Tickets are now on general sale for Aerosmith’s two California, Dream On concerts at the Hollywood Bowl. The band announced the Los Angeles dates, October 29 and November 1, with The Black Crowes, Run-DMC, Heart, Billy Idol and a long list of other guests. The sale opened yesterday, October 10, at 10am Pacific time.
There is a catch for anyone choosing between the nights on the strength of one guest’s name. The combined announcement covers both concerts, but the musicians appearing will vary by night. Final line-ups are due at or near showtime and remain subject to change. The poster gives an idea of the company Aerosmith will keep; it doesn’t yet give two complete bills.
The October 29 event is listed for 7pm. November 1 is listed for 6:30pm, a half-hour earlier. Those are the event times, not a promise about when a particular guest takes the stage. A portion of each ticket will support the LA County Parks Foundation’s work restoring parks damaged by the Los Angeles wildfires. No percentage is specified in the event notice.
Run-DMC’s inclusion gives this celebration a connection beyond rock. Their “Walk This Way” with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry was released in 1986, reworking Aerosmith’s 1975 song. This year marks four decades since that collaboration. You don’t need a new claim about rock and rap changing forever to see why they belong on a bill celebrating Aerosmith. There is a recording that connects them, and listeners can revisit it before either show.
That does leave a tempting guess about the setlist. We won’t turn it into a promised performance: no joint “Walk This Way” has been confirmed for either date. The history explains the invitation. It cannot settle which night to attend.
The guest pool also includes Slash, Duff McKagan, Chad Smith, Jerry Cantrell, Mike Inez, Sammy Hagar, Nuno Bettencourt and Eric Church. Andrew Watt and Don Was are named too. With singers, guitarists and rhythm-section players coming from different bands, there are plenty of ways to arrange the evening. The announcement has not laid out those arrangements.
For anyone following the latest rock bookings, compare this with Nickelback’s multi-region tour announced this week. That itinerary gives fans months and cities to choose from. Aerosmith have offered two nights in one place. Travel plans have to be built around Los Angeles; a wider tour does not follow from this announcement.
The artist and Citi presales have finished. For now, buyers have the general sale, the two event dates and a shared guest list to work with. The strongest part of the booking is its musical history. The part still missing is how that history will be divided between the two nights.
