When it comes to the self proclaimed greatest fuckin’ rock n roll band in the world, a Monday night is as good as any to witness some kick ass rock n’ roll from these dead set legends. No strangers to our shores over the past 40 years, this visit sees a run of headline shows, as well as the night before joining Foreigner in Adelaide.
Of course Hello There opened things up, with ladies and gentlemen of all ages rising to their feet showing they were indeed ready to rock. You Got It Going On represented off the bands 2017 release, whilst the menacing riff of Big Eyes added some trademark Trick quirkiness early in the set.
California Man was delivered in ball tearing fashion, with the crowd getting equally stuck into this one. Four songs in and it was clear the band were on song. Maybe thinking his Cheap Trick suit and t-shirt weren’t a giveaway, Nielsen thought he’d announce “Just in case you weren’t sure, we’re Cheap Trick….”.
Blood Red Lips gave another taste of recent material, lifted off 2016’s Bang Zoom Crazy Hello. With it’s undeniable 70’s glam swagger, this one even had You Am I’s Tim Rogers shaking his ass in the crowd. Now I’m not sure if it was just me, but am sure the volume got dialled up just as the spotlight fell on Daxx Nielsen on the drums with father Rick and Tom Petersson trading licks before launching into deeper cut On Top Of The World. The way he was owning the stage and those vocals, indeed it felt like Robin Zander was on top of the world tonight.
If You Want My Love was a big hit down under, and don’t Rick Nielsen and the crowd know it. If you’re Cheap Trick and you’re going to pick a band to do some covers of, I guess The Beatles is a good place to start. Sharing some of their excitement for their upcoming show at the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool, UK, we had a rambling version of Magical Mystery Tour. Doubling up the covers, next up was Ain’t That A Shame, the Fats Domino song the band have well and truly made their own over the last decades. Robin Zander still looking resplendid in white top hat commands the stage, with an assured swagger as he stands back observing his charges jam out this one.
Their most recent recorded song The Summer Looks Good On You got an airing and shows the band have lost none of that knack for writing the finest and rawest power pop out there. The epic and pulsating Stop This Game was an unexpected bonus for me and a definite set highlight. However for some, maybe it was Tom Petersson’s 12 string bass solo that was the highlight? Yes thats right, a 12 string bass… which was the pre-cursor to Petersson handling lead vocals on Waiting For The Man.
With Robin Zander starting out on acoustic guitar, with those instantly recognisable chords of The Flame ringing out, Rick Nielsens favourite frontman in the whole wide world, showed us exactly why he has this title, his vocal performance on this song was magical.
Feeling like the band were only just getting warmed up, I Want You To Want Me, Dream Police, Never Had A Lot To Lose and Surrender was as strong a finish to a set than I’ve seen in a long time. Sure, having some of the all time greatest power pop songs helps, but above all, tonight Cheap Trick proved that when it comes to rock n roll, there aren’t too many who deliver it better or louder!
Goodnight now ladies and gentlemen….
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by SAS75 Photography
