Marking their first appearance there in more than 20 years,
the Illinois band delivered a rousing 95-minute, 19-song set that primarily concentrated
on their platinum-selling late ‘70s LPs.
Cheap Trick’s first new studio album since 2009, titled “Bang Zoom Crazy…Hello,” will be released April 1 (a week
before the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York City) on Nashville-based
Big Machine Records. The musicians reteamed with producer Julian Raymond and
have recorded 30 songs in Nashville and Los Angeles. Singer Robin Zander has described
the new songs as having a “1975 flavor.”
Among the more influential and covered power pop/rock bands to
emerge during the Seventies, Cheap Trick’s music frequently pops in TV and film
(most recently in Adam Sandler’s “Pixels”). After 42 years together, the band
still tours steadily.
Following an audio montage of notable moments in Cheap Trick
history, the band launched the Riverside concert with its signature opener, “Hello
There” as Zander sang the question fans would answer affirmatively: “are you
ready to rock?”
“Elo Kiddies” was thunderous, thanks to Daxx Nielsen’s drum
work. “Hot Love” - another track from the self-titled 1977 debut - proved equally
powerful.
His father Rick Nielsen (who turns 67 this Tuesday) showed no signs
of slowing down on guitar, especially amid the fast-fingered fretwork on “Hot
Love” and chugging, spacey effects of “The House is Rockin’ (With Domestic
Problems).” He frequently worked both sides of the stage, threw picks out to
the crowd and switched to more unusual looking axes as the evening progressed.
The group’s popular cover of Fats Domino’s “Ain’t That a
Shame” was an early highlight; so was the sinister “Taxman, Mr. Thief.” Then “No
Direction,” proved to be a promising new tune.
Bassist and Nashville resident Tom Petersson
(pictured below) took over the lead vocal during an extended, laid back cover of the Velvet
Underground’s “I’m Waiting for the Man.” It got an overwhelming response.
Zander’s vocals on chart-topping power ballad “The Flame”
were as emotionally resonant as ever.
Energetic singalong hits “I Want You to
Want Me” and “Dream Police” closed the main set.
For the encores, Cheap Trick
played the title track to the forthcoming album, “Surrender” (a real crowd
pleaser), a menacing “Auf Wiedersehen” and “Goodnight.”
Upcoming shows:
Dec. 18 Napa, Calif., Uptown Theatre
Dec. 19 Stateline, NV, Harrah's Hotel Casino - Lake Tahoe
Dec. 20 San Jose, Calif., City National Civic
cheaptrick.com
Photos by Ken Phillips
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