Cheap Trick in Hartford

About Cheap Trick

Cheap Trick emerged from Rockford, Illinois in 1973 as unlikely rock heroes—a band that seemed too clever and too catchy for their own good. Robin Zander's pretty-boy vocals and Rick Nielsen's hyperkinetic guitar work didn't fit the heavy rock playbook of the era, but their infectious hooks and pop sensibilities proved that arena rock didn't have to be dour. They peaked with 'Surrender' and the live album 'Live at Budokan,' which caught them at a moment when they were genuinely transcendent. 'I Want You to Want Me' became an unlikely hit, and 'Dream Police' proved they could write actual songs. They've never quite shaken the tag of being too glossy or too straightforward, which probably says more about rock's weird snobbery than it does about them. Forty-plus years later, they're still touring, still dependable, and still underrated by people who take themselves seriously.

They lean into the schmaltz without apology. Zander works the crowd like he's genuinely grateful you showed up. Nielsen bounces around like he's solving math problems with his guitar. People sing every word. You'll see families and longtime fans standing next to casual listeners, and somehow the band makes all of it feel earned.

Known for I Want You to Want Me, Dream Police, Surrender, The Flame, Ain't That a Shame

Cheap Trick + Hartford

Cheap Trick rolled into XFINITY Theatre in June 2018 for a setlist that felt like a greatest-hits survey of their four-decade run. They opened with the immediate hook of 'Hello There' and spent the evening oscillating between their power-pop fundamentals and harder rock moments—'Dream Police' and 'Surrender' landed exactly where you'd want them, while deeper cuts like 'You Got It Going On' and 'The Summer Looks Good on You' reminded the crowd why these guys have stayed relevant beyond nostalgia. The bass solo mid-set gave the rhythm section room to breathe before they pivoted to their only ballad, 'The Flame,' then closed out the main set with 'Goodnight'—a graceful exit that suggested they could've kept going.

Cheap Trick in Hartford News

• Spotlight: Which Major Concert Venue Are You Actually Closest To? WRRV · Apr 16, 2025
• Cheap Trick Announces Fall 2023 North American Headlining Tour Ultimate Classic Rock · Jul 11, 2023
• Cheap Trick Announce Fall 2023 US Tour Dates Consequence of Sound · Jul 11, 2023
• Rod Stewart announces show at Bridgeport amphitheater Connecticut Post · Jan 9, 2023
• Sir Rod Stewart is coming to Connecticut WFSB · Jan 9, 2023

Live Music in Hartford

Hartford's got roots in everything from proto-punk to arena rock, and Cheap Trick fits naturally into that lineage. The city's never been a chart-topper destination, but it's always supported solid rock bands passing through—the kind of crowd that appreciates craft and doesn't need everything explained. XFINITY Theatre gave them a proper venue for this kind of show, the sort of place where you can actually hear the arrangements without competing with a thousand phone cameras.

Hartford road trip to see Cheap Trick?

Stay in the West End neighborhood—it's got actual character and puts you near some decent restaurants. Head to Saluto for Italian that doesn't oversell itself, or The Sycamore for New American food done properly. Before the show, walk through Bushnell Park and check out the Elizabeth Park conservatory if the weather cooperates. After, grab a drink at Vaughan's Public House if you want to decompress somewhere that feels lived-in rather than designed. The Wadsworth Atheneum is worth an hour if you have time to kill during the day.