SARATOGA SPRINGS — Amid the blare of sirens and a blaze of lights flashing, Cheap Trick kicked off their 60-minute set with an opening volley of their tune “Dream Police” on a sweltering summer night at Saratoga Performing Arts Center July 22. The heat didn’t seem to keep many fans away; miles of motorized machines, jalopies and limousines alike stretched across Saratoga Springs, queuing in lines to attend the concert featuring Rod Stewart as its headliner.
Fronted by longtime members Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen and Tom Petersson, the stage band that is Cheap Trick included accompaniment by Nielsen’s drummer son Daxx, and Zander’s son Robin Jr. on guitar.
Seemingly sporting a varying series of guitars for any occasion, Nielsen sported a patchwork blazer and baseball cap. The elder Zander – who is somehow still quite capable of hitting ALL the high notes without any auditory sign of strain – appeared in a black-on-black ensemble, blond tresses tumbling to his shoulders from beneath a top hat.
A rendition of Fats Domino’s “Ain’t That A Shame” was among the fan favorites, and the consecutively fired delivery of “I Want You To Want Me” and “Surrender” brought the crowd collectively to its feet.
Rod Stewart entered the stage to a cascade of bagpipes, the smack of a hi-hat smack and the boom-crack-a-thump of a kick-and-a-snare, to reimagine a replica in both sight and sound of Robert Palmer’s mid-1980s “Addicted To Love.” Much of his set revisited that same decade – “Young Turks,” “Forever Young,” “Some Guys Have All the Luck,” among them – mixed with solo Rod staples “Hot Legs,” “You’re In My Heart,” and repurposed tunes written or first performed by artists as varied as Cat Stevens to Donna Summer, Van Morrison to Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Sam Cooke.
“Here’s one from The Faces – 1972,” he announced before launching in to “Ooh La La,” invoking that most memorable band of rock ‘n’ roll hooligans that included Ronnie Wood, Ian McLagen, Kenney Jones and Ronnie Lane.
Stewart looked physically fit in this his 77th year on the planet, well-coiffed and smartly dressed. Several decades removed from his time with The Faces and a Vegas-y schmaltz long having become his schtick, Stewart is ultimately ever the entertainer, and the crowd largely expressed their appreciation of having him.
