For a band who was just unveiled publicly less than a few months ago, Close Enemies have been quite the busy bunch. In the past few weeks, the new venture of Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton have released their debut single (“Sound of a Train”) and been trekking the country on their first ever tour. Taking this busy schedule into consideration, it’s all the more reason we’re amazed Hamilton found the time to answer our burning inquiries! This nose to the grindstone ethos almost mirrors that of Aerosmith in their early days, as does the type of rock n’ roll this band specializes in, which was on full display the other night at City Winery.
Accompanied by journeymen guitarists Trace Foster and Peter Stroud, singer Chasen Hampton (who I learned was a one-time member of the Mickey Mouse Club, thanks to a dedicated group of fifty-something year old women in attendance), and Babys drummer Tony Brock, Tom and the gang treated the usually quaint quarters of City Winery to a high volume, high energy set of honest to goodness classic rock, and did so by taking a very gutsy approach. Eager to be branded more than just another supergroup, the bulk of Close Enemies’ set consisted of songs set to release on their upcoming debut album later this year.
Now debuting new material live to a paying audience is a risky move no matter who you are. In today’s age where everyone wants to hear “the hits”, it could be a near death sentence. However, if you’re a fan of ’70s Aerosmith, The Babys, or old school hard rock altogether, there’s no reason you wouldn’t appreciate these new songs. Some songs boasted the sleaze and swagger of prime Aerosmith. Other melodically inclined rockers packed the punch of The Babys. There were even a few ballads in the mix, which managed to stand on their own amongst the more rocking numbers, which is no easy task.
As for the band, talk about a tight-knit unit! Hampton is far from a Steven Tyler clone, instead settling on a more bluesy, subdued vocal delivery akin to Paul Rodgers, which really fits the mold of the songs. Foster and Stroud take turns trading solos and banging away brash power chord riffage, at times channeling the glory days of Thin Lizzy. At 70, Brock still beats the drums like they owe him money, his playing growing more intense and ferocious as the evening went on. And in the midst of it all was Hamilton, smiling like a kid in a candy shop as he laid down one kick-ass groove after the next. While many of his peers lament hitting the road so hard in their 70s, Hamilton doesn’t just love it: He lives for it. The unsung Aerosmith hero was glowing with exuberance, thrilled to be onstage and rocking again.
Of course, after blazing through 9 originals, Close Enemies couldn’t leave without at least a nod or two to their storied past. On the Aerosmith front, we were treated to “Sick as a Dog” and “Sweet Emotion”, the latter of which I’ve heard butchered time and time again by every suburban cover band under the sun. Finally hearing it done properly? I was on the verge of tears! In turn, Hamilton laid down his bass chops on two Babys classics, “Midnight Rendezvous” and “Head First”, the latter of which closed the evening’s happenings in grand fashion. If this performance is a sign of things to come, 2025 is going to be a BIG year for Close Enemies! Be sure to catch ’em up close and personal when you can, before they wind up playing the same megadomes Hamilton did with Aerosmith.
Setlist
- “Rain”
- “Inside Out”
- “Sweet Baby Jesus”
- “Sound of a Train”
- “Take a Pill”
- “Wink & a Feather”
- “More Than I Could Ever Be”
- “Dry Rocket”
- “Mystery of Love”
- “Love is a Battlefield”
- “Sick as a Dog” (Aerosmith cover)
- “Midnight Rendezvous” (The Babys cover)
- “Sweet Emotion” (Aerosmith cover)
- “Head First” (The Babys cover)
Nice review! I was there rocking out with you!