- Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander still has cool pants
Cheap Trick and Squeeze could have played it safe last night, sticking with their hits or pulling from their most recent albums. Instead, both bands selected songs for their sets at House of Blues that smartly spanned their careers and rewarded longtime fans.
Cheap Trick started the show (it’s a co-headlining tour, with the bands switching off nightly) with “Weight of the World.”
Singer Robin Zander still looks like a rock star, wearing sunglasses throughout most of the show and blinding the audience with a voice that hasn’t changed much over the years. Guitarist Rick Nielsen continually ran across the stage, while bassist Tom Petersson grinned from ear to ear. (Nielsen’s son played drums, since Bun E. Carlos is taking a break from this tour.) It’s hard to believe they’ve been doing this for 35 years.
Highlights included “Borderline,” “Downed,” “Magical Mystery Tour,” and “The Ballad of TV Violence.”
Squeeze were sharply dressed and ready to rock. Like Zander, frontman Glen Tilbrook’s vocals are still spot-on, especially when he sang harmonies with guitarist Chris Difford.
The band played some rarely heard songs during its set, including “When the Hangover Strikes,” “It’s So Dirty,” and “Hope Fell Down.”
They saved some of their most popular songs for last, ending the show with “Tempted” and “Pulling Mussels.” —Karen Laney
Were you there? Tell us what you thought of the show.
This article appears in Jul 7-13, 2010.
Yes, I was there. I don’t think Zander’s vocals were very good. I agree that his voice hasn’t changed over the years, but it hasn’t improved at all, either. He’s got no dynamic range, and you couldn’t make out the words, even when you knew what he was singing. Cheap Trick’s overall play list was weak, and I can’t believe they chose “Magical Mystery Tour” from all the Beatles material….probably because of the limitations of Zander’s voice. I thought Rick Nielson was excellent, and really enjoyed watching him play (although he made many errors that most viewers didn’t catch).
Squeeze was crisp, well-mixed, and very entertaining. Although I knew less of their material, they were a better overall band based on their performance last night.
JACster
I didn’t know why you expect a rock and roll band to pull off a studio-perfect performance. I can’t think of many other vocalists with the stylistic range and control of Robin Zander. “No dynamic range”? Do you even know what you’re talking about? “Couldn’t make out the words”? Sit at home and read the liner notes if you care that much about the lyrics. (I don’t know which song you had trouble deciphering, but it was probably about a girl.)
Good grief!
Next time have a beer. Tap your foot to the music. Loosen up a bit and maybe –just maybe– your sphincter will relax enough for you to pull that stick out of your butt and you’ll recognize a fantastic rock and roll show when you see it.
However I do agree on Squeeze. They were quite good.
Umm….I guess it’s cool that they let deaf people like JACster into a concert and all, but I just don’t know how someone obviously unable to hear could enjoy such an event. Maybe the motion and colors are enough to get a smile brewing for him. God bless the ignorant, the beasts and the children.
Just to clarify things here, Robin Zander is one of, if not thee, greatest rock and roll singers ever! Range? He has it all and then some. Unlike most rockers getting on in years, he still has full power, range, dynamics and melodic sense.
Cheap Trick have always been a totally different animal live than they are in the studio. It’s always loud, raw and totally rocking. They chose Magical Mystery Tour, probably becuase it’s a great song, and they have a recorded version of it from years back.I would be curious to know who JAC thinks is a good singer. Maybe he’s just bummed out they didn’t play The Flame. Rick’s son kicks ass on drums and pushes the band harder than they have been in years. Bun E not wanting to tour has been the best thing to happen to them in terms of re-igniting their fire. I would put them up against any band out there…any! And they would kick their ass. Tom is still amazing and Rick, well, he really is the king! Squeeze were great and I love ’em, but CT is one hard act to follow. Also, just to be an anal retentive fan, it is Nielsen, not Nielson and the opening song was Way Of The World…not Weight. 2nd song, side one, Dream Police LP.
http://jacster.spaces.live.com
It’s “Way Of The World”, not Weight.
Saw them tonite in jersey….squeeze kicked ass…every song was crisp and upbeat hits and other wise. People were dancing in the aisles….cheap trick…uhhhh…not so much…..bunch of self indulgent crap which surprised me..perhaps im a superficial newbie but their song list blew and everyone though technically superior was similarly loud raw and annoying. As a consumer ….yes I paid 68 bucks to hear the hits from back in the day not some crap from our ” new album “
Hey Fitedoc, are you considering them as self indulgent because they played songs from their fantastic new album? If so, that’s your problem! They are still a very active, functioning and kick ass rock band! Why wouldn’t they play songs from their new album?
Also, why do people use the term ‘self indulgent’ as if it’s a bad thing. Yes, I am sure they were indulging themselves in the mighty, loud and wonderful rock and roll them always deliver. Why wouldn’t they?!
Some people…I tell ya…