The first hour of Cheap Trick’s concert Thursday in the Tracy was an ear-bleeding, Spinal Tap 11 sonic assault.
The noise level seemed akin to a runway at Orlando International Airport. That didn’t bother the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band at all.
Original members Rick Nielsen, lead guitar; Robin Zander, vocals/guitar and Tom Petersson, bass; turned the Tracy into their own personal garage and the sonic booms were bouncing off the walls.
Cheap Trick must be getting old—the current edition of the band features the kids of two members. Daxx Nielsen – Rick’s son—plays drums while Robin Taylor Zander –Zander’s little boy – plays guitar and sings.
It’s a real family affair but the cross-generational line-up still delivers head-banging, chest-thumping rock and roll.
It all goes back to 1979 when the band released the single “Surrender.” For my money, it’s one of the greatest hard-rock songs ever made. It contains the lyrics, which every living, breathing teenager can identify with:
“Mommy’s alright/Daddy’s alright/They just seem a little weird.”
Hey man, Bob Dylan couldn’t have said it any better.
Maybe that’s why the boisterous crowd in the Tracy were on their feet, stomping, cheering and singing along when Cheap Trick belted out “Surrender” during its encore.
Rick Nielsen, who kept showering the audience by tossing them guitar picks – enjoyed the spectacle in the Sunshine State.
“Now we’re in Florida,” Nielsen told the jammed front rows. “I recognize some of you. Aren’t you from the prison down the road?”
Coleman Prison is in the neighborhood but this didn’t feel like Jailhouse Rock — I couldn’t spot any Coleman alumni at the gig.
The place went wild again, when Robin Zander –decked out in a cream white suit and fedora on top of his head — blasted off with “I Want You To Want Me.” It’s another Cheap Trick rock extravaganza.
He slowed things with the band’s pop ballad, “The Flame.” That record was out of character but it hit No. 1 in 1988 and was an MTV staple.
Zander started the number with a soft guitar intro and turned into one of the emotional moments of the concert.
It didn’t last long.
Cheap Trick came roaring back with “The Dream Police” and a rollicking cover of Fats Domino’s ‘50s’ hit “Ain’t That A Shame.”
Robin Taylor Zander brought some youthful juice to his hard-driving number, “Downed.” Petersson did some heavy jamming on the bass, while Daxx Nielsen offered a pounding drum solo.
But this night belonged to Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander, two rock and roll survivors. They may not move or sing as they did back in the day, but these aging Cheap Tricksters still know how to rock.
And they do it loud.
Tony Violanti writes about music and entertainment for Villages-News.com. He was inducted into The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame as a music journalist.