{"id":143,"date":"2015-03-24T23:52:23","date_gmt":"2015-03-24T23:52:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/greatgigs.com.au\/?p=143"},"modified":"2019-08-13T13:17:53","modified_gmt":"2019-08-13T03:17:53","slug":"billy-idol-and-cheap-trick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greatgigs.com.au\/index.php\/2015\/03\/24\/billy-idol-and-cheap-trick\/","title":{"rendered":"Billy Idol and Cheap Trick"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Cheap Trick<\/strong>
The simple fact that Illinois rockers \u2018Cheap Trick\u2019 chose to introduce their Melbourne show at Margaret Court Arena with some cheeky self-referential Bart and Homer Simpson soundbytes was a pretty good indication as to what the audience could expect from the evening. Exemplary pop culture framed in comical boyishness…

\u201cLadies and Gentlemen. boys and girls, please welcome to the stage the best $%^&*@# band you\u2019ve ever seen, Cheap Trick!\u201d<\/em>

Seeing this band live is akin to going to the carnival. Their loyal audience, (it should be mentioned many of whom were sporting Kiss t-shirts tonight) came along expecting to see every (cheap) trick in the book played out on stage and true to form, the band didn\u2019t disappoint.
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Although formed way back in the 70\u2019s, incredibly three of the four original members (Neilsen (g), Zander (v) and Petersson (b) still remain \u2013 the notable exception being drummer Bun E. Carlos \u2013 his massive footprint on the drum riser is admirably filled these days by an earnest and talented Daxx Nielsen (son of lead guitarist Rick) who is more than able to match Bun E\u2019s manic parts.
Lead singer Robin Zander \u2013 once a heartthrob adonis with famous long blond locks \u2013 is now in his early sixties and dresses from head to toe in black leathers with his trademark hat pulled down low over his shaded eyes. He strides to the mic and is all business as he launches into a committed and earnest rendition of set opener \u2018Hello There\u201d. The looks may have gone westward but gratifyingly that killer voice is still very much intact.
The iconic baseball capped Rick Nielsen is undeniably the audience\u2019s favourite member and is at his most jocular tonight. His mic stand is festooned from top to bottom on both sides with dozens of guitar picks and we soon discover why Not only does he swap to a different guitar every song but then he punctuates almost every line of each song with a nonchalant plectrum toss to some eager audience member. This translates into literally hundreds of plectrums over the course of show.
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At one stage during \u2018If You Want My Love\u2019 he strides back and forth across the stage, proudly displaying his local empathy and support for the Melbourne scene and in particular Malcolm Young of AC\/DC. He pulls his jacket open wide to reveal he\u2019s sporting a limited edition Cherry Bar \u2018Get Well Malcolm T-Shirt\u2019, bringing huge roars of appreciation from the fans who recognise the sincere and heartfelt gesture.
\u2018If You Want My Love\u2019 is their first rousing singalong of the evening and despite a frustratingly muddy sound mix (which sadly the band seem to battle with most of the set) the power of the song cuts through and the audience revel in the joyous reminiscence of it.
There is some gorgeous guitar work from the boys during the extended \u2018Taxman, Mr Thief\u2019 and \u2018The Ballad of T.V. Violence (I\u2019m not the Only Boy)\u2019 before they introduce the title track from perhaps one of their most adored albums, \u2018Heaven Tonight\u2019. The track live is a revelation and they clearly love playing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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