I can still feel that buzz from the moment I walked into McLennan Park that night. The air was dense with excitement—fans scrawling song lyrics on their hats, leather-clad veterans comparing past tours, and younger faces lighting up with anticipation. It was the kind of evening where geology would’ve recorded seismic shifts. I’d been counting the days, getting ready to scream along to those signature riffs, the charisma, the chaos. And when the venue lights finally dimmed and that opening roar kicked in, I knew I was about to be part of something timeless.
Stage & Production
The setup at Big Music Fest was low-key rock-festival perfection—no fireworks or laser extravaganza, just a broad stage framed by giant speaker stacks and flanked by banners that read “Let Rock Rule.” Overhead, industrial lights hung ready to snap on our sweaty faces; underfoot, the stage had that lived-in feel that whispered, “We’ve done this many times—and we’re just warming up.”
The crew’s minimalism was so intentional: simple projectors showing grungy visuals, a cloud of pyro-ready fog, and Aerosmith’s pristine instruments lined up in no-nonsense rows. Steven Tyler’s mic stand was wrapped in scarves like he always does—his trademark. Their lighting moved from stark whites to warm halogens, accentuating every sweat drop, every guitar dive, every storytelling pause. No nonsense—just rock, stripped back.
Setlist & Performance
Aerosmith dove right into a classic, launching with Back in the Saddle that growled through the crowd like a living thing, then charged through Eat the Rich, Love in an Elevator, Cryin’, Livin’ on the Edge, and dropped a surprise with Monkey on My Back—their first live play since 2011! After that, they ripped into Kings and Queens, Toys in the Attic, Rag Doll, Freedom Fighter, Same Old Song and Dance, Rats in the Cellar, I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing, No More No More, Dude (Looks Like a Lady), and Walk This Way. For the encore, they came back with Dream On (complete with a snippet of “Home Tonight”) and closed with Sweet Emotion.
Here’s the full setlist breakdown:
Setlist – Aerosmith at McLennan Park, Kitchener – July 13, 2014
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Back in the Saddle
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Eat the Rich
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Love in an Elevator
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Cryin’
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Livin’ on the Edge
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Monkey on My Back (first time played live since 2011)
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Kings and Queens
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Toys in the Attic
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Rag Doll
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Freedom Fighter
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Same Old Song and Dance
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Rats in the Cellar
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I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing
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No More No More
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Dude (Looks Like a Lady)
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Walk This Way
Encore: -
Dream On (with snippet of “Home Tonight”)
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Sweet Emotion
Highlights
Alright—let me ride you through the best bits.
From the first note of Back in the Saddle, the crowd was a live wire. That low, snarling riff hit the pavement, and we all followed. Eat the Rich and Love in an Elevator kept the pulsing high—everyone was on their feet, belt out every cue.
When Cryin’ started, you felt the emotion coil up. Between Tyler’s falsetto and the way he navigated those tears-in-his-voice runs, I swear I heard everyone around me sing along from the chest. Then Livin’ on the Edge set us free again—reckless and righteous.
Monkey on My Back landed like a secret gem. Playing it live for the first time in years gave this raw charge—everyone leaned in, aware we were part of something rare and fierce.
Then Kings and Queens and Toys in the Attic and Rag Doll—holy smokes, the mix of swagger and swagger was pure adrenaline. Especially during Freedom Fighter—that fresh track from their Music From Another Dimension! album—they still pack a punch when they want to remind you of their modern edge.
I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing—a surprise ballad in the middle of the set, but placed exactly to bring moments of chill before the next surge. Followed by No More No More, Dude (Looks Like a Lady) and “Walk This Way”—rock royalty in motion, teasing us, trolling us, then giving the goods.
For the encore, Dream On was that symbolic sigh—the high road, classic crescendo, building up and then… that snippet of “Home Tonight.” Chills. And then Sweet Emotion, closing that ride with swagger, keeping us bouncing till the final guitar strum.
Crowd Energy
The crowd! Man, it was a mixture of die-hard Aerosmith disciples and curious newer fans. Leather vests, band tees—some vintage, some homemade. There were fist pumps, singalongs, tears during “Cryin’,” and reckless dancing during “Walk This Way.” Flags waved during Monkey on My Back, someone lit a flare-like glow in the distant stands. I saw whole groups mouthing “Sweet Emotion” in unison, and everyone yelling back the “I don’t know your name…” line like it was a command.
At one point during Rag Doll, a circle pit opened near the front—it felt like rock revival went live. And when “Dream On” cracked us back open, voices cracked with it. Afterward, walking out felt like leaving a riot—only more soulful.
Vocals & Musicianship
Steven Tyler sounded… unreal. His voice held up with that signature grit and reach, hitting falsettos and growls like he was 25 again, not 66. And those playful dives—he played every phrase like he meant every wild, lived-in word.
Joe Perry and the guitar section were precise chaos. They spit riffs and bends with injected swagger, remembering every legendary move and adding a new accent each time. The rhythm squad—drums and bass—kept the foundation so tight you could feel the stage pulse from the soundboard.
During Monkey on My Back, you could see the band feeding off the song’s history, a dangerous joy. And when they dove back into Freedom Fighter, the joint bled modern energy into old-school DNA.
Personal Reflection
By the time Dream On ended, I was trembling slightly—tears possibly in my eyes, voice lost, heart full. I remember thinking: I’ve seen big acts, festivals, reunions—but few nights grind into your bones like this did. Aerosmith, gassed from decades on the road, still had that spark. Still had swagger. Still had a crackling connection with the audience that made me feel seen and included.
Walking to my car afterward, I tried humming “Sweet Emotion,” but all I managed was a smile. Future trips to this city will smell like that show. I still think about the way Tyler leaned forward to remind us “I don’t know your name,” or how the riff from Rag Doll echoed across the park like an invitation to mischief.
That night wasn’t just a concert—it felt like initiation. A reminder that some stories from the past still burn blindingly bright.
Conclusion
So—Aerosmith at McLennan Park, July 13, 2014? It wasn’t nostalgia. It was celebration. It was raw, unfiltered rock. The setlist was a masterstroke—veteran hits, hidden gems, ballads, new slaps, and explosive closers. Stage, minimal but dramatic. Crowd, living and breathing. Musicianship, tight and untamed. Tyler and Perry, living legends but still hungry.
It was one of those nights I’ll tell people about—for years, with that characteristic growl in my chest when I say, “I was there.”