Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Archive 2004-2013
  • Toggle search form
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Little Girl Rescued from Feared Danger and Reunited with Dad News
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families Business
  • Mahnoor Ahmad campaign photo
    Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat Democrat
  • Sunday, October 26, the Village of Orland Park formally rededicated its Village Hall in honor of the late former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    Village of Orland Park Rededicates Village Hall in Honor of Late Former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens Government
  • Fire at townhome at 13900 block of Berkhansted Court in Orland Park, just before midnight on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025
    Firefighter treated for dehydration battling townhouse fire in Orland Park – no residents injured Fire
  • Firefighters with the Orland Fire Protection District who responded to a fire in an apartment at 15200 block of Al Camino Terrace on Saturday morning said the next day that they did find a kitten that needed respiratory aid that they saved.
    FIRE UPDATE: Fire District releases photos of kitten saved from Orland Park apartment fire Saturday Features
  • two-story apartment building on the 15200 block of El Camino Terrace in Orland Park
    Orland Park apartment fire Saturday morning, no injuries Fire
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings addressing the Orland Township Democratic Organization Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022
    Hastings calls for bipartisan action to protect Illinois families from SNAP benefit shutdown Baby Boomers
  • Illinios Industrial Energy Consumers, information ad
    Get information on the Illinois Energy Omnibus Bill in Springfield Business
  • State Senator Mike Porfirio secured over $20 million to support infrastructure improvements and construction in the 11th Senate District.
    Senator Porfirio applauds more than $20 million in infrastructure repairs coming to the 11th District News
  • Dad and daughter reunited Lebving Law firm photo
    Little Girl Recovered and Reunited with Dad After Long Separation Dads' Rights
  • 11-03-25 OFPD Coffee living alone
    Orland Fire hosts meeting on helping Seniors who live alone Nov. 5 Baby Boomers
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Hastings secures $250,000 grant for Easterseals Academy’s Tinley Park campus Health
  • Chicago ranks as 161st worst city for crime in new national survey Chicago
  • Kat Abughazaleh 9th DIstrict Congress 2026 candidate democrat
    Kat Abughazaleh raises over $520,000 in Q2 of 2025 with more than $630,000 cash on hand for 2026 Democratic primary election elections

All in the family

Posted on January 27, 2022January 28, 2022 By Steve Metsch No Comments on All in the family
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

All in the family

The Nielsen Trust gives Cheap Trick songs new sounds

By Steve Metsch

Rick Nielsen and his family rewarded the few fans who attended their concert at the Genessee Theatre in Waukegan with plenty of Cheap Tricks songs that were given fresh life.

Nielsen, 73, is the lead guitarist, backup singer and primary songwriter for the Hall of Fame rock band based in Rockford.

A few years ago, perhaps taking a page from lead singer Robin Zander who performs with his adult children, Nielsen began performing with his family.

Son Daxx – who replaced Bun E. Carlos as Cheap Trick’s drummer 10 years ago – is on drums. Son Miles is on guitar.

Miles and wife Kelly Steward do the singing. A bass player and keyboardist/saxophonist round out the band.

The band got together in 2020. It resulted after Rick joined Miles band, The Rusted Hearts, on stage for a few songs in Bloomington.

“We’re not the Osmonds and the Jacksons … not growing up like that, with the generation in between. So, it’s just been exciting. Every show has been pretty cool,” Rick told www.wglt.org in a Jan. 19 story.

Miles Nielsen, wife Kelly Steward, Rick Nielsen and Daxx Nielsen are The Nielsen Trust, the side project of Rick, who usually is playing guitar for Cheap Trick. (Photo from The Nielsen Trust)

The venerable old Genesse Theatre was packed when Cheap Trick played there in June 2019. But it was perhaps 25 percent capacity for The Nielsen Trust on Jan. 22.

That’s unfortunate as the 19-song concert – save a few songs that cried out for Zander– was very enjoyable.

The song selection was diverse, digging deep at times, and the on-stage banter between father and son was priceless.

Rick Nielsen is a funny guy. Always has been. Same goes for Miles, who told us Rick’s nickname in the family is “Grumpy,”

Grumpy was in fine form, joking he was “heading to the AARP Lounge” before he left the stage for two songs.

Miles and Kelly sang “Shine Your Light” and “Over the Moon.” Both are by The Rusted Hearts. I’ve seen that band. Very good.

The show started with a fitting choice, “Just Got Back.” The lyric “been gone too long” sums up how all concert lovers and bands feel these pandemic-drenched days.

“He’s A Whore,” one of Cheap Trick’s early rockers, was a sweet surprise.

Miles introduced “Borderline” as a song Chris Isaak, Elvis Costello or the late Roy Orbison would have felt comfortable with. He’s correct, especially Roy.

Rick and Miles are good story tellers beyond their song writing.

Miles said the one song that Rick wants in the set list each night was 1994 release “Didn’t Know I Had It.” It’s one of those pop gems that makes you wonder why it wasn’t a big hit. Kelly did a great job singing.

Miles’ must-play song each gig, from 1985, was “Tonight It’s You.” The band sounded fantastic with Kelly on lead vocals.

According to Rick, Bryan Ferry was supposed to record “Take Me I’m Yours.” I think Ferry made a mistake by not recording the 1980 release that sounds in his wheelhouse.

While you’ve must give credit to Miles and Kelly for tackling Cheap Trick songs made famous by another voice, there were moments when Zander’s powerful and diverse vocal skills were sorely missed.

“Take Me I’m Yours” was one of those. Another was “Need Your Love.” While guitar licks traded by Miles and Rick were great, Miles’ singing didn’t fare as well.

Miles did win over the Cheap Trick fans with a surprisingly beautiful take on the band’s signature song, “Surrender.” After he called it “one of the greatest rock songs ever,” he slowed it down for a folk treatment. It worked.

The night’s funniest moment came just before the first encore song.

Miles said there were about to play a song Cheap Trick has never performed in concert. Why? “Because we (deleted) hate this song,” Rick chimed in.

Guess what? “Invaders of the Heart,” from the 1983 album “Next Position Please” – producedby Todd Rundgren- was one of the best songs of the night.

How do you top not one, not two, but three drum solos in the song’s waning moments? Daxx, in fine form all night, dazzled.

Cheap Trick finally returns to the area on July 16 in Tinley Park when the band opens for Rod Stewart. It’s a show that was postponed in 2020 and in 2021 by the pandemic.

In the meantime, The Nielsen Trust nicely filled the Cheap Trick void.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Steve Metsch
Steve Metsch
Steve Metsch is an award winning veteran reporter who previously worked for the Daily Southtown Newspapers, Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. Metsch is a writer and editor at the Southwest News Newspaper group based in suburban Chicago, and a freelance writer a health magazine, the Suburban Life, the Naperville Sun, and other organizations.
Email Steve Metsch at [email protected]
Steve Metsch
Latest posts by Steve Metsch (see all)
  • Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band are still rockin’ - August 10, 2023
  • Weathering personal storms - July 20, 2023
  • Countryside solution irks some - July 20, 2023
NPV: 55
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
News, Suburban Chicagoland Tags:Daxx Nielsen, Genessee Theatre, Jan. 22, Kelly Steward, Miles Nielsen, Rick Nielsen, The Nielsen Trust, Waukegan

Post navigation

Previous Post: Orland Township Activity Center to Host February Events
Next Post: Voting Right or Voting Blight? Is anyone telling the truth?

Related Posts

  • Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez courtesy of Twitter
    Chicago Aldermen set to reestablish limits to Welcoming City Ordinance  Chicago
  • Orland Township supervisor Paul O'Grady
    O’Grady proposes using vacant Andrew land for popular Pioneers Football league Cook County
  • Jeffery M. Leving fights for your rights
    Mother ordered to pay divorcing dad’s attorneys’ fees Jeffery Leving
  • money $20 dollar bill, dollars, cash
    Illinoisans who received at least one COVID vaccination automatically entered in $10 million state giveaway Chicago
  • Inappropriate Illinois license plates
    New Secretary of State reaffirms rejection of inappropriate license plates Chicago
  • CoronaVirus courtesy of Wikipedia
    South suburban leaders unite in message against coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic Cook County

More Related Articles

Inappropriate Illinois license plates New Secretary of State reaffirms rejection of inappropriate license plates Chicago
Orland Youth Program Eagles Basketball Tryouts begin for the 2021-2022 Season! News
Jeffery M. Leving fights for your rights Leving Firm Matrimonial Law Seminar: “Elements of a Dissipation Claim” and “Legal Implications in Family Law Cases of Signing a Mortgage, without a Promissory Note” Arthur Kallow
Andrea Nelson, RN, and Trish Trentz, RN, surgical specialty leaders at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital led an initiative to achieve the AORN Go Clear Award. Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital Recognized for Surgical Safety Program Chicago
The call of the sea News
The Village of Orland Park Recreation Department will hold its annual Family Health Fair on Saturday, March 23 from 9 a.m. until noon at the Village of Orland Park Sportsplex, 11351 West 159th Street. Orland Park Sportsplex Annual Family Health Fair Returns March 23 Events

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Your Mortgage Company May Pay Your Taxes — But You Still Need to Watch
    October 17, 2025
  • Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio Show small
    The Politicization of the Nobel Peace Prize — and Trump’s Fury Over Losing Again
    October 11, 2025
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Video Podcast: Trump Kimmel Kirk Great American Divide Illegal Aliens polling and Illegal Aliens and ICE
    September 20, 2025
  • Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch speaking at a West Side affordable housing dedication
    Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, one of the best candidates to become Illinois Governor
    September 7, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    What You’re Missing on Your Property Tax Bill
    September 5, 2025
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio

  • NEWS
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Little Girl Rescued from Feared Danger and Reunited with Dad
    October 30, 2025
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families
    October 29, 2025
  • Mahnoor Ahmad campaign photo
    Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat
    October 29, 2025
  • Sunday, October 26, the Village of Orland Park formally rededicated its Village Hall in honor of the late former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    Village of Orland Park Rededicates Village Hall in Honor of Late Former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    October 29, 2025
  • Fire at townhome at 13900 block of Berkhansted Court in Orland Park, just before midnight on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025
    Firefighter treated for dehydration battling townhouse fire in Orland Park – no residents injured
    October 28, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme