PHOTOS
Shannon C. Keith
One would think Cheap Trick - a band that's reported to have performed more than 5,000 times - would know the importance of good sound during live shows.
Unfortunately for those in the 570 who battled traffic jams Saturday night in the hope of hearing the eclectic musical institution perform hits like "I Want You to Want Me," '80s love ballad "Flame", and "Dream Police," the group's performance left many in attendance wishing they had sported ear plugs or lingered in the parking lot a bit longer.
The long crawl up to the Toyota Pavilion and sitting through Cheap Trick's less than stellar stage show proved worth it the moment Heart's keyboardist began a melodic introduction to the classic "Wild Child."
The more than 11,500 fans in attendance embraced the ticket's middle child, as the duo could have easily headlined. The sisters Wilson reminded concertgoers what good sound and stage presence is all about as "Magic Man" roared on the mountain. Ann and Nancy, backed by a four-piece band (including a guest stint by Michael Inez from Alice in Chains fame), rocked out to hits like "Alone," Straight On," and "Barracuda."
At one point, Nancy Wilson took a turn at lead vocals, dedicating "These Dreams" to everybody on the lawn. The crowd hunkered down, mellowed a bit and snuggled up as Nancy proved a vocal equal to her older sister. Perhaps the highlight of the set came as Ann's stunning vocal range revealed itself during a cover of The Who's "Love, Reign o'er Me."
The duo returned to the stage after nearly five minutes of chair banging and chanting "one more song."
Demonstrating her musical craft, Nancy sported a mandolin as the encore began with "Going to California." Her talent and excitement kicked into another gear as she worked on introducing the next tune, "Crazy on You," with a magical mix of blues and jazz emanating from her acoustic guitar.
Soon after, multi-Platinum rockers Journey - Neal Schon (guitar), Jonathan Cain (keyboards), Ross Valory (bass), Deen Castronovo (drums), and Arnel Pineda (the third lead vocalist since Steve Perry left the band in 1998) - took to the stage, pimping tunes from the group's three-disc release Revelation.
While those in the crowd who shop at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club (the only place to purchase the new release) seemed somewhat into the new songs, audience reception was lukewarm at best. The group grappled with a hard sell - each time a newbie began, the audience either sat down or stood still.
But, they warmed up when familiar hits like "Wheel in the Sky," "Only the Young," and "Open Arms" poured out of the sound system. The 1981 hit "Don't Stop Believin'" was a crowd favorite, as nearly everyone sang along.
The 16-song set ended with "Be Good to Yourself," and the encore opened with the chart-topping hit "Anyway You Want It."