Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Cheap Trick have been delivering power pop perfection since 1973, and their All Washed Up Tour — tongue firmly in cheek, as always — brings them to Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino on April 4. Robin Zander’s vocals, Rick Nielsen’s manic guitar work and legendary collection of custom instruments, and Tom Petersson’s thunderous twelve-string bass have created some of rock’s most enduring anthems, from “Surrender” to “I Want You to Want Me” to the immortal “Dream Police.”
What makes Cheap Trick remarkable isn’t just the hits — it’s the fact that they’ve never stopped being a ferocious live band. They play with the energy and intensity of a band with something to prove, which after five decades and a Hall of Fame induction, they clearly don’t. Nielsen’s stage antics alone are worth the price of admission, and Zander’s voice remains one of rock’s most versatile instruments.
The intimate setting at Seneca Niagara means Western New York fans get Cheap Trick up close, which is exactly how this band hits hardest. The All Washed Up Tour may be self-deprecating in name, but anyone who’s seen Cheap Trick live knows they’re anything but washed up.