Photos / Review: “Oh My God, Look What The Cat Dragged In”. Cheap Trick and Poison At The Hard Rock Event Center in Hollywood, Florida

Who: Cheap Trick & Poison

Where: Hard Rock Event Center, Hollywood, Florida

When: July 1, 2018

Cheap Trick and Poison rolled into the Hard Rock Event Center in Hollywood, Florida last night for the final stop on the “Nothin’ But A Good Time 2018” U.S tour. As one would expect there was lots of loud guitars, bright lights, and big hair. The concert, however, didn’t disappoint.

Cheap Trick, featuring a touring lineup consisting of original members Robin Zander, Tom Petersson and Rick Neilsen along with Daxx Neilsen on drums and Robin Zander Jr. on rhythm guitar played as tight as ever. The setlist was a nice mix of the hits, opening with “Hello There” and running through “The Flame”, “I Want You To Want Me”, “Dream Police” and “Surrender”  along with three covers, The Move’s “California Man”, the live staple Fats Domino’s “Ain’t That A Shame” and an intense and brooding cover of The Velvet Underground’s “Waiting For The Man”. The set also included a brand new song, “The Summer Looks Good On You” that can be found on the new album. The Cheap Trick portion of the program wrapped up with the usual closer, “Goodnight Now”.

Poison took the stage to a huge round of applause and a sea of lighters held aloft. Appearing on this tour with the original 1983 lineup featuring Bret, Rikki, Bobby and C.C., the guys were full of the energy of a band half their age. The 3500 seat Hard Rock Event Center felt intimate and was reminiscent of the early shows at the Whisky or the Rainbow Bar & Grill. Opening with “Look What The Cat Dragged In” and steamrolling through every possible hit including “I Want Action”, “Talk Dirty To Me”, “Unskinny Bop” and “Every Rose”. There were killer solos from Rikki Rocket on the drums followed immediately by a scorching bass solo from Bobby Dall. While there were no surprises there were two nice covers, the Loggings & Messina staple “You’re Momma Don’t Dance” and the tour closing Kiss cover “Rock and Roll All Nite”.

The love of touring and playing together was evident in both these bands as they rocked through their sets and kept the crowd of middle-aged rockers on their feet all night. Hopefully, there will be plenty more shows like this to come.

 

Post and photos by Geoff Clowes – sage + spirit photography

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