by Josh Decker
Cheap Trick are one of the last remaining bands of an era of Rock n’ Roll that rewarded constant touring and album releases who are still putting out quality music and giving their audiences their money’s worth. This band can still stand toe to toe with artists three decades younger and rival them in terms of sheer performance quality. To say that I was blown away by the group’s recent set at Scottsdale, Arizona’s Talking Stick Resort would be putting it mildly, and I’d be remiss if I neglected to mention that I still have “Voices” in my head three days later as I sit writing this review.
From the opening chords of setlist staple “Hello There” to the lights once again returning to the auditorium after the band vacated the stage, Cheap Trick proved their worth as one of America’s top rock acts, performing a wide range of songs from a catalogue that now spans six decades. Notably, the evening was a family affair, with Rick Nielsen’s song Daxx on drums. Tom Petersson’s absence was felt but filling his shoes as well as anyone could, was Robin Zander’s son Robin Taylor Zander, who took control of the mic midway through the set with a pristine-voiced rendition of “Downed” and whose tone lent a spectacular quality to the music that accentuated the legendary voice of his father. While the band’s other two classic members may have been out, the familial tone of the evening afforded an experience that will linger in die hard Cheap Trick fans’ memories for many years to come.
A personal highlight of the set came when Rick Nielsen, the man perhaps most responsible for giving the band their tell-tale quirkiness, introduced the song that “should have been a hit”: “Borderline” from 1983’s Next Position Please. This song perfectly captures the essence of Cheap Trick: catchy, melodic, and all-around fun. The set additionally featured deep cuts like “Cry Cry” from their eponymous debut album and a new song – “Boys & Girls & Rock ‘n Roll” – from their recently-released record In Another World.
Another high mark of the evening was when the band played “The Flame.” Robin’s vocals were perhaps never better than they were during this song, which is saying a lot given how mesmerizing he was throughout the evening. The audience erupted into applause when he effortlessly launched into the final chorus of the song with high notes that no one should be able to hit and sustain.
Come time for the final stretch of the set, Robin Zander returns to the stage donning his classic police hat signifying that the “Dream Police” aren’t about to be letting anyone alone tonight. Rick Nielsen picks up his iconic five-neck guitar and the band tears through “Never Had a Lot To Lose” and “Surrender” before the night comes to an end.
Judging from the turnout of the show, the music of Cheap Trick is the perfect antidote to all of the chaos we find ourselves navigating in the world today. Hearing one of the most iconic bands in history playing their classic songs was a much-needed reminder of all the good there is in the world. From the looks of things, it doesn’t appear that anyone will be usurping the moniker of America’s Greatest Rock ‘N Roll Band from Cheap Trick any time soon.
Check out live shots of the show by Brenda Turner Photography
This is DEFINITELY a show you don’t want to miss. You can catch Cheap Trick on tour through November 12th, headlining shows in the following US cities. Then they pick up next July again touring with Rod Stewart.
Aug 19, 2021
Thu 7:00 pm
Goo Goo Dolls & Cheap Trick
Kewadin Shores Casino – St. Ignace – Saint Ignace, MI
Aug 21, 2021
Sat 8:00 pm
Cheap Trick
The Amphitheater at Dant Crossing – New Haven, KY
Aug 25, 2021
Wed 8:00 pm
Cheap Trick
Graceland Soundstage – Memphis, TN
Aug 27, 2021
Fri 7:30 pm
Cheap Trick & Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
PNC Pavilion At The Riverbend Music Center – Cincinnati, OH
Aug 28, 2021
Sat 8:00 pm
Cheap Trick & Joan Jett
The Factory – Chesterfield – Chesterfield, MO
Aug 29, 2021
Sun 7:30 pm
Joan Jett and The Blackhearts & Cheap Trick
Starlight Theatre – Kansas City – Kansas City, MO
Sep 4, 2021
Sat 8:00 pm
Cheap Trick
Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom – Hampton, NH
Sep 5, 2021
Sun 8:00 pm
Cheap Trick
House of Power Stadium at OC Fair Speedway – Middletown, NY
Sep 8, 2021
Wed 8:00 pm
Cheap Trick
Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre at the Count Basie Center for the Arts – Red Bank, NJ
Sep 10, 2021
Fri 8:00 pm
Cheap Trick
Tioga Downs – Nichols, NY
Sep 24, 2021
Fri 6:00 pm
Cheap Trick
Irving Plaza – New York, NY
Sep 25, 2021
Sat 12:00 pm
MMRBQ: Jane’s Addiction, The Offspring, Cheap Trick & Dirty Honey
BB&T Pavilion – Camden, NJ
Oct 8, 2021
Fri 8:00 pm
Cheap Trick
Hard Rock Live – Mississippi – Biloxi, MS
Oct 9, 2021
Sat 8:00 pm
Cheap Trick
L’auberge Du Lac Casino And Resort – Lake Charles, LA
Oct 15, 2021
Fri 6:00 pm
Cheap Trick
Nutty Brown Cafe & Amphitheatre – Austin, TX
Oct 31, 2021
Sun 7:00 pm
Cheap Trick
Chartway Arena at Ted Constant Convocation Center – Norfolk, VA
Nov 2, 2021
Tue 7:30 pm
Cheap Trick
Santander Performing Arts Center – Reading, PA
Nov 3, 2021
Wed 8:00 pm
Cheap Trick
Warner Theatre – DC – Washington, DC
Nov 4, 2021
Thu 8:00 pm
Cheap Trick
Paramount Theatre – Huntington – Huntington, NY
Nov 7, 2021
Sun 8:00 pm
Cheap Trick
Capitol Theatre – Port Chester – Port Chester, NY
Nov 9, 2021
Tue 8:00 pm
Cheap Trick
Palace Theatre – PA – Greensburg, PA
Nov 12, 2021
Fri 7:00 pm
Cheap Trick
Wellmont Theatre – Montclair, NJ
May 14, 2022
Sat 7:00 pm
ZZ Top & Cheap Trick
Mile One Centre – St. John’s, NL
Jul 1, 2022
Fri 7:30 pm
Rod Stewart & Cheap Trick
Dickies Arena – Fort Worth, TX
Jul 2, 2022
Sat 7:30 pm
Rod Stewart & Cheap Trick
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – Spring, TX
Jul 5, 2022
Tue 7:30 pm
Rod Stewart & Cheap Trick
Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
Jul 12, 2022
Tue 7:30 pm
Rod Stewart & Cheap Trick
Riverbend Music Center – Cincinnati, OH
Jul 16, 2022
Sat 7:30 pm
Rod Stewart & Cheap Trick
Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Tinley Park – Tinley Park, IL
Jul 19, 2022
Tue 7:30 pm
Rod Stewart & Cheap Trick
Blossom Music Center – Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Jul 26, 2022
Tue 7:30 pm
Rod Stewart & Cheap Trick
Budweiser Stage – Toronto – Toronto, ON
Jul 27, 2022
Wed 7:30 pm
Rod Stewart & Cheap Trick
DTE Energy Music Theatre – Clarkston, MI
Aug 12, 2022
Fri 7:30 pm
Rod Stewart & Cheap Trick
Xfinity Center – MA – Mansfield, MA
Aug 13, 2022
Sat 7:30 pm
Rod Stewart & Cheap Trick
Mohegan Sun Arena – CT – Uncasville, CT
Aug 16, 2022
Tue 7:30 pm
Rod Stewart & Cheap Trick
PNC Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ
Aug 20, 2022
Sat 7:30 pm
Rod Stewart & Cheap Trick
Hersheypark Stadium – Hershey, PA
Aug 23, 2022
Tue 7:30 pm
Rod Stewart & Cheap Trick
Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh, NY
Aug 27, 2022
Sat 7:30 pm
Rod Stewart & Cheap Trick
Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, MD
Aug 31, 2022
Wed 7:30 pm
Rod Stewart & Cheap Trick
Ameris Bank Amphitheatre – Alpharetta, GA
Sep 3, 2022
Sat 7:30 pm
Rod Stewart & Cheap Trick
Amalie Arena – Tampa, FL