Nine years have passed since Aerosmith have released a proper live video, so why not do it with meaning. Rock For The Rising Sun, on DVD and Blu-ray disc, is really more of a concert film feature with longtime Aerosmith video collaborator Casey Patrick Tebo in the director’s chair. The concert, of course, is only part of the story. In March 2011, an earthquake struck Japan, causing a horrific tsunami and the meltdown of the Fukushima nuclear plant. Eight months later, against all warnings, Aerosmith came to Japan in an effort to soothe the country’s woes with their music. The film ultimately aims to capture the relationship between Aerosmith and Japan by combining live footage from shows played around the country along with the usual kind of on-tour interludes you typically see in rock ‘n roll movies — hanging out backstage, talking to the press, traveling from city to city, roller-coaster rides, impromptu appearances, mingling with fans, and shopping for clothing and cutlery.
There have been some reasonably inferior live videos of Aerosmith issued in the past, but this isn’t one of them. It’s only too bad this show predated the band’s 2012 studio release Music from Another Dimension! Not that it would have made much difference because the setlist is pretty much filled with music from the 70s, 80s and 90s. The best thing is that for every hit like “Love In An Elevator” and “Livin’ On The Edge,” there are heavier, deeper cuts like “No More No More” and “Rats In The Cellar.” Maybe it’s just the band or the choice of material, but nearly every performance is like a fresh slap in the face, a reminder that Aerosmith, after 40 years, is still a kick-ass rock ‘n roll band on the concert stage.
Steven Tyler, of course, holds court at nearly every juncture, playing up to the camera, prancing the stage and unleashing that timeless yelp. When he gets out in front with guitarist Joe Perry, the band becomes a machine of strength and intensity. Perry also relies on guitarist Brad Whitford to pick up the slack, especially when the two interact on “Mama Kin” and “Toys in The Attic.” The ever-cool Tom Hamilton keeps his ego and bass playing in check, getting his moment in the spotlight during the intro to “Sweet Emotion.” Drummer Joey Kramer still swings it hard when he isn’t being molested by Tyler. “Dream On” is conspicuously missing, but “Walk The Way” winds things down before “Train Kept A Rollin'” gets sidelined by a stream of credits before getting cut off. Fortunately, the extra bonus tracks — “Lick And A Promise” and “One Way Street” — just about make up for it. On the whole, Rock For The Rising Sun may be Aerosmith past their prime, but you’d never know it by the way band sounds, looks and plays. If you dig Aerosmith, you’re gonna dig this.
~ Shawn Perry
