I saw cheap Trick perform at the Mountain Winery venue in Saratoga, CA. As usual, the band paraded about a number of unusual guitars. Tom Peterson steadily banged away at his invention, the 12 string bass. What a devastating tone this thing delivers: a thick, metallic drone that can pierce through Cheap Trick's instrumental wall of sound or anchor the bottom end of the rhthym section. Rick Nielsen, the lead guitarist for the group, trotted out this yellow box shaped axe and his monstrosity, the 5 necked guitar. Lead singer Robin Zander dons an assortment of guitars as well but seems to favor the 12 string guitar format. It is best to hear Cheap Trick in a small venue at maximum volume levels.
