Cheap Trick – All Washed up Tour Review 9.22.26

September 22nd, 2026. The date and the year may not mean something to everyone, but for yours truly, it presented an opportunity that I simply could not pass up. For months since it was announced and I got my ticket, I had been counting down the days and the weeks (as evidenced in my articles) until I got to see the Hall-of-Fame act known as Cheap Trick. For quite some time I had been wanting to see them when they came to Western Pennsylvania AKA YINZER COUNTRY. Unfortunately for me, when they WOULD come to Pittsburgh, I was working or not able to get there, and back in 2023 when they were at the Palace Theater in Greensburg, my appendix decided to rupture, and I had a hematoma that bled for weeks on end.

But NONE of that was going to stop me this time around, no sir, madam, or non-binary friends! And to get myself in the mood for the show, I dedicated my musical library to the band’s twenty-one studio albums plus the live albums and the Epic Archives series released in 2015. In fact, I was so much in the zone (much like Ken Shamrock) that I listened to the studio albums chronologically and then counter-chronologically.

And then the show came last night, and the wait was more than worth it! First, I have to say that there was an opening act for the band based locally out of Pittsburgh by the name of Gene the Werewolf. Originally on the touring schedule that the band’s media released, last night’s show indicated that they were not supposed to have someone with them, so realize my surprise when I walked into the theater and see a banner at the back of the stage for said group. All-in-all, however, they were good with original material and a crowd working cover of the AC/DC classic “Highway to Hell.” After seeing these guys for the first time, I can call myself a fan and I followed them on social media. I might even see them again when they come back on November 6th with everyone’s favorite Western PA band The Clarks.

After they closed their set, it was 8:30PM, and based on supersleuth deductions, I had figured that the main event (/Mark Henry voice) would be coming out at the top of the hour. This allowed me to go to the restroom and peruse the merchandise stand. Originally, I picked up two new shirts recently, but one of them terribly shrunk in the washer for some reason, so I put more capital into two officially licensed shirts from the band. With any luck, you will see the images of the shirts, but if not, one is the “All Washed up Tour 2026” shirt and a design of the band’s classic logo but in pink, because I would totally rock that.

Before getting to the actual show itself, I need to lay out a little bit of background. Apparently, lead guitarist Rick Neilsen had a recent health scare, and bless the man because, at the age of 77, he still insists on rocking like it’s 1977. However, I saw some people complain about the set only going 75 minutes instead of 90 minutes, as if the additional 15 minutes made a damn difference. Also, the band did NOT have an intermission for their set, they went right through to the end and the two-song encore. Now, having said that, the lineup last night looked like this:

Robin Zander: Vocals/guitar
Rick Neilsen: Guitars/vocals
Tom Petersson: Bass/vocals
Daxx Nielsen: Drums
Robin Taylor Zander: Guitar/vocals

At first, I had no clue that it was Robin’s son with the band because RTZ dressed in overalls, wore a cowboy hat, and had sunglasses on. This was pointed out to me by the people behind me later in the show. However, one of the coolest things about the band is that, rather than bringing in outsiders to fill the spots vacated over the years, they insist on having their kids partake in the live experience and, in Daxx’s case, being behind the drum kit for 16 years and counting.

So, the show finally starts and getting images and video were tough to do because the rent-a-cops kept bitching at random people about taking photos or video. So, I managed to get one particularly crappy photo, although to be fair, I was in row P first seat. But, hell, I was very happy to be at the show PERIOD, so I have no complaints.

For a band that has had over 5,000 live shows in their 50-plus year career, it is still amazing to see how much fun they are having on stage. Despite his recent health scare, Rick is still hilarious and interacted with the crowd up front for a short bit while equipment was changed. When Tom did the long bass intro to the Fats Domino hit “Ain’t That a Shame,” Rick walked up behind him, touched him on the back, and said, “This man is really hot right now!” Daxx has not only managed to play the new stuff that he has been around for since 2016’s Bang, Zoom, Crazy, Hello, but he’s also played the classic tricks like he is Bun E Carlos.

And then there is Robin. First, it’s crazy that he still has the long blonde hair that he does when, at roughly 35 years younger than him, I am losing mine all over the place! Second, his voice is still amazing after all these years and being a noted smoker. He’s still able to hit the low tenor as equally as he can hit the high notes like time never passed. Of course, he wasn’t the only person to take lead vocals on the night. Tom, who provided lead vocals on the hit song “I Know what I Want” provides them here flawlessly, and RTZ took the lead on the song “High Roller.”

The band mixed in some variety during their 16-song set, which I can appreciate. Along with the songs I mentioned above and some of the other classics, they included “Radio Lover” (from 2017’s We’re all Alright!) and “Riff that Won’t Quit (from last year’s All Washed Up album).” Funnily enough, during the downtime until they made their entrance, they were playing most of the tracks off their most recent album from 2025, whose namesake is attached to this tour. So, for people who may not have been aware of their recent output, they were made aware of it.

For me personally, nothing beats the 70’s output from the band, be it the four studio albums and the initial Live at Budokan album. And while I appreciate a lot of the truly commercial songs being left at home (I don’t understand why some fans keep complaining that “The Flame” is never played), I lost what was left of my mind when the band returned for the encore and started it with “Auf Wiedersehen.” That is probably my favorite song of theirs and, for as much standing and singing as I did, I didn’t stand nor sing harder than I did there!

The official 16-song set list was as follows:
1. “Hello There”
2. “Dream Police”
3. “Just Got Back”
4. “Stiff Competition”
5. “Big Eyes”
6. “Radio Lover”
7. “Ain’t That a Shame”
8. “On Top of the World”
9. “Riff that Won’t Quit”
10. “Southern Girls”
11. “High Roller” (Robin Taylor vocals)
12. “I Know What I want” (Tom vocals)
13. “I Want You to Want Me”
14. “Surrender”
15. “Auf Wiedersehen” (Encore)
16. “Goodnight” (Encore)

The band has gone on record to say that they have no plans to retire from touring or recording new music, with Robin even going so far as to say that “They are not the type of band to retire and just sit around and watch TV.” And, hell, if they sound as good as they still do in the studio and even better in person, why stop? We have less established bands masquerading around giving HALF of the effort and dedication to it than the boys from Rockford are, and other “Legacy acts” going through the motions.

So, in conclusion, the show was amazing, I hope they come around again at some point, and as the girl who introduced them to the stage said, Cheap Trick are the “Best fucking rock band in the World!”

All images were taken from my Smartphone and authorized by myself!