Cheap Trick are one of those bands that seem to have been together since the dawn of time. They’ve seen it all, partied with the best of them and are still able to find the stage at show time.

Just before the band took the stage at Kansas City’s Ameristar Casino, a voice announced “Ladies and Gentlemen, the best fucking rock band in the world, Cheap Trick!” That statement was a bit of a stretch. They may have been top dogs of the power pop anthem universe in the late '70s and into the early days of MTV but now they feel to me like a greatest hits package with a kickass guitarist.

The show was good and entertaining but not great and awe inspiring. Cheap Trick is touring behind their latest album, cleverly named The Latest, but thankfully the band didn’t pad the set with new tunes, throwing in just a couple (the best being the obvious John Lennon vocal nod on “The Miracle”) and then giving the fans their hits and a few rarely heard gems like a great cover of “Down The Line.” The main stumbling blocks that kept the show good instead of rocketing it to fantastic were 1) a mediocre sound mix (not the band’s fault) and 2) Robin Zander prowling the stage like an aged lion in leather pants, a silk shirt and a fan to blow his hair dramatically. If you’re in your 50s and your name isn’t Jim Morrison, you are not allowed to wear leather pants. It felt like I was having some weird 1980’s flashback but what did I expect? It’s Cheap Trick after all.

Bun E. Carlos was tight, precise, and nearly perfect behind the drums. Almost too perfect, like going through the motions, phoning it in perfect. It was cold and lacked emotion. Tom Peterson ( 12 string peacock design and glitter covered bass) and Rick Neilsen (guitarist supreme) were a different story. They weren’t perfect, they made mistakes in the songs and they were awesome. Tom played his 12 string bass (the only one I’ve ever seen) with a ferocity and elegance that I haven’t seen from a bassist in years; maybe since Kim Gordon at Lollapalooza 1995.

Though the members (all four original members are still in the band) are good or great at their roles, it is Rick Neilsen who is the reason for seeing Cheap Trick. The guitarist is without a doubt one of the greatest guitarists to come out of the late seventies and his playing has influenced everyone from Dave Grohl to Laurent Brancowitz of Phoenix. Beside the fact that he ripped shit on the hits “Surrender”, “I Want You To Want Me” and the explosive encore “Dream Police”, he blew through lesser known tracks from a good chunk of their catalog for the hardcore fans in the audience. In the hour and a half the band played, Rick brought out at least eight guitars (the famous 5 necked Hamer and a Beatles themed one being just 2) and played everyone like he was a machine gunner mowing down the enemy. Neilsen joked with the crowd, ran around like a kid on a sugar high and honestly looked like he was having a great time. No Eddie Vedder moping here. Rick loves his job.

Yes, there were slow moments like the late 80’s hit “The Flame” but that’s why people came out to the show, to hear the hits. At this point in Cheap Trick’s career that is what they do. The Stones go out and play the hits, right? The crowd got new material and appreciated it but the hits is what they wanted and that’s what they got.

No, the show was not perfect but no show ever is. At times it felt to me like the band was going through the motions, like at least half the band is resigned to the fact that they are a nostalgia act to a point and that’s a bit sad.

I went there to see a band I loved as a kid and that’s what I got. Cheap Trick. No fill ins, no substitutions or new members, this was the same Cheap Trick that rocked Budokan only with a little less fire in their bellies. Cheap Trick are one of the architects of Power Pop. They released their first record 30 years ago, they hae written songs that EVERYONE knows and are still capable of putting on a good show.
At one point in the performance, Neilson jokingly said, “We should all go on a trip together.” We have been on a trip with you, Rick. It’s lasted for three decades and for the most part, it’s been a blast.

-Danny R. Phillips

Cheap Trick
March 5, 2010
Ameristar Casino, Kansas City Missouri

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