RECAP and Gallery: Cheap Trick @ Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 8/20/2025

Cheap Trick: Enduring Fire – Not Aging, But Evolving 

By Lori Anne McKone

The rain didn’t come down in sheets – it was colder than that. Constant. Relentless. It soaked through jackets and jeans, but it couldn’t dampen the anticipation. I stood center-right of the stage, cameras secured to my harnesses, ready to go. Fingers were stiff from the chill of the afternoon air. Some gloves would have been nice, but nothing was going to stop me from capturing the moment the band took the stage. 

Then it happened. 

A few shadowy figures stepped onto the backstage platform, and a small group of us – mostly women – erupted in screams. It wasn’t just excitement; it was recognition. Nostalgia. That electric thrill of seeing someone who once soundtracked your youth. I raised my camera instinctively, already framing the shot before the lights hit their faces. 

The weather threatened, but no one flinched. Umbrellas folded, feet found rhythm, and the muddy fairground transformed into a dance floor under the open sky. The weather wasn’t a deterrent – it was part of the experience. 

Tom Petersson emerged cloaked in a raincoat like a rock ‘n’ roll sentinel. The crowd erupted. It was the kind of entrance that made you forget the wet socks and the mud-soaked shoes. It was showtime. 

Before the show started, I shared a quiet moment with a young female from the security team, showing her photographs from a Cheap Trick concert I attended over 30 years ago at the Palace Theater in Albany, NY. Robin Zander, then as now, stood as a symbol of rock’s enduring spirit – his long blonde hair still iconic, though time had softened the lines on both our faces. His voice, however, remained untouched – strong, beautifully tender, and instantly recognizable. 

As the band launched into hits that defined a generation, voices rose in unison and memories stirred. For me, it was more than a concert; it was a portal. Songs from my youth wrapped around me like an old denim jacket, familiar and comforting. Cheap Trick delivered a 75-minute masterclass in classic rock, reminding us why they’re legends. The setlist was a nostalgic thrill ride, including: 

“I Want You to Want Me” – the crowd sang every word like a prayer. 

“Surrender” – a euphoric anthem that had fans jumping in the rain. 

“Dream Police” – uniformed troopers marched onto the stage – part prop, part provocation. They didn’t just play the song; they made it manifest. 

“The Flame” – tender and powerful, Robin’s vocals soaring above the rain. 

Tom Petersson’s solo was one of those moments that cut through the cold and made time stand still. As the rain continued its steady rhythm, Petersson stepped forward with his 12-string bass and delivered a performance that was both hypnotic and raw. His solo wasn’t just a break in the set; it was a sonic sculpture, textured and moody, with deep, resonant tones that seemed to echo off the soaked fairgrounds. 

You could feel the crowd lean in, drawn by the gravity of his playing. It was dark, melodic, and almost cinematic – like the soundtrack to a memory you didn’t know you had. For a few minutes, it wasn’t about the hits or the nostalgia. It was about artistry. About presence. About the kind of musicianship that reminds you why Cheap Trick isn’t just a legacy act – they’re still evolving. 

Rick Nielsen was pure electricity on that rain-slicked stage. From the moment he stepped out, flinging picks like confetti and grinning beneath his cap, he reminded everyone why he’s still one of rock’s most charismatic guitarists. His riffs were razor-sharp, his solos were full of swagger and precision. Whether tearing through “Dream Police” or locking in with Petersson’s groove, Rick played with the kind of confidence that only decades of rock ‘n’ roll can earn.  

Daxx Nielsen, meanwhile, was the storm behind the storm. His drumming was tight, muscular, and full of swagger. He anchored the set with precision but also brought a youthful fire that elevated the classics. During “Surrender,” his fills added a fresh urgency, and his chemistry with Tom Petersson kept the rhythm section locked in and dynamic. Daxx didn’t just fill Bun E. Carlos’s shoes – he’s carved out his own space, blending legacy with evolution. 

Cheap Trick didn’t just weather the storm; they made it part of the show. And for those of us who danced, sang, and remembered, it wasn’t just a concert, it was a reunion with our younger selves. A celebration of enduring sound, a reminder that rock ‘n’ roll doesn’t age – it evolves.

 

Gallery by Lori Anne McKone.

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