The Latest Trick
Cheap Trick - O2ABC, Glasgow, 7th November 2010

I didn't think anyone would knock Wolfstone's January gig off the top-spot of my favourite 2010 shows.
But damn if the Tricksters didn't deliver a pretty faultless performance.
Again.
A packed house at the O2ABC, a good time had by all, an unpredictable set list and no voice left.
Again.

The show actually started about 2 minutes before the band hit the stage with an audio intro of soundbites, classic track snippets and humorous Trick-related lines from the likes of The Simpsons before a young woman's voice proclaimed
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, please welcome to the stage the best fucking rock band you've ever seen, Cheap Trick..."

Tongue in Trick cheeks these boys may have, but there is an argument for the introductory comment being 100% accurate, although guitarist Rick Neilsen has said in the past "we're you're fifth favourite band."
Much as I hate to disagree with someone I have a serious amount of time for, with or without a guitar in his hand, I can't agree with Rick's statement.
It's fourth favourite, sorry, and has been for over thirty years while other artists and acts moved up and down the Muirsical Division Table over those decades.

And that, fellow rock fans and friends, is because of something called consistency. If you ask any fan of classic rock/ hard melodic pop/ call it what you will to list their top 10 favourite bands, Cheap Trick are usually in there - because Cheap Trick are unarguably the most consistent rock and roll band of the last 30+ years.

Unlike many other classic rock bands or their contemporaries they have continued to deliver in the studio and on stage, never had to reinvent themselves, never had a hiatus, tour almost constantly, retained their core line-up with limited changes or additions and have influenced an astonishing number of musicians or acts from Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins) to the Goo Goo Dolls.
And the band know it - one of Neilsen's humorous interactions with the crowd (sadly limited in Glasgow due to a heavy cold) was when thanking the audience for turning up "considering the Goo Goo Dolls are also in town tonight. But we are the original Goo Goo Dolls."

The core of Cheap Trick remains Rick Neilsen, Robin Zander and Tom Petersson with Rick's son Daxx ably filling in on drums for original sticksman Bun E Carlos. Carlos remains an official member and studio drummer, but is not at this time the touring drummer.

They also augmented the sound with a keyboard player, which they have done in the past, but in a very under-stated manner - this is a guitar band, with Zander more times than not playing a six-string rythym to compliment Rick Neilsen's vast array of axes and versatility.
Neilsen remains one of the most under-rated rock guitarists, known more for his song writing, quirky humour, on-stage attire and vast collection of guitars (I'm sure it was a different guitar for every song) than his ability on the instrument.

The band kicked off somewhat predictably with 'Hello There' and 'C'mon C'mon' but there any predictability ended.
Trick have always had a reputation for mixing up their set and with some sixteen studio albums, dozens of non-album tracks and 35 years of history to choose from, they are never in danger of playing a repetitive set or Greatest Hits shows (the latter only ever happening on shorter sets or support slots).
The recent 2010 sets were completely overhauled for this short UK tour, with half the usual suspects posted missing and a few gems or rarely heard songs thrown in for good measure.

From the debut album ('ELO Kiddies', 'Cry Cry') to their most recent release The Latest (where a handful of songs were on display including the punchy 'Sick Man of Europe' and the Lennon-esque 'Miracle') they covered pretty much all the bases.
Some of the usual suspects were included such as 'I Want You to Want Me' and 'Surrender', the latter complete with Weegie chorus in full voice.

Special mention must go to front man Robin Zander.
Rick Neilsen refers to the vocalist as his "favourite singer in the whole world" and, like the band themselves, he is unarguably one of the most consistent performers in the world or rock and hard melodic pop.

Zander has always been one of my favourite singers and I have yet to hear, see, or listen to him (on the countless official and unofficial live material that is available) have a poor show. And that's pretty good going for a singer who has worked the stage for 35 years and who predominately sings in the high tenor range.
The only other vocalist I can place in the same consistency category - as regards longevity, strength of pipes and constantly solid deliveries - is Paul Rodgers.
And that's not bad company (sorry) to share a microphone compliment with. 

This was the first show of the UK tour and was a rockin' start - no first night nerves or lack of tightness for a band who have been here, done that, and brought the t-shirts with them so many times before.
The only looser point in the proceedings was their cover of the Yardbirds 'I Wish You Would', brought into the set as they hoped to be doing a few numbers at the Classic Rock 'Roll of Honour' awards in London and clearly wanted to throw a little English into the British magazine's award show.
It was probably its first live outing, going by Neilsen's reminder to the band it was in the key of G before kicking into a raucous rendition of the classic number and one of the fastest and heaviest musical moments of the night.
 
Other surprises were usual set-certainties 'If You Want My love' and 'Voices' given a rest, but they were hardly missed with highlights such as a rare outing for 'World's Greatest Lover', 'I Didn't Know I Had It' (from the under-rated Woke Up With a Monster) and a powerful 10 minute rendition of 'Need your love.'
The latter was the first encore number after some band discussion and request-taking from the crowd.
The classic 'Dream Police' followed before 'Goodnight Now' closed out the 90 minute show.

Many may consider 90 minutes a short show these days but that's been Trick Time for a number of years now and, quite frankly, a Cheap Trick crowd would rather have 90 minutes of high energy rock and roll than a 2 hour plus set padded out with solos or extended or weaker songs just to try and provide value for over-priced ticket money. More times than not, less is more.

A few words on The Latest, Cheap Trick's best album in over 20 years...
The album is actually a 2009 release but has only been available in the U.K. as a download/ MP3 album.
However Neilsen confirmed the CD version has, in effect, been released via Classic Rock magazine, who carried it as a free CD with the issue of the mag that coincided with the band's appearances in the UK.
It's a brilliant marketing ploy that will benefit both magazine and band.
It also ties in nicely to their appearance at the awards show and the album's hard copy UK release has allowed it to feature on the short-list for Best Rock Album.

It's a smart move, but similar to ones I've wanted other acts such as the Pat Travers Band to consider who earlier this year released Fidelis, their own Latest in that it's the best album to carry the PT stamp since the hay daze.
Fidelis is only available in download format in the UK at the moment and that's part of the reason it's tragically under-heard and under-the-radar this side of the pond. Sometimes it feels like I'm the only one promoting it.
Take note Patrick Henry, from the boys who know every Trick in the book.

Ross Muir
November 2010