Reno’s Grand Sierra Resort brought a fantastic pair of headliners to town this past weekend with Cheap Trick opening the show and Poison following up as the headliner of the headliners.
If it wasn’t sold out, it was close. When I arrived the line to get in wound around to the doors at the north end of the building. The VIP line was out of control too.
The crowd had its fair share of colorful characters as well as many obviously well seasoned rock and roll show attendees. Many locals I bumped into were getting into the spirit of things with their best ‘big hair’ regalia.
Cheap Trick took the stage right on time at 8 p.m. to a very warm welcome. The three front men were fully decked out. Rick Nielsen had on his standard black suit and ball cap (absolutely required in my book). We had cowboy Tom Petersson, and Ringmaster Robin Zander with a bedazzled cream colored jacket with high collar and a straw top hat.
You got to love what these guys do to make it look great as well as sound great. Check out the photo gallery for details. Let’s not forget the black and white checks everywhere on stage.
Their music did not disappoint, nor did their stage presence. They played great and put on a great show. Joining them on stage in Surrender was comedian and Seinfeld alumni Steve Hytner. They were all having a great time with him up there. He was singing, but I’m pretty sure his guitar was not plugged in.
By the time Poison came to the stage it was packed in the pit. They came out to Look What The Cat Dragged In. The audience was through the roof with enthusiasm, and the band was all over the stage. Bret Michaels, C.C. DeVille, Rikki Rocket, and Bobby Dall never slowed down.
Bret had the crowd holding up their cell phones like candles shortly into their set. Mid-way through the set C.C. DeVille had an extended guitar solo while all alone on the stage that shredded.
After Fallen Angel and Unskinny Bop Rikki Rocket did the same with a drum solo surrounded by video flames. Bret Michaels is a very good front man, talking frequently with the audience between songs. The audience was on their feet almost from the outset.
This was truly a well executed rock and roll show. In these times were good solid rock and roll is hard to find, we had two great bands to experience on one stage.
CHEAP TRICK SET LIST
- Hello There
- You Got It Going On
- Big Eyes
- California man
- Ain’t That A Shame
- Baby Loves to Rock
- The Summer Looks Good on You
- Waitin’ for the Man
- The Flame
- I Want You to Want Me
- Dream Police
- Surrender
- Goodnight
POISON SET LIST
- Look What The Cat Cragged In
- I Want Action
- Ride The Wind
- Cry Tough
- Talk Dirty To Me
- Your Mama Don’t Dance
- C.C. DeVille Guitar Solo
- Fallen Angel
- Unskinny Pop
- Drum Solo
- Every Rose Has It’s Thorn
- Nothin’ But A Good Time
- Rock and Roll All Night
