When Aerosmith Opened Their Vegas Residency, ‘Deuces Are Wild’

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Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Steven Tyler, Park Theater at Park MGM in Las Vegas, April 6, 2019 (Photo: Katarina Benzova; used with permission)

In August 2018, in a flashy, live appearance on The Today Show, Aerosmith announced their big plans for 2019 to celebrate their 50th anniversary. What initially was to be a 18-date residency, Deuces Are Wild, at the Park Theater at the Park MGM, turned into 34 dates in 2019, with many more planned for 2020.

The shows began on April 6, 2019, with a set that celebrated their rock and roll roots. The band had not toured since 2017, with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry focusing on side projects and dealing with some minor health issues.

[In 2018, they performed just one concert – at Jazz Fest on May 5. Believe it or not, they haven’t done a U.S. tour since 2015.]

Perry and Tyler at the Park Theater on April 6, 2019 (Photo: Zack Whitford; used with permission)

[For these shows, the band teamed up with THX and L-Acoustics for what is said to be the world’s first THX Certified live performance presented in L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound.]

At their April 6 opening night performance at the intimate Park Theater, the audience was first shown an extensive filmed presentation about the band’s 50-year history.

And then there they were.

The Vegas crowd first got the band’s 1974 cover of “Train Kept A-Rollin'” and “Mama Kin” from their 1973 debut.

Missing from the 16-song setlist were such Top 10 singles as “Janie’s Got a Gun,” “What it Takes” and Angel.” But there was plenty of room for such favorites as “Sweet Emotion,” “Back in the Saddle” and “Love in an Elevator.”

Watch them perform “Hangman Jury”

Ten songs in… “Livin’ on the Edge”

The main set closed with “Dude Looks Like a Lady.”

For the first of two encores, “Dream On,” a shirtless Tyler got behind the piano before playing the familiar chords to their 1975 breakthrough. At one point, Perry climbed up on the piano for a solo. Tyler grabbed his mic and joined him for the song’s inspirational wind-up.

The band ended up playing just nine of their 2020 Vegas dates, due to the pandemic.

Aerosmith, Park Theater, Las Vegas, April 6, 2019 Setlist

Train Kept A-Rollin’
Mama Kin
Back in the Saddle
Kings and Queens
Sweet Emotion
Hangman Jury
Seasons of Wither
Stop Messin’ Around
Cryin’
Livin’ on the Edge
I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing
Love in an Elevator
Toys in the Attic
Dude Looks Like a Lady

Encore
Dream On
Walk This Way

The final song was 1975’s “Walk This Way” and the band introductions.

Due to the pandemic, Aerosmith have moved their European tour to 2022. Their Vegas residency will continue, with dates to be announced. Tickets to see Aerosmith are available here and here.