ANAHEIM, CA - JANUARY 21: Musician Joe Perry performs onstage at the TEC Awards during NAMM Show 2017 at the Anaheim Hilton on January 21, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for NAMM)

“It’s great to be back in Boston. It’s been too f’king long.” Joe Perry, Friday, July 22, Leader Bank Pavilion.

I made it out to the Joe Perry/ZZ Top show over the weekend and as I suspected, Joe Perry rocked it up!

The Joe Perry Band opened for ZZ Top at the Leader Bank Pavilion (formerly the Rockland Trust Pavilion, Blue Hills Bank Pavilion, Bank of America Pavilion, Fleet Boston Pavilion, Bank Boston Pavilion, Bank of Boston Pavilion, originally the Harbor (Hahbuh) Lights Pavilion!) Friday night.

It’s been awhile since I’d been to the Pavilion (thanks in part to covid!). That said, it’s still one of my favorite venues in the Boston area to see a show. The sound’s good enough, line of sight is good, plenty to eat and drink (LOVE the ice cold canned water!), the bathrooms are clean, the Pavilion staff is super friendly and it’s outside!

One new thing you should know, your purse has to either be a clear plastic tote or it has to be the size of a ‘clutch’, or you have to check it (which I think costs $10?). I, of course, went back to my truck and emptied my purse contents into a freezer bag I had in my vehicle.

Joe took the stage on time, 7:30. I really only went to see him cos I knew it would be a looser show than when he’s doing his real job with Aerosmith. I’d gone to a solo show of his a few years ago and I loved it! It was loud, raucous and Joe Perry seemed to be having a really good time.

He opened with “Let the Music Do the Talking” then slid into “Toys in the Attic” and “Walking the Dog”. He did a couple new songs in his hour long set, sprinkled in a few more earlier Aerosmith tunes and some Peter Green.

As you know, it’s been hella hot this past week and I can’t imagine what it was like on stage playing guitar. Every now and then, Joe would peel off another layer. I think he had a jacket on when he started. At one point he was down to his Hollywood Vampires vest.

I’d planned to leave after Joe’s set but decided to stick around awhile for ZZ Top. It was just about a year ago they lost bass player Dusty Hill. Their long time guitar tech, Elwood Francis has since stepped in and they put on a good show. It was fantastic to see everybody on their feet for ZZ Top‘s entire set. I was lucky enough to catch them years ago and their first album is still a favorite. It was cool to hear them do “Brown Sugar” off that album in the encore.

Next Boston stop for Joe Perry, Fenway Park, September 8 with Aerosmith. I expect that show to be a smoker.

Aerosmith: Top 50 Songs in Their Catalog