CALGARY -- Classic rock is often a derogatory term.

It's used to describe fossilized music that has ceased to hold any relevance, any meanings or feelings outside of the circle of those who experienced it when it was new. And similarly, classic rock concerts are far too often robotic and soulless exercises in nostalgia and little else.

For those reasons, it's best we not use the term classic rock to describe last night's Saddledome double bill, featuring American rock veterans Aerosmith and Cheap Trick.

Because, while much of the material heard may have been played to death on radio stations for the past 30 years or so, what the 14,000 fans were treated to last night was music that was far from six feet under.

For example, opening act Cheap Trick scythed their way through atrocious Saddledome sound with a superb set more suited to a garage than a 20,000-capacity arena.

Sloppily tight, noisily melodic, after three decades Cheap Trick showed that to be affective, rock music doesn't just have to breathe, it has to burp, spit and scratch itself.

So while they've got the showmanship -- guitarist Rick Nielsen is still America's answer to Angus Young, flicking picks and switching guitars as often as most people blink -- and skill down pat, they never allow it to bleed into their musical performances. The result is that familiar songs sound new and raw.

Dream Police, for example, sounded more like a ragged punk anthem than a FM-friendly hit from the '70s and sat perfectly with new songs, such as Scent of a Woman from their latest release Special One.

Forty-five minutes was not nearly enough -- especially considering it didn't allow them to fit in the politely requested He's a Whore. Ah, well, all is forgiven, particularly because before disappointment could settle in, headliners Aerosmith were let on stage -- with a Flames flag flyin' high -- and taken to the front of a centre catwalk for a garage jam of their own on the oldie Toys in the Attic. All five wailed away on that nugget and the relatively newer Love In an Elevator was cool to say the least. They too haven't forgotten their bar-band roots.

Though also plagued by the same sub-par sound, and despite the fact they are five-times the rock stars Cheap Trick are, there was still an incredible sense of present tense and honesty in the Aerosmith's show.

Of course, frontman Steven Tyler is still pulling out the same struts and poses with his scarf-adorned mic stand that had been a part of his act since the beginning of time, but it doesn't seem old. It could be because his sense of showmanship is so natural and automatic, but that doesn't totally do him or the rest of the band justice. They were on and in the moment, as they seem to be every time they come through town.

Whether it's older material such as Back in the Saddle or Cryin', or tracks from their latest blues cover CD, Honkin' on Bobo, such as Road Runner, Tyler still belts them out like a madman and guitarist Joe Perry still attacks them with the energy of someone who means every last note.

It's definitely not the same old song and dance -- it's so much more. And for that reason, it was a classic rock night but hardly a night of classic rock. If you know what I mean.