “Kings and Queens”, while Billy Idol and Steve Stevens performed “Livin’ on the Edge”; the Los Angeles crowd responded more warmly to well-known 1980s and 1990s songs than to rarities. Heart played “Barracuda” alongside Aerosmith’s “Janie’s Got a Gun”, and the Black Crowes performed five Aerosmith songs, including “No More No More” and “Chip Away”.
In short
- Lzzy Hale’s performance of “Kings and Queens” stood out.
- Familiar hits drew bigger cheers than deep cuts.
- Heart and the Black Crowes brought their own styles to the tribute.
Explained simply
Aerosmith are an American rock band whose catalogue includes hits from the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s. The “Aerosmith & Friends” concerts bring the band together with guest musicians to perform songs from its back catalogue.
The Hollywood Bowl is a large outdoor concert venue in Los Angeles. Guests at the second show included singer Lzzy Hale, Billy Idol and the band Heart, while comedian Bill Burr hosted and a separate house band supported the performances.
The night mixed familiar Aerosmith songs with less commonly played tracks and covers. That context helps explain why audience response and the choice of guest pairings were central to the review.