OT - Sammy / Cheap Trick in AZ

[brandonx76]

Anyone catch this last night? Or any recent Sammy Gigs?

Sammy / Cheap Trick double bill at US Airways (Phoenix Suns arena).

Cheap Trick, I dunno...nothing but respect for them musically and their history of music, but is it normal for Rick Neilson to mouth 'blow me' into the camera during 'I want you to want me" ? Maybe he didn't want to be there either after the lame audience response from his guitar solo from the previous song, or it was an intentional ploy. At least Bun-E-Carlos is still alive, and sounded pretty good. The bass player's ''Bob Dylan" styled performance (with a 12 string bass) was a queue to leave and get drinks, 'outside' of the actual venue. No obvious representation of Sammy's "Cabo Wabo" booths.

In all, it could have been much better. Sammy's voice sounded as good as ever, and the band did manage to rock on a couple of tunes (Heavy Metal, Mas Tequila, Little White Lie, One Way to Rock), but I coudn't help but feel there was something better to do on a Saturday night. It felt like I was watching a couple of decent bar bands, play at oversized concert hall, with poor acoustics. He should have played a small venue for this fact alone. I remember seeing Journey back in the day (and even more recently) at similar venues, where at least the 'bottom end' / bass was loud enough it didn't sound like you were in a tunnel..

Then to top it off, they cut off alchohol for the last hour of the show? Sammy's sipping tequila and the drunks in the audience were cut off, plus they gave him a time limit (11:30).

I thought his drummer could've been better, but I think that's one of his original drummers...And then Michael Anthony was a no show... I thought he was going to play some shows with him. The guy has a place in Lake Havesu not a couple hours away...

The whole thing kinda fell flat to me.

Did I mention my brother yaked in my new car? Leather seats and all...All in all, I had a good weekend. lol

cheers



- Brandon

[yulog]

Phoenix BLOWS!!!