Cheap Trick, on the other hand, had the crowd flipped out from their opening one-two slugfest of "Just Got Back" and "Clock Strikes Ten." Proving that they're still the undisputed kings of power pop, the band veered all over their more than quarter of a century's worth of music. While the audience was instantly into it, Cheap Trick seemed to be holding something back until almost halfway into the show. Just after Tom Petersson's obligatory take on Dream Police's "I Know What I Want," the group kicked into high gear. "She's Tight" was devastating and only topped tonight by a particularly potent version of the more recent song "Anytime." Starting with a stuttering beat from thinned-down drummer Bun E. Carlos, the song built into a fury of vocal pyrotechnics from a teeth-clenched Robin Zander.

Returning for their encore, the band began by playing a request. In Color's "Downed" was perfect and didn't sound at all like something that they didn't have worked up and ready to go. Next came "Dream Police," but the encore that really smoked was a full-length and infernal "Gonna Raise Hell." Under ominous red lights, Bun E. and Tom laid down the thick groove on which this song is built. Robin stalked the stage, free of his rhythm guitar duties, and waited for his cue. Following a meaty and extended drum break from Carlos, the singer unleashed some of the most ungodly shreiks ever perpetrated on an audience. These were primal screams that made John Lennon's vocals at the end of "Mother" and "Cold Turkey" seem like crooning. Zander held nothing back, eventually dropping to his knees for his final cries of "submission." After using the singer's voice to its fullest, the band ended with "Goodnight Now." Having seen Cheap Trick at least a half-dozen times, I can honestly say that I've never seen the band this intensely focused and powerful. Cheap Trick rocked...and they didn't forget to roll.

Chris McKay