I saw Cheap Trick doing The Beatles Sgt Pepper album several months ago at the Hilton. They have now taken their show to Paris Las Vegas, and while I passed on the opening night invitation, I did go see the show on Tuesday. They've come a long way baby.

The old show was long, drawn out, and tired. It had many talented guests doing unrelated songs that led it to nowhere. It seems that they have listened to their critics and turned it into a lean mean Cheap Trick/Beatles show.

The new show uses basically the same set. The orchestra is on a balcony above and behind the front part of the stage. Unfortunately, the orchestra size has shrunk about half. Maybe 6-8 strings, 6-8 brass, a harp, a bass, and a couple of woodwinds. Plus there are 6 guys doing background vocals. Onstage is a rhythm guitar, keyboard, and Cheap Trick, except their drummer has changed.

The show starts with a very short video of how they aren't a Beatles cover band, but they were influenced by the Beatles and love their music. So this isn't a band impersonating the Beatles, it is Cheap Trick being Cheap Trick and playing some songs they love. I'm glad the video was short and I kinda get it that they want to silence some critics. After the video they jump right into Sgt Peppers songs. They still have the song where they roll out about 5 hippies with sitars and bongos to assist on Within You/Without You. After Sgt Pepper, they dive right into obligatory Cheap Trick songs. Then they end with the concert with some more Beatles songs.

The show was never boring and lasted a full 90 minutes. It had enough variety between Cheap Trick, Beatles, orchestra, solos, the sitar hippies, the lead singers costume changes, the guitar player's stage antics, to keep the mind flowing. Plus, the music was done very well. If you are a Cheap Trick fan, this show is great. If you are just a Beatles fan, it depends on your Cheap Trick tolerance level as to how much you would like this show. My Cheap Trick opinion is that they had just a few hits that were overplayed. I never bought an album from them. But I did like the show. And considering these guys are about 60 years old, it's not the kind of show that you can keep putting off in favor of other things. They have several dates throughout this month and July.

Side notes. Paris was pretty darn busy for a Tuesday night. The buffet line as ridiculously long all night, probably from the all day buffet deal. The show was over 90% full, which is good, even with the free seats that were given away. Mon Ami Gabi is still on my avoid list because I don't like wafer thin steaks and I don't like frites that look like noodles and taste like potato chips. I guess I'm just a meat and potatoes guy, and they short changed me on both counts.<g> I played some 100-play penny video poker to kill time. I was only playing 10 hands at a time and hit a dirty royal and deuces, so I switched to 20 games. Later, I was dealt 4 to a royal, and drew 3 real royals and 8 dirtys. I finally hit my first penny royal. So I cashed out and walked around to kill time.