Cheap Trick Turns Starland Ballroom Into a Time Machine, Only Louder

Mar 22

Walking up to Starland Ballroom for the first time feels oddly familiar, like stepping into a half-remembered past. The kind of place that echoes with early live music memories: loud amps, dim lights, and the sense that anything could happen once the band hits the stage.

Inside, it quickly became something more personal. Familiar faces were everywhere, people I’ve crossed paths with at shows for years. The conversation was the same: we were here to see a band that helped define an earlier part of our lives.

And not just any band, Cheap Trick.

For many of us, their music didn’t just fill speakers, it shaped how we understood rock. Often considered part of the foundational essence of what would become pop-punk, Cheap Trick has always balanced sharp melodies with a real edge, equal parts precision and punch.

There was some curiosity heading in about how the set would take shape, especially with newer material in play, having just released “All Washed Up”. Instead, the band struck a perfectly judged balance, leaning into the catalog that built their legacy while threading in just enough of the present to keep it fresh.

From the photo pit, the first three songs always fly by. But this time, it stuck. The second “Dream Police” kicked in and it was immediate, I caught myself singing along without even thinking. The crowd was right there with me.

From that vantage point, you also catch the moments most people miss. Just after “Dream Police” kicked off, there was a brief technical hiccup on the guitar side. Robin Taylor Zander stepped offstage for a beat, and in the same instant, Rick Nielsen shot a quick look toward Robin Zander. No panic, no pause, just recognition. Within seconds, it was handled. Most of the room never noticed, but it was a telling moment, musicians who have spent decades together solving a problem in real time without breaking the flow.

The band wasted no time settling in. Early cuts like “Elo Kiddies” and “Stiff Competition” brought raw energy, while deeper tracks gave longtime fans something more. “Downed” stood out, with Robin Taylor Zander stepping into the lead and making it his own, less imitation, more evolution.

That connection carried through the night, peaking during “I Want You to Want Me” and “Surrender,” where the room turned into a full-voice singalong. When “The Flame” hit, the energy shifted again, phones up, voices louder, the crowd completely locked in.

The lone newer track, “Twelve Gates,” fit seamlessly, classic Cheap Trick DNA with a slightly more ballad-driven feel. There was room for fun too, with their take on In the Street landing perfectly.

At the center of it all, the band remains locked in. Robin Zander still delivers vocally with power and control. Rick Nielsen is as visually unpredictable as ever, while Tom Petersson anchors the sound and Daxx Nielsen drives it forward. Robin Taylor Zander is also a great addition to round out the guitar and vocals.

This was my first time shooting at Starland Ballroom, and it could not have been a better introduction. The staff was dialed in, and the room itself is built for connection, bringing to mind places like The Stone Pony, where the experience is immediate and personal.

We are watching a band that once filled arenas, still performing at a high level, now in a room that lets you feel every note up close.

At Starland Ballroom, Cheap Trick did not revisit the past, they proved it never really left.

“Goodnight now, ladies and gentlemen.”