Friday, May 27, 2011

Cheap Trick and the Tampa Bay Lightning rock the St Pete Times Forum


By Ray Shasho

Cheap Trick played a remarkable concert after the conclusion of game four of the Lightning- Bruins Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday. Surprisingly, the show was only recently announced on May 19th.
Original members- lead vocalist Robin Zander, guitarist Rick Nielson and bassist Tom Petersson, along with drummer Daxx Nielson were there for one purpose, to incite an already jubilant crowd into boosting their Tampa Bay Lighting team into the Stanley Cup Finals.
Perhaps the decision to bring in Cheap Trick after the game was also for good luck. In June of 2004 the band played after a game during their last playoff run for the cup and they actually ended up winning the championship.
Using Cheap Trick as a lucky rabbit’s foot definitely worked its magic on Saturday. The Lightning were down 3-0 after the first period when karma finally kicked in. The team scored (3) quick goals in the second period and (2) more in the third period to win the game 5-3.

A few of Tampa’s finest were brought in to help sing the lyrics for “Dream Police” in 2004 and hey, why not do it again in 2011. So they did. And the officer in question surprisingly sang all the lyrics perfectly. Even Cheap Trick was amazed at the officers' performance.
Cheap Trick dazzled a euphoric Lightning crowd with their opening tune, “Hello There,” followed by “Tonight It’s You,” and “California Man” a tune first released in 1972 by The Move. Then the band played their commercially successful hit “I Want You to Want Me.” A live version of the song was released in 1979 reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.The song also appeared on the 1999 soundtrack of the movie ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ and sung by Boston’s alternative rockers - Letters To Cleo.
Their setlist continued with “She’s Tight,” “Baby Loves to Rock,” and “In the Street.” (The theme song for That 70’s Show)
Then Cheap Trick appeased the crowd with “Sick Man of Europe” and their 1978 Billboard hit “Surrender” from their album Heaven Tonight.
The show wound down with their 1979 top 30 hit “Dream Police” written by Rick Nielson followed by “Auf Wiedersehen” and “Goodnight Now.”

Cheap Trick's latest album was released in June of 2009 and amply titled The Latest.
Over the year's the band has been empowered with such legendary producers as Sir George Martin(The Beatles) and Todd Rundgren.

It was another monumental day of Championship NHL hockey and Classic Rock & Roll - thanks to the St Pete Times Forum and The Tampa Bay Lightning.
I’d like to thank Mark Weaver for the awesome pictures that he took at the concert; he really is a great photographer.

HERE’S A CONCERT NEWS FLASH
Peter Frampton finally announced Florida dates for his Frampton Comes Alive! 35 Tour.
Peter Frampton is coming to Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater on October 8th and at Hard Rock Live in Orlando on October 11th.
The tour will feature Frampton’s 1976 multi-platinum selling album in its entirety.
Check back here for ticket information.


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