Only 4,000 at Steven Tyler's concert at LaconiaFest

By ROGER AMSDEN, LACONIA DAILY SUN

LACONIA — City officials estimated that 4,000 people turned out for Wednesday night's Steven Tyler concert at LaconiaFest.

Laconia Police Chief Chris Adams, speaking at a Laconia Motorcycle Week press conference Thursday morning at the Naswa Resort, said that he and Laconia Fire Chief Ken Erickson both attended the concert and estimated there were 4,000 people there.

That was higher than estimate made by another concert attendee, George Russell, a talk radio personality for WSMN 1590 in Nashua, who said that he thought the audience numbered about 2,5000.

Russell said that Tyler was at his best and marveled at the range of the 68-year-old singer's voice. He said that he is working on documentary on Laconia Motorcycle Week and already has accumulated over 150 hours of footage.

Backed by his band, Nashville-based Loving Mary, Tyler opened the concert with an Aerosmith favorite "Sweet Emotion" and concluded with "Dream On'', mixing in many of the hits he has been associated with as Aerosmith's lead singer. He also included a cover of other artists' hits, including Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart."

Today the inaugural We Love Laconia Motorcycle Week Ride, featuring celebrities and Laconia Mayor Ed Engler, will be held. The two-hour guided tour leaves from Rally Headquarters at 9:30 a.m. and ends at the Laconia Roadhouse. Fee is $50 per rider, $25 per passenger, and includes swag, catered lunch, parking and entertainment. Proceeds benefit Laconia Motorcycle Week.