John B's Report - Going down to Sarasota...
On January 31st I was told by Joe that the whole band would be going down to Sarasota to present Jack Douglas with an award for his work over the years in music and film. The organizer of the event sent his own Lear jet to pick up the guys and we left Boston at 5:30 PM on Saturday afternoon the very next day. Joey has a house in Florida so he was already there. We arrived at the venue around 8:30 PM. The guys then went to the Ritz Carlton to have dinner and watch David Johansen give Richard Dreyfus an award for his work in film. After that the guys went up to a suite in the hotel and hung out with Jack and David and a few friends. Then it was off to the Hyatt to give Jack his award. The guys met up with Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander of Cheap Trick and hung out on a yacht owned by the organizer of the event (boy that guy must be rich) that was positioned right behind the hotel. Then it was time to make our way over to the banquet hall where some band that looked like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones (but wasn't) had just finished their set. Steven was then introduced by Mark Famiglia (organizer). Steven then called up the rest of the band to say a few words about Jack. I kinda got the feeling the kids in the crowd had no idea who Jack was and were there to see if Aerosmith would jam. Jack accepted his award and said a few words to the 300 or more strong Aero supporters. As the guys turned to leave Joe looked over to me and said "hey let's jam!" I'm thinking, "wait a second - this isn't your gear and it wasn't even discussed that they might jam." OK, maybe they might have mentioned doing something if the time was right but nothing was even advanced. They just took over this band's gear and started playing. It was down and dirty and totally unrehearsed. After the 4 song mini set the guys left out the back door, jumped in their waiting SUV's and into the blackness of the night. Back into the jet and landed in Boston around 3:30 AM - into a blinding snowstorm. Made for a touchy touchdown.
Next up NYC for a week of the Blues:
Steven and Joe left on Tuesday the 4th of Feb. Steven took the train and Joe drove. They both had events that night. Steven went to the Lane Bryant show to see his daughter Mia do her thing and Joe went to the Mercury Lounge to see his proteges, "Porch Ghouls," on Roman Records. Joe was like a proud papa as he first met the leader of the Ghouls, "Eldorado," working behind the counter of Sun Records some months earlier. After the show Joe and Billie headed to an Italian restaurant on Houston to chow down and talk turkey with members of the media and some Sony bigwigs. It was a great time and if and when the PG's come to your town, go see em' and tell them Kosmo sent you.
The next day Steven and Joe went over to SIR studio's to rehearse with their backing band. I'm embarrassed that I just called them a backing back because on their own they would be in the spotlight on any stage in the world. Drummer and band leader Steve Jordan from Keith Richard's Expensive Winos is also a world renowned producer. Also on drums The Band's Levon Helm who got on quite well with Steven and kicked ass on the skins. The guys played Slim Harpo's version of King Bee and then settled into a very Aerosmith like "Stop Messin'" with Joe on lead vocal as usual. It was wild seeing Blues greats like Gatemouth Brown and Honey Boy Edwards coming and going. I took some video from the rehearsal and hope to have a snippet of it up for everyone to see warts and all.
Rehearsal at Radio City:
The next day everyone involved took part in a photo shoot in the foyer of Radio City. Everyone was in place and they were just waiting for director, Martin Scorcese to come and plop himself down in front of everybody. The shoot got delayed when the crack security staff at Radio City were busying ushering out people who didn't belong in or near the shoot (like myself and fellow crew members). Only problem, they were kicking out some members of Scorcese family and it took a few minutes to restore order before the shutterbugs got back to business. No one was whacked or missing when all was said and done.
Show Day!
As you all know Training Day director, Antoine Fuqua, filmed the concert with Scorsese serving as the executive producer. They plan on having it on PBS in October if all goes well. The theme of the concert-and-film is guided by the Willie Dixon quote, "the blues are the roots, everything else is the fruits." With Aerosmith set to do a blues type album this year, this collaboration seem like a no-brainer. Backstage was insane. It felt a lot like an award show. Every time the guys do something at Radio City it seems they always get the same exact dressing room or at least they are on the same floor. First time I remember being there was in '91 when the guys played "Come Together" at the Grammy's in honor of John Lennon. This event was no different. BB King down the hall, Martin Scorsese next door and Buddy Guy directly across the hall. People coming and going saying hi and giving props. Joe spent more time in Buddy Guy's dressing room than his own. Steven introducing Senator John Kerry from Massachusetts to Martin Scorsese was surreal. Bill Cosby running around like a kid in a candy store. It was a great event and a great feeling.
Steven and Joe joined the house band right after intermission. They ripped through "King Bee" and "Stop Messin'" before people had time fix their wedgies. The show lasted over 5 hours and people were dripping blues as they filed out of the hall.
Next week I'll recap the Charity show in Cambridge Mass.
-John B
