Heart with Cheap Trick Live in Edmonton March 21st 2025

 

 I actually wrote this short review a week ago and apparently didn't post. Fucking dumb ass, I am. So here it is.

 A week ago my buddy Nazz and I went to the Heart and Cheap Trick double bill at Rogers Place. I had no intention of going to this show as I am not a fan of Heart but would like to have seen Cheap Trick again, but wasn't going to pay for tickets. Well, as luck would have it. An old friend of mine happened to have tickets and wasn't able to make it to the show, so offered the tickets to me. Thank you so much Trina if you happen to see this.

 So this would be my second time attending a Heart concert. The first time being in August 1990 when the Black Crowes opened for them. I went to that show as I am a big fan of The Crowes. After seeing the opening band my buddy Hurl and I left with no regrets.

 Thirty-five years later here I am again going to a Heart concert where I really only want to see the opening band, this time being Cheap Trick. Only this time, I ended up staying for some of Heart. I've just never been a fan of the band. Ya, they put out some classic rock back in the day, but hearing it so often on classic rock radio, I just got really sick of them and they just never really did anything for me.

 This Heart tour was previously supposed to happen a year ago but was postponed after lead singer Ann Wilson's recovery from cancer. Ann is performing this tour in a wheelchair after taking a spill a few weeks before the tour started busting up her elbow. So her arm is in a sling and from what I have read Ann just thought it would be safer to perform in a wheelchair.

 I have to admit, I was surprised how well she can still sing even from a wheelchair. And sister Nancy Wilson is still rocking it. I was surprised that the band needed four guitarists though, weird. My buddy Nazz and I only stayed for about half the show, what we heard was alright, some old songs such as "Magic Man", "Crazy On You", "Let's Dance" a Bowie cover, "Dreamboat Annie" and a Zeppelin cover "Going To California" and then that was enough for both of us.

Heart.

  With Cheap Trick opening we made sure to be there early as we didn't want to miss any of their opening set. This would be my third time seeing Cheap Trick in concert. I saw Cheap Trick just a few years ago opening for Rod Stewart, and have to say I think they sounded way better this time around.

 Good thing we got there early as the first song they did was "Dream Police" which really surprised me as that is probably their biggest song. Who starts a set with there biggest song, Cheap Trick, that's who. Lead vocalist Robin Zander still sounds good, looking older as they all are, hell I think Robin, guitarist Rick Neilson and bassist Tom Petersson are all in their mid 70's now.

 I thought their setlist was good, playing such hits as "Lookout", "I Know What I Want", "I Want You To Want Me", "Surrender" and "The Flame" a song I can't stand, that was the only bad song for me, and then closed out their opening set with "Goodnight". All and all a great set and a lot of fun. Good times!!!

Cheap Trick.

  A big thank you to my buddy Nazz for the t-shirt too.

T-shirt front.

T-shirt back.

August 27th

  

 It was on this day August 27th, 1994 that I saw Meat Loaf headline a show at Commonwealth Stadium here in Edmonton. Opening the show was The Pursuit Of Happiness and Cheap Trick.

Rod Stewart & Cheap Trick Live in Edmonton August 15th 2023

 

This Rod Stewart and Cheap Trick show at Rogers Place finally happened after being postponed a few times because of the pandemic. I was surprised that after a few years it was still the double bill it was. I was really looking forward to seeing Cheap Trick in concert again and of course Rod Stewart. I went to this show with Buzzard, Cuz and Janis.

This would be my second time seeing Cheap Trick in concert, the last time being in 1994. Best to catch these acts while you still can, because they sure the hell aren't getting any younger. Cheap Trick still has three of the original members in the band. Robin Zander on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Tom Petersson on bass and Rick Nielsen on lead guitar. The band was rounded out with Daxx Nielsen on drums (son of Rick Nielsen) and on guitar Robin Taylor Zander Jr. (son of Robin Zander). The original members are all in their 70's now.

There was a good majority of the crowd seated and ready to see Cheap Trick perform. I think half the audience was there as much for Cheap Trick as Rod. Cheap Trick's forty-five minute set went over pretty damn good. Though I thought they sounded kind of rough for the first half of the show. The band opened the show with two songs from their 1977 album In Color, opening with "Hello There" followed by "Big Eyes". The last half of their set was excellent with them playing their big hits like "The Flame", "I Want You To Want Me', "Dream Police", "Surrender" and closing the show with "Goodnight". A fun set and very happy I got to see the band again.

Cheap Trick.

Headlining the evening was 78 year old  Rod Stewart. This was my third time seeing Sir Rod in concert. By the time Rod hit the stage with his big ass band Rogers Place was packed. Ol' Rod can still fill a coliseum.

What surprised me was Rod Stewart opening his show with the song "Addicted To Love" a Robert Palmer song, weird! For a man at 78 years old, Rod can still put on a hell of show. Lots of energy and his voice still sounds great too. After opening with a cover song, he played one of his own "You Wear It Well" and then a song from his Faces day "Ooh La La". That was the only faces song he did unfortunately. I'd love to see him get that band back together. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised by the opening song being a cover song as Rod does play a lot of other peoples song, such as CCR's "Have You Seen The Rain", Tom Waits "Downtown Train", a Cat Stevens song and Van Morrison's "Have I Told You Lately?". Then his back up singers did the Pointer Sisters song "I'm So Excited" while rod had a outfit change. I was very happy to hear Rod play "Maggie May" and "Young Turks" and of course he did a few corny songs like "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" and "Infatuation". 

 I loved seeing how much Rod Stewart looked to be having a good time and really enjoying himself performing. The man still has it! A fun show as always from Sir Rod. Good times!!!

Rod Stewart.