Cheap Trick opened their set with “Hello There” and it was followed by “Heart on the Line” and they covered “California Man.”
At that point, they were playing for a venue that was one third full, so being the first slot, had its many disadvantages. In addition, Robin Zander sounded worn out and rusty, as he broke into such numbers as “If You Want My Love,” “Never Had a Lot to Lose” and “Baby Loves to Rock.”
Bassist Tom Petersson gave Zander a break by singing lead on Lou Reed-penned “I’m Waiting for the Man.” They continued with “The Flame,” “I Want You to Want Me” and “Dream Police.”
Drummer Daxx Nielsen, who is Rick Nielsen’s son, was the sole charismatic performer, who was able to nail the drums throughout the evening.
They closed with “Surrender” and “Goodnight,” and for many the best part of their set was the ending. In fact their concert at The Paramount in Huntington, back in August of 2014, was far more memorable.
The only time that they delivered a solid vocal was when Heart invited them back on stage, and Robin Zander sang “Love Hurts” as a duet with power-vocalist Ann Wilson.
The Verdict
Overall, Cheap Trick failed to impress at Jones Beach as part of the “Rock Hall Three for All” Tour. While Heart and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts were both absolutely amazing, proving to all be rock goddesses, that did not hold true for Cheap Trick as their openers. Their live set garnered a C rating.
