Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, September 30, 2022 Malden Musings – Extreme at Fenway Park by Peter F Levine I n case you haven’t already heard, Malden’s own heavy-metal heroes, the mighty Extreme, opened for Aerosmith at the ballpark that Captain Carl made famous, Fenway Park. Contrary to popular belief, Extreme are still a working band – haven’t stopped since their conception in the mid ’80’s – from international tours to monster metal mashups to the Indian Ranch in Webster to the Love Boat. Call them, they’ll play. They just aren’t as visible as in their “More Than Words” days Law Offices of Terrence W. Kennedy 512 Broadway, Everett • Criminal Defense • Personal Injury • Medical Malpractice Tel: (617) 387-9809 Cell: (617) 308-8178 twkennedylaw@gmail.com and haven’t released new material since the good old days of Barack Obama presidency when 2008’s “Saudades de Rock” (I don’t know what that means either) was released. Fast forward to 2022 and Extreme are excited to play Fenway with their childhood idols, Aerosmith. But fi rst, a short detour. Before we talk about the actual show, I need to mention that (said in my best Rodney Dangerfi eld voice) Extreme, they get no respect. Never have in Boston. They made their bones in Providence, R.I., and in the suburbs of Boston before the snobbishly insular college rock radio crowd in Beantown even acknowledged they existed. Appears not much has changed since their 1989 self-titled debut album was launched by A&M Records. Example: The next day’s Boston Globe review, by Maura Johnston, screamed, “A fi ery 50th for Aerosmith at Fenway.” Maura acknowledged the “spirited set” from fellow hard rockers Extreme then continued gushing on about Aerosmith. Finis. Extreme at Fenway Park ~ Home of the Week ~ REVERE....WELCOME HOME! Wonderful New Construction offers 8 room Center Entrance Colonial boasting elegant, designer kitchen with quartz counters, oversized island for seating, dining room with sliders to pavers patio, living room with gas fireplace, desirable 1st floor family room, great open floor plan - perfect for entertaining, 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, spacious master suite offers walkin closet, private bath w/double sink vanity and custom, stand-up, convenient 2nd floor laundry, hardwood flooring throughout, great mudroom when entering from garage, level,fenced lot. GREAT opportunity - GREAT new home! You won’t be disappointed! Offered at $875,000 335 Central Street, Saugus, MA 01906 (781) 233-7300 View the interior of this home right on your smartphone. View all our listings at: CarpenitoRealEstate.com Aerosmith defi ed age and put on a show for the ages. Without doubt. Praise be unto you greatest American rock band of all-time. I get it. This was Aerosmith’s night. But Extreme deserved more than passing praise on one of the biggest nights in their career. Whatever. I ain’t saying they outperformed Aerosmith, but much like Ali and Foreman in the “Rumble in the Jungle,” Gary and the boys went 15 rounds and were still standing tall with the greatest American hard rock band of all time. Extreme don’t care. Never have. They just go out and perform. But I digress. What a show! There have been many, many highlights in the long career of Extreme – from signing a record deal with Herb Alpert’s A&M Records to stealing the show at the Freddie Mercury Tribute to meeting former Beatle George Harrison as well as becoming fast friends with the likes of childhood idols Roger Daltrey, Brian May and Alice Cooper. This show “thunderclapped” to the top of the list after a three-year Covid-delayed wait. Well worth the wait. At Fenway, like a kid in the proverbial candy store, Gary quickly made himself at home, doing exactly what any of us would do given access to America’s greatest ballpark. Explore the Green Monsta. Check. Picture in front of Green Monsta. Check. Walk the same hallowed halls as Yaz, Teddy Ballgame, Jim Ed, Dewey, El Tiante, Malzone and Pumpsie Green. Check! A dream come true for this hard-core Boston boy. But I digress, once again... Oh yeah, the music...must be something in the Boston water! What is it with age defying performers who call Boston home? Guys like Willie Alexander, Peter Wolf, Tyler & Perry, Johnny A, Sal Baglio and Rick Berlin – who started out in the once fertile Boston music scene decades ago and are still at it. Amazing. Count Gary, Nuno and Patrick amongst Boston rockers who survived and continue to enrich our lives with their gift of music. Their set was one of the best I’ve seen in years. Granted, I don’t go to many shows anymore (comfortable recliners will do that), but given the times and the venue (and the length of the set – brief), the selection was nothing short of exceptional. Nuno (solo) took center stage electric and grabbed us by the throat with a passionate nod to our hardball environs with a rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” that Jimi would have been proud of. Then came old faves (best as I can remember) “Decadence Dance,” “‘Li’l Jack Horny” (Yes, they still perform this – hey, it’s a fun song!), then “It’s a Monster.” People danced (well, some did), people drank more (most did) and the band started to pick up steam. I am into my third 16 ounce $17 Sam Adams at this point, so the band is starting to sound like Led Zeppelin to me. My favorite Extreme song, “Am I Ever Gonna Change?” is next followed by my least favorite, “Play with Me.” The 60-something crowd is still puzzling over the fi rst line of “Play with Me” (“Ring around the rosie, hopscotch, monopoly, red light, green light, G. I. Joes and Barbies, hide and seek, kick the can”) when suddenly, blam, Extreme throw a delightful “Hole Hearted” at us. The fans he lost during “Play with Me” are back! Then not a dry eye amongst those of us who knew where Gary’s heart was when he went into an abbreviated version of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” – a loving nod to his late mom, Josephine, who adored Neil (but adored her fi ve boys even more). Then Nuno took center stage yet again (oh vey!), dazzling the crowd with another sweet instrumental, “Midnight Express,” followed by the song most likely to be heard while at Market Basket, earworm heaven (with a “Stairway to Heaven” intro tease), “More Than Words.” Closing out was “Cupid’s Dead” (a highlight), but it just didn’t punch back hard enough without the rap section that was performed on the 1992 recordMUSINGS | SEE PAGE 7
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