Cheap Trick
OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino
Niagara Falls, Ontario
May 27, 2023
Last Saturday saw the return of Cheap Trick to Niagara Falls when they played a sold-out show at the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino. Saturday was almost exactly 18 years since the band first came to the Niagara Falls casino when they played two nights back in 2005 on May 28th and 29th. And the last time they came to the casino was on January 18, 2019 – all three shows were at the casino’s other venue, the Avalon Ballroom Theatre.
With three original members still remaining (lead vocalist Robin Zander, guitarist Rick Neilsen, and bassist Tom Petersson), the Rockford, Illinois band is showing no signs of slowing down as they celebrate their 50th anniversary this year. Rounding out the band is Neilsen’s son Daxx Neilsen (who replaced original drummer Bun E. Carlos after his retirement from the band in 2010) and Zander’s son Robin Taylor Zander on guitars.
Just after 8:00 PM, Cheap Trick hit the stage with Hello There, followed by Just Got Back and Hot Love. With 50 years and 20 studio albums under their belt, Cheap Trick is known to not play the same setlist twice, mixing up their playlist every night. On this particular night, Cheap Trick played many of their hits including I Want You To Want Me, and The Flame along with a couple of covers – California Man by The Move and Ain’t That A Shame by Fats Domino. They didn’t play any songs from their latest album, In Another World (2021).
The 90+ minute show ended with a three-song encore: Surrender, Clock Strikes Ten, and Dream Police. Cheap Trick was on their game, had fun, and delivered the goods. They showed Niagara Falls exactly why they are worth being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Setlist:
Hello There
Just Got Back
Hot Love
Big Eyes
California Man (The Move cover)
Ballad of TV Violence
Ain’t That A Shame (Fats Domino cover)
Wrong All Along
Taxman
Boys & Girls & Rock ‘n Roll
High Roller
Downed
I Know What I Want
The Flame
I Want You to Want Me
Dream Police
Encore:
Surrender
Clock Strikes Ten
Goodnight
All photos by Joel Naphin
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