Like a huge majority of rock music fans when that epic record "Cheap Trick at Budokan " came out in 1979, and I got to hear what four highly talented musicians could do with a live audience as they rolled through songs like "Surrender" and "I Want You To Want Me", I wanted to see this high energy band live in person. Ok, so it took me 42 years, but I can finally say I have now seen CHEAP TRICK LIVE!!
Cheap Trick came to the Xcite Center in Bensalem, PA Saturday Night November 6th and for 90 minutes took the singing, dancing capacity crowd on a journey through their Hall of Fame career. I'm not gonna lie, being up front three feet away from Robin Zander (looking every bit a rock star) and Rick Nielsen (the man of a thousand guitars who created so many incredible songs) was certainly a surreal moment.
And to top it off, the band opened with the same song that opens "Budokan", "Hello There" from the album "In Color". Of course the hits "I Want You To Want Me", "The Flame", "Dream Police", and "Surrender" tore the house down and to be honest, years of radio play has taken nothing away from these songs. Goosebump moments during each song! Hearing a full auditorium sing each word of a song in unison for me will never get old. "Ain't That A Shame" and "The House is Rockin" were two other major crowd pleasers that literally had people dancing in the aisles.
Cheap Trick have perfected the art of performing live and although it may have come to light in 1979, it continues as strong as ever in 2021.
Cheap Trick has U.S. tour dates through November posted on their site at https://www.cheaptrick.com/tour-dates.html.
Set list
Hello There
Oh Candy
Lookout
Big Eyes
California Man
Ain't That a Shame
Radio Lover
Boys & Girls & Rock 'n Roll
Need Your Love
The House is Rockin'
Baby Loves to Rock
Downed
The Flame
I Want You to Want Me
Dream Police
Never Had A Lot to Lose
Surrender
Auf Wiedersehen
Goodnight