The Band
An institution spanning 50 years, Rockford Illinois’ favorite sons Cheap Trick continue to be a primary rock ‘n’ roll force; writing, recording, and touring—with seemingly no end in sight. The band’s legacy stretches 20 studio albums, eight live offerings, and countless compilations. With a mix of influences encompassing The Beatles, The Who, Roy Wood, The Beach Boys, pop culture, and more, the band has gone on to influence countless musicians and are considered key players in the loose genre of sorts known as power pop.
The core of the band for most of its tenure has consisted of guitarist and songwriter Rick Nielsen, lead vocalist Robin Zander, bassist Tom Petersson, and drummer Bun E. Carlos. Carlos and the band parted ways in 2010, but the idiosyncratic drummer is still involved as a shareholder on the business side, having since been replaced by Nielsen’s son Daxx.
Emerging at the front end of punk, while touring with arena rock acts of the day, Cheap Trick had a universal appeal, with its mix of crunchy guitars, eccentric lyrics, and infectious sing-along choruses. While very successful at various points in its storied career, the band was often a little too clever for the masses, and thus, has never cut through on the level of some of its ‘70s peers. But there were definitely some big triumphs along the way, including 1978’s surprise break-out hit, the triple-platinum Cheap Trick at Budokan, and a handful of key studio albums that still demand desert-island inclusion (In Color, Heaven Tonight, Dream Police, One on One). Over the decades, the band continues to push its legacy forward, with a string of acclaimed new releases these past few years and annual tours that drive brisk business, plus an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.
The Show: August 8, 2023, Mt. View CA
While currently on tour opening for Rod Stewart, Cheap Trick recently demolished the grounds of the posh outdoor Shoreline Amphitheatre in the Bay Area. The relatively subdued and affected audience there to see the now highly polished and genteel Rod Stewart must not have known what hit them once this scrappy and understated combo hit the stage. With minimal production and bright sunlight still in tow, the band needed none of the affectations of the headliner to put its point across.
Opening with a shotgun blast of triple guitars and the extraordinary vocals of Robin Zander—whose well-worn pipes are as potent as ever—the band charged through the speed-addled introductory salvo of “Hello There,” before delving into the ultra-deep cut, “Hot Love” from the band’s 1977 debut album. This ominous anti-love song is hardly what you might expect the band to be traversing, given the chardonnay-sipping crowd in attendance, but the number was greeted with an enthusiastic response nonetheless.
Next up, In Color’s “Southern Girls,” heated things up further before a raucous cover of the aforementioned Roy Wood’s “California Man” devastated the crowd further. Also on stage was Zander’s son, Robin Taylor Zander who now tours with the band full-time on rhythm guitar and vocals, often backing up his dad’s verses for an overall richer sound. The Shoreline’s solid acoustics did due justice to the band’s stellar harmonies which, at times, sounded stronger than the studio versions.
Another standout was the inclusion of the melancholy but upbeat, “Downed.” With lead vocals handled by Robin Taylor Zander, whose tone is a mixture of his father’s and Oasis’ Liam Gallagher’s, the song moved along at hyper-speed, with a heavier edge, leaving a sharp aftertaste not long before the brie and chablis of Rod Stewart’s main course.
This hour-long set showcased the band in fine form, sounding inspired and electric, even if some of the usual madcap antics of Rick Nielsen were slightly tamer. But given the small-ish stage area the band was allotted and, well, 50 years of touring under its collective studded belt, it’s more than understandable. All in all, with a killer selection of standards and deep cuts, plus those incomparable hooks and riffs, Cheap Trick properly leveled the packed amphitheater. And it rocked.
The Set List:
- Hello There
- Hot Love
- Southern Girls
- California Man
- Ain’t That A Shame
- Downed
- I Know What I Want
- The Flame
- I Want You to Want Me
- Surrender
- Dream Police
- Auf Wiedersehen
- Goodnight
The Legacy
The main thing that’s always set Cheap Trick apart from the rest is its universal appeal. Not many bands—if any, ever—are cited by both the likes of Nirvana and Poison as major influences. And who else has stoked the affections of both high-brow music critics and heshers with yellow-stained teeth alike? As far as scenes go, Cheap Trick has impacted mainstream pop, punk, hard rock and the ‘90s alternative wave, and even had its own genre assigned to it. With a canon of killer songs, one of rock’s greatest singers, and a style that doesn’t fit neatly into any genre, Cheap Trick is truly one-of-a-kind and this recent show is evidence that the band has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.
For questions, comments, or something you’d like to see, drop me a line @JimKaz1.
Live photos by Kasey Kaz
