Cheap Trick’s All Washed Up Tour rolls into Morristown, New Jersey

For the first time in three years, Cheap Trick played the Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) in Downtown Morristown, New Jersey. That’s much sooner than the 45-year gap (and venue name change) between their first two performances at the 1,300-capacity venue. After an opening performance by New Jersey native James Hatem, the most famous band to ever come out of Rockford’s 21st (and latest) studio album served as the intermission soundtrack, followed by AC/DC’s 1975 classic, “Live Wire.” Fun fact: Rick Nielsen introduced singer Bon Scott to Mexican food the year before his death.
Cheap Trick at the Mayo Performing Arts Center on their All Washed Up Tour photo by Brian Cicioni

Act I: Late 1970s Cheap Trick classics plus a speedy 2017 track from We’re All Alright!

As anyone who has seen Cheap Trick live can attest to, they tend to start off with a punchy one-two combo. In this case, “Clock Strikes Ten” and “Radio Lover,” which was one of only two post-1979/Dream Police era songs the audience would hear during the 75-minute set. This was followed by the heavier “Big Eyes,” then the faster-paced “Top of the World,” from 1978’s Heaven Tonight. After a brief Daxx Nielsen drum solo, they went into the concert staple “Ain’t That a Shame,” a 1955 Fats Domino cover that has never received the studio treatment, despite being played thousands of times since the Budokan Era.

Cheap Trick's All Washed Up Tour rolls into Morristown photo by Brian Cicioni

Act II: Deeper Cheap Trick cuts from the late 1970s and The Riff That Won’t Quit

While the audience was mostly on its feet during the first five songs, that changed when the band went into “Need Your Love,” which appeared on At Budokan a year before getting the studio treatment on Dream Police. Rick then teased a ballad as fans of 80s Cheap Trick probably hoped to hear “The Flame,” the band’s only number one single. But that hope was quickly dashed as Nielsen strummed the opening riff of “Ballad of TV Violence,” initially titled “The Ballad of Richard Speck,” from their self-titled 1977 debut. This would be the most animated Cheap Trick’s primary songwriter would get during the show as he rocked back and forth as a hard rock fan might do alone at the steering wheel, oblivious to the surrounding onlookers. This was followed by “The Riff That Won’t Quit,” the only song fans got to hear from Cheap Trick’s mostly upbeat 21st studio album and tour namesake, All Washed Up. Unfortunately, no “Dancing With the Band.” Instead, Robin Taylor Zander took center stage for the only time during the set to handle lead vocals on “High Roller,” a Heaven Tonight track co-written by his father, which predates RTZ by at least 15 years. Bassist Tom Petersson then took over on vocals for “I Know What I Want,” with both Zanders sharing a mic to help out on backing vocals.

Act III: The Songs You’re Guaranteed to Hear at any Cheap Trick concert

The minute Robin Zander looked out into the audience and proclaimed “I want you,” the percentage of the audience standing up went from 5 to 95%. After a brief pause, followed by “to want me,” the crowd stood up simultaneously; cell phones came out and a predictable, yet still infectious, nearly five decades later, mania permeated the audience for the final four songs. The only Cheap Trick song that people of all ages are almost guaranteed to know was followed by the band’s best and possibly most adolescent-themed track, “Surrender.” After what seemed like a quick debate as to whether or not it was time for an encore break, the quintet went into its second most recognizable song, “Dream Police,” which was followed by the high-energy “Goodnight.” Tom Petersson and the two father-and-son duos took a bow and exited the stage. Audience members then looked at each other, hoping for an encore. But in less than a minute, the house lights were on, and the 1,300 in attendance made their way back to the streets of Morristown, which seems like an idyllic place to call home.
Cheap Trick on stage at the Morristown, New Jersey stop on their All Washed Up tour photo by Brian Cicioni

Cheap Trick’s September 19, 2026 Morristown, New Jersey Set List

Clock Strikes Ten
Radio Lover
Big Eyes
On Top of the World
Ain’t That A Shame
Need Your Love
Ballad of TV Violence
Riff That Won’t Quit
High Roller
I Know What I Want
I Want You to Want Me
Surrender
Dream Police
Goodnight

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Cheap Trick’s All Washed Up Tour rolls into Morristown, New Jersey

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