The 40 greatest concerts in Boston history: 24

I was at this Aerosmith show. In fact, they played the very next night at the now defunct club they once partially owned, Mama Kin. I was lucky enough to get into both shows, which they played under two different fake names. The Middle East show in particular was a test for any arena-rock band because it was a stripped-down set with only the core band members and no effects. They mostly played somewhat unknown and newer material, so it wasn't the songs that made such an impression. It was the fact that when you stripped away all the glamour, glitz, and even the hit songs, Aerosmith was simply one of the best bands I'd ever heard. They were really that good. In fact, they were so good that not a single drunken knucklehead shouted "Dream On" through the entire set. Can you believe it? David Avery Powderfinger Promotions