THE JOE PERRY PROJECT / MICKY JAMES 4.16.2023

Apr 25

Photos and Words By Maria A. Mata

Boston’s own rock icon Joe Perry brought his solo project back home, on a limited run of shows with The Joe Perry Project, joined by glam rocker Micky James. Fans slowly made their way towards the Citizens House of Blues in Lansdowne, on a chill evening full of rock and roll.

As the lights went down, Micky James kicked off the night with a bang. Wild and energetic, the singer took over the stage with his flamboyant performance. Starting off with “Tie Me Up” and the aptly named “James Brown”, Micky James mesmerized the crowd right off the bat; there’s a vintage feel to his presence, reminiscent of Prince and David Bowie, yet it’s modern and fresh. Many old time rockers in the audience were singing his praises after the set, which was explosive and exciting.

James’ glam rock was the perfect starter to the evening, in contrast with Joe Perry’s heavy rock and roll influence. These wouldn’t go unnoticed, as Perry played through a diverse set of classic covers and rare gems from both his solo project and Aerosmith’s catalog. With Extreme’s Gary Cherone at the front, Perry started off with “I’ve Got The Rock n’ Rolls Again”, then quickly moved on to Aerosmith’s “Somebody”, driving die hard fans wild. The exuberance of Cherone’s performance is the perfect match to Joe Perry’s soulful style, often smiling and playing off each other’s strengths.

One of the highlights of the night was when Perry took over vocal duties for a few covers, including Billy Lee Riley’s “Flyin’ Saucers Rock and Roll”; once the song was over, the axeman took a moment to ask the crowd if he could play the song again, and the band swiftly jumped right back in. He then mentioned how much he loves playing it, and thanked the crowd for indulging him. Cheron returned on vocals to continue bringing in the rarities, as well as a collab with Perry, “Quake”.

The crowd was filled with longtime fans enjoying the music, with many dancing along as if they had stepped on a time machine. The young ones were at the barricade holding signs and screaming, which speaks volumes of Joe Perry’s legacy. As the first few seconds of “Train Kept A Rollin’”, the crowd went wild; the band would walk out and return for an Aerosmith encore, with “Lightning Strikes” and the iconic “Walk This Way”, bringing the show to a close. It was a rock and roll filled evening, and we’re all here to tell the tale.

THE JOE PERRY PROJECT