Boston, Cheap Trick mesh like favorite classic rock radio songs

Boston and Cheap Trick should blend as well in a concert bill as “Don’t Look Back” and “Dream Police” do on a classic-rock station.

But they do have different personalities. Boston was never one to rush things or flood the market, while Cheap Trick was a band that never slowed down.

Boston, the band long synonymous with songwriter and guitarist Tom Scholz, released only five more albums after its self-titled debut — which is still by far its biggest-selling album — in 1976. (You think one show could manage to touch upon all six, but recent set lists find “Corporate America” from 2002 neglected and probably not missed.)

Last year’s “Life, Love &Hope” took so long to deliver that it features a couple of songs recorded by original singer Brad Delp before his death in 2007. Tommy DeCarlo is the current lead singer.

Cheap Trick has 16 studio albums and is back in what seems like a perennial role of being the opening band to other classic rockers. But unlike most of the bands they are paired with, the durable rockers perform with three of four original members.

Singer Robin Zander, guitarist Rick Nielsen and bassist Tom Petersson now use Nielsen’s son Daxx as the drummer.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.