Music

01:00 AM CST on Saturday, January 28, 2006

By THOR CHRISTENSEN / The Dallas Morning News

They're a generation apart, but Aerosmith and Lenny Kravitz are perfect tour mates, since they draw from the exact same well of blues, funk and metal.

Mr. Kravitz, the opener Friday at a sold-out American Airlines Center, introduced his riff-heavy "Always on the Run" as "Steven Tyler's favorite song," and it was easy to hear why: It could have passed for an outtake from Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic.

Both acts owed a debt or three to the Beatles: Aerosmith opened its set with a rabid version of "Helter Skelter," while Mr. Kravitz closed his with the Lennon-esque "Let Love Rule."

And while Aerosmith's most recent big hit was the wimpy 1998 ballad "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," it focused on snarling blues Friday and followed "Thing" with a "Baby Please Don't Go," the ultimate case of saccharine followed by Tabasco. "Baby" made way for "Train Kept a Rollin'," with surprise guest Ted Nugent. As the Nuge and Joe Perry locked horns in a furious guitar-solo contest, it felt like a flashback from some long-gone Texxas Jam.

Mr. Perry – Keith Richards to Steven Tyler's Mick Jagger – grabbed the spotlight more often than usual, singing "Stop Messing Around" and "Shakin' My Cage," a blitzkrieg boogie from his new solo CD. He's not much of a singer, but he's still one of rock's saltiest guitarists – and not a bad theremin player either, judging from his solo in the middle of "Sweet Emotion" that threatened to break into "Whole Lotta Love" at any moment.

Still, the stage belonged to Mr. Tyler. At 57, he's not as acrobatic as he used to be (knee surgery will do that to you), but he's still a marvel, constantly twirling and hopping and galloping down a pair of stage wings that extended 25 rows across the main floor.

Mr. Kravitz spanned his career in a 65-minute set, starting with "Lady," his lyrically atrocious ode to Nicole Kidman, and ending with "Are You Gonna Go My Way." In between, he showed his knack for groovy singalongs ("Fly Away," "Dig In") while showing off his top-notch eight-piece band. Newcomer Trombone Shorty from New Orleans got huge applause, but the most valuable player was longtime guitarist Craig Ross, who lit into one jagged solo after the next.

Like a gracious guest, Mr. Kravitz lauded Aerosmith as "beautiful human beings ... and musically, so incredible." But like most opening acts, he didn't get to use his host's video screen or stage wings. He worked the joint into a frenzy anyway, jumping offstage in "Let Love Rule" and shaking hands and hugging fans like a politician on election day.

When you work a crowd as well as this guy does, who needs a stinkin' video screen?

E-mail tchristensen@dallasnews.com

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