Jul 5, 2006 7:18 am US/Eastern
Aerosmith, Pops And Fireworks For Boston's 4th
BOSTON (AP) ―
Stubborn clouds and early showers didn't deter thousands of Fourth of July revelers from crowding the Esplanade Tuesday for fireworks, the 1812 Overture and rock-n-roll Hall of Famers from Aerosmith.
"What could be more iconically American than rock 'n' roll?" said Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart hours before he shared the stage with Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry. "Arguably, Boston's two most famous bands are the Pops and Aerosmith."
The aging rockers from Boston-based Aerosmith headlined the show with the Boston Pops at the Hatch Shell. It is the first time that Tyler, 58, and Lawrence-native Perry, 55, have played at the event.
Tyler pranced onstage in a black-and-leopard-print open shirt with tight white pants and an American flag bandana flowing from his microphone as he sang Aerosmith standards, wailing during a rendition of the band's hit "Dream On."
Backstage a baby-faced sailor in dress whites slow-danced with a young woman.
Tyler danced with Lockhart during "Walk This Way," singing the line "give me a kiss" and then dead-panning to Lockhart: "not you."
The nationally televised gala also included talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw and his wife Robin McGraw as emcees, singing group Rockapella, and Renese King.
Local American Idol finalist 17-year-old Ayla Brown opened the show with "The Star-Spangled Banner."
"I love being a hometown girl -- Boston -- that's why it's such a thrill to be here tonight," said Brown.
State police estimated 450,000 to 500,000 people gathered for the concert and 23-minute pyro-musical fireworks extravaganza near the Charles River.
Some held American flags, and others red-white-and blue pompons as they sat on blankets on the grass. People ate kettle corn and barbecue. They devoured plates of fried dough and fried chicken.
Two-year-old Dominic Salamone stood barefoot in the grass playing with a red balloon that had been tied to look like a dog. The balloon burst with a pop and he shrieked with delight. "The fireworks, the fireworks," he said.
His father Matthew Salamone, 25, picked up his son and tossed him playfully in the air. The Salamone family had come three hours in advance from West Medford to find a good spot for the show.
Ten-year-old Alicia Dumont wore a red-and-blue Statue of Liberty-style crown and a red tank top to the festival. She and her family came from Quincy at 2 p.m. for the show.
"I think it's awesome," Alicia said. "It's spectacular just to celebrate the Fourth of July and see all the colors."
Hundreds of boats dropped anchor in the Charles River, securing a spot to watch the more than 19,000 pounds of fireworks ready to erupt over Boston. The shells, ranging from one to 12 feet in diameter, will be shot from barges to produce more than 10,000 explosions.
The modern celebration dates back to 1974 when the Boston Pops played Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, accompanied by the percussion of cannon and blasting fireworks.
This year's ceremonial cannon fire came from a Massachusetts National Guard artillery unit.
`It's the rush," said Lt. Charles Leonard, vocalizing the opening bars of the overture. "It gets you going, you know it's on."
But Aerosmith was the big draw.
"I had their albums," said Lockhart, 47. "They're nearing 60 at this point. But they really still perform like their lives depended on it. They eat the stage up."
Past guest headliners include Cyndi Lauper, David Lee Roth of Van Halen fame, and last year's country performers, Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
