Cheap Trick Gives Devoted Fans Their Money’s Worth

Cheap Trick’s popularity has ebbed and flowed over the years, but the band’s playful lyrics and odd melodic twists have won the devotion of a fervent core of loyal fans. Those fans were so intent Friday night at the Universal Amphitheatre in celebrating the band’s latest round of good fortune (the current “Lap of Luxury” album has gone gold) that the crowd stayed on its feet the entire concert.

Even though the Midwestern quartet has been on the road non-stop for more than a year now, it still performed with inexhaustible energy and put as much enthusiasm behind such old hits as “Surrender” and “Dream Police” as newer tunes like “The Flame.”

One reason Cheap Trick has been able to rebound is that it hasn’t been content to rest on its laurels and count on nostalgic appeal. Robin Zander’s appealing tenor and sweetly vulnerable presence are even stronger now than they were a decade ago, and guitarist Rick Nielsen continues to search for new, appealing sounds. Despite its years on the circuit, Cheap Trick’s invigorating blend of musicianship, slightly wacky persona and consistently good material keeps it ahead of most newer bands in the frightfully competitive hard-rock field.

Opener L.A. Guns’ aggressive performance was also well received. Though closer to metal than Cheap Trick, the Guns are no strangers to catchy hooks, as they proved with “One More Reason” and “Sex Action.”