LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: Rod Stewart, Cheap Trick in Mansfield, MA (07.26.25)
On a breezy summer evening in Mansfield, two titans of rock ‘n’ roll, Cheap Trick and Rod Stewart, joined forces at the Xfinity Center to deliver a concert that spanned generations, genres, and styles. What began as a simmering slow burn built into a gleaming, high-production celebration of musical endurance. If the evening proved anything, it’s that while styles evolve and voices age, charisma never fades.
Cheap Trick, inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016, has built their legacy on relentless touring and unapologetic power-pop punch. On Saturday, they wasted no time revving their engines—launching into a wall of sound that roared across the amphitheater. Rick Nielsen, dressed in his signature black cap and wielding a checkered guitar, paced the stage like a rock general—though noticeably a beat slower than in past outings, including their high-voltage show at MGM earlier this year.
Yet, there was a disconnect.
Perhaps it was the nature of the venue—its layout more suited for lawn blankets and quiet nostalgia than for raucous guitar solos. The front rows remained seated, the audience observant but restrained, which dulled the immediacy that Cheap Trick thrives on. From the soundboard, far back from the stage, the energy felt distant, and the visual punch of the performance was hard to capture. A moment of imbalance struck during their cover of Fats Domino’s “Ain’t That a Shame”—a song that usually ignites with swagger but here landed slightly out of key and out of sync.
Still, like veterans who know how to weather a mid-set lull, Cheap Trick recalibrated. With “Dream Police,” they snapped back into their stride—guitars snarling, vocals surging, and drummer Daxx Nielsen driving the tempo like a piston. And when the unmistakable riff of “Surrender” tore through the night air, everything clicked. The audience—many of whom had remained seated all evening—rose as one. The line “Mommy’s alright, Daddy’s alright…” ignited a full-throated sing-along. Arms went up. People danced. The real rock show had arrived, even if it took a few songs to get there.
After a short intermission, the stage was reborn in white. Gleaming stairs, polished mirrors, and a trio of glamorous backup singers gave the setting a Liberace-meets-Las Vegas vibe. Enter Rod Stewart, now 80, but moving with the ease of someone half his age—and dressed, naturally, like a man who’s never shied from the spotlight.
Opening with “Infatuation,” Stewart sauntered across the stage, all cheeky grins and mic-stand spins, flanked by a band so tight they felt surgical. Backed by rich harmonies and a brass section that danced as much as they played, Stewart moved through his catalog like a man both in command of his past and entirely present in the moment. His voice—husky, unmistakable—remains miraculously intact. Whether on sultry numbers like “Tonight’s the Night” or the folk-tinged intimacy of “Mandolin Wind,” he carried every lyric with emotional authenticity. The night’s most poignant moment came during “Forever Young,” which Stewart dedicated to Ozzy Osbourne—a touching tribute to a fellow rock survivor.
But it was “Maggie May” that drew the loudest crowd response. As the first chords rang out, you could feel the energy shift from show to communion. Thousands sang in unison, a moment of shared memory and musical reverence that transcended age and time. The only curious note came during “Rhythm of My Heart,” accompanied by wartime footage of Ukraine projected behind the band. The sentiment was noble, but the imagery clashed with the otherwise upbeat tone—momentarily pulling the show into a different emotional register that didn’t quite resolve.
Still, Stewart kept the pace brisk, the mood jubilant, and the production sparkling. With nods to blues, soul, disco, and folk, his set was less a concert than a masterclass in showbiz.
Saturday night at the Xfinity Center was a study in contrasts. Cheap Trick brought the grit and edge, albeit tempered by a subdued crowd and challenging acoustics. Rod Stewart brought the gleam and gravitas, proof that polish and heart aren’t mutually exclusive. While the pacing and energy varied between the acts, both reminded us of one essential truth: great songs, when performed with conviction, never go out of style.
In a world obsessed with the new, this was a reminder of how enduring artistry continues to resonate—loud, proud, and, yes, forever young.
Photos – Rod Stewart, Cheap Trick at Xfinity Center in Mansfield, MA on July 26th:
