Cheap Trick - Montreal

Cheap Trick rolled into Montreal and it was a reminder of just how much energy this band can still bring to a stage. The Rockford, Illinois legends have been doing this for more than five decades, yet the performance never felt like a group simply cashing in on nostalgia.

Cheap Trick's biggest advantage has always been the songs. The set was packed with material that has become part of the DNA of classic rock, from “I Want You to Want Me” and “Surrender” to “Dream Police” and “Hello There.” The audience didn't need much encouragement. These are songs that practically play themselves once the first few notes hit.

Rick Nielsen remains the obvious character of the group, bringing his trademark personality and guitar work to the stage, while Robin Zander continues to be one of the great rock vocalists of his generation. Even after all these years, his voice gives Cheap Trick something many aging rock bands struggle to maintain: the ability to actually sound like the records people came to hear.

The Montreal crowd was especially responsive to the band's biggest classics, and Cheap Trick made good use of its limited opening-act time. There was no unnecessary padding or extended speeches. They simply got onstage and played one great song after another.

That's what makes Cheap Trick such a satisfying legacy act. They don't need to pretend they're still 1979. They just need to play the songs with the same combination of hooks, volume and attitude that made them special in the first place.

For a band that has been around since 1973, Cheap Trick remains remarkably entertaining live. Their Montreal appearance may have been an opening slot, but they played like a headliner.