FOR MY NEXT TRICK…. Cheap Trick gets inducted at the Cavern

Cheap Trick with their backs to the wall (Image: Damien Wilkinson)

It was a Sunday like no other.

December 16th 2018 saw legendary rock band Cheap Trick descend upon The Cavern Club in Liverpool.

Providing support for Def Leppard at their gig at Liverpool Echo Arena on the previous night, they managed to carve some time out of their touring itinerary for a one-off gig at the historic venue, whilst also being inducted into the Cavern Club Wall of Fame.

Another Brick in the Wall

Checking into Liverpool’s wonderful Beatles themed hotel, Hard Days Night, it was a very pleasant but unexpected surprise to see Rick Nielson, Tom Petterson and Robin Zander also hanging around the hotel lobby area.

All became clear fairly soon. A camera crew and the rest of the Trick entourage whisked them out into the cold December afternoon in the direction of Mathew Street.

We quickly latched on, and after a quick diversion by Rick Nielsen (who acquired a Liverpool FC scarf and performed a quick impromptu song with a busker en route) were at the famous Cavern Club Wall of Fame.

Rick Nielsen joins in with a busker! (Image: Damien Wilkinson)

The wall hosts bricks for all the musicians who played The Cavern between 1957-1973 and musicians of note who have played since the club’s excavation and 1984 re-opening.

A new Cheap Trick brick proudly awaited cementing into the wall—once inserted the induction was complete—the band joining an hallowed company of other rock and roll bricks proudly on display.

Damien Wilkinson points to the Brick! (Image: Kieran Wilkinson)

With the rock and roll masonry work complete it was back to the hotel to await the evening’s gig.

The Logistics of the Cavern

If you know the Cavern you’ll be aware that it is split into the faithful reproduction of the original stage and brick arches, and there is a further newer, more modern stage situated further within the complex.

The band elected to play the larger stage, presumably to accommodate the size of the crowd, acoustics and considerable logistics of fitting both the band and equipment (how many guitars, Mr Nielsen??!!) on stage (see my review of Little Steven’s lunchtime gig at the Cavern in 2017 for a masterclass in squeezing a 15 piece band onto the old stage area!).

As Subtle as a Brick

With a strong support set from Smile, featuring Robin Zander’s son Robin Taylor Zander, who was to also help out the main band on vocals and guitar, the newly inducted Wall of Famers Cheap Trick entered the stage.

They promptly rolled back the years, the intimate, subterranean setting applying a brick-proportioned punch to many of their 70s classics (He’s A Whore, Elo Kiddies). Robin Zander’s voice continued to hit the exact heights immortalised on albums such as their self-titled debut, In Color and Heaven Tonight.

Daxx Nielsen, Robin Zander, Tom Petterson (Image: Damien Wilkinson)

There is something special about watching a veteran band return to their roots and the Trick didn’t disappoint, the surroundings somehow squeezing a youthful vigour and venom out of material they must have played hundreds of times.

And of course, they simply had to pay homage to the band that massively influenced their own musical journey; a caustic Magical Mystery Tour rubbed shoulders with She Said, She Said as the set unfolded.

The Setlist (Image: Damien Wilkinson)

Rick Nielsen showcased a seemingly never-ending carousel of weird and wacky guitars, including a five-necked beast that probably wouldn’t have fit on the old Cavern stage, and Tom Petterson also shone, singing the classic I Know What I Want and the Velvet’s I’m Waiting For The Man.

Rick Nielsen (Image: Damien Wilkinson)

Rounding off with the evergreen Surrender and Goodnight the bricks in the walls of the famous old club reverberated, having paid testament to yet another legendary night.

Seat: Standing stage left

Setlist:

Hello There

Big Eyes

He's a Whore

California Man (The Move cover)

Elo Kiddies

On Top of the World

Taxman, Mr. Thief

Downed

Magical Mystery Tour (The Beatles cover)

She Said She Said (The Beatles cover)

Ain't That a Shame (Fats Domino cover)

Baby Loves to Rock

I Know What I Want

Bass Solo / I'm Waiting for the Man (The Velvet Underground cover)

Voices

I Want You to Want Me

Dream Police

Encore:

Never Had a Lot to Lose

Surrender

Goodnight