The Nielsen Trust Featuring Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick

 Above Image Credit “The Nielsen Trust”

Disclosure – This post contains affiliate links that generate a commission at no additional cost to you.

What is The Nielsen Trust? Well, Do you remember back in the day waiting in line for your first concert? Remember the feeling when you were smashed among hundreds of others waiting on the concert floor for the band to come out

Dancing, sweating, singing, screaming and just soaking in every single note and word from your favorite band. Leaving the show feeling so full of life and energy and ready to tackle the world!!

If you have never experienced these feelings, you are missing out! Music speaks, in many ways! For me as I get older music is still a huge part of my every day life.

My Love Of Music

Dancing in the living room with my Mom listening to songs like Elvira and Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On probably started my love of music. My Mom turned the radio first thing every day, and it didn’t go off till after dinner every night.

In my teens I fell in love with many bands and artists but one was very special to me for many reasons. That band was Cheap Trick! Consisting of 4 musicians that just rocked my socks off, every day!

To this day I give thanks to my babysitter for turning me onto Cheap Trick!

Who is Cheap Trick

A rock band from Rockford, Illinois that was formed in 1973 and consisted of Robin Zander (vocalist), Rick Nielsen (guitarist), Tom Petersson (bassist), and Bun E. Carlos (drummer).

The current line up is all the same, except for the change of drummers. Daxx Nielsen is currently (since 2010) the drummer of Cheap Trick.

Robin Zander does a solo gig with his kids from time to time and now Rick Nielsen has also put together a “family band” called The Nielsen Trust. The excitement over this is over the moon!! (keep in mind those last 3 words)

The Nielsen Trust Members

TNT is a Nielsen family band that brings together Rick and Daxx Nielsen (father and son) who are currently members of Cheap Trick, with another of Rick’s sons, Miles Nielsen who has his own band Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts, and Mile’s wife Kelly Steward who is also a musician.

These 4 amazing musicians are accompanied by Daniel James McMahon, Adam Plamann and Dave McClellan who are all part of The Rusted Hearts. All sharing one stage to bring the fans The Nielsen Trust!

Putting this band together, they say, was the idea of Rick’s wife Karen. I can totally see how she thought this would work, because it’s absolutely freaking amazing!!! If you get a chance to catch them on their short tour, DO IT!

Check them out on their Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram.

The Nielsen Trust Show

Monk’s in Wisconsin Dells was their first show and the tour kickoff. They played a two night show for a very intimate audience. I believe there were under 200 tickets sold each night which means, not a bad seat in the house! And I was one of the lucky audience members!

First night, front row baby! Right in front of Rick who my husband is totally in awe of. After starting our own Cheap Trick tribute band (Cheap Trixx) I think my husband grows more and more infatuated with Rick. Loves to watch him so our seats were the bomb!

Rick Nielsen

 

See how cute Rick is? Both my husband and I adore this man and what we wouldn’t give for an afternoon to sit in his living room and visit, about life, music, love, kids, and anything he would want to talk about. Oh one can dream, right!?

His song writing and his personality are that of nobody you will ever meet or hear about. It was so neat to see Rick outside of Cheap Trick and something I never imagined would ever happen! If you love Rick, get to one of these shows!

Rick is very comical as well and it was so awesome to hear him interact with his kids. Felt like we were all one big family teasing and laughing together. If you see him, do ask him about his teeth. He loves to show them off.

 

Daxx Nielsen

 

 

Youngest son of Rick Nielsen, drummer boy Daxx has been the drummer of Cheap Trick since 2010 and let me just say, he KICKS ASS!! And, he is adorable to boot! It’s sure hard when you are at a Cheap Trick show to get a good picture of the boy that never stops moving.

This smaller venue helped a lot with being able to get a couple nicer shots of Daxx, but still not easy. And me being a total idiot, even after visiting both nights with Daxx after the show I forgot to get a picture of him and I!! What was I thinking!

However, I do have this picture from one of our last meet n greets with Cheap Trick. Look at this boy’s smile! Stop drooling girls, he is happily married and has 2 of the cutest boys you will ever see!! Oh, and he LOVES TACO’S!!

Daxx also plays guitar and he and Kelly did a song together. Take me to the Top. I was so excited to see Daxx get up from behind the drums and showcase his other talents.

 

 

Miles Nielsen

 

Rick Nielsen’s middle son, Miles Nielsen, born and raised in Rockford, Illinois like his brother Daxx, is no stranger to the music scene either. Fronting his own band Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts, he is one that will blow you away!

While I have watched many video’s on YouTube over the last year to check out other artists, I have also watched a couple of Mile’s videos and I knew right away I loved his style and his voice and his songs!

However, after our January weekend in Wisconsin Dells for the Robin Zander show, I didn’t realize what an amazing vocalist he was! One never knows when you watch a video, how much other stuff goes on in a song. BUT WOW!

Miles has a voice like no other, but yet, a lot like Robin Zander. When you close your eyes, it’s really freaky! Check out his version of a loved Cheap Trick song, Surrender. And he is the sweetest guy too.

 

 

If you loved that video, subscribe to my YouTube as I have many more to add from this show. Slowly but surely I will get them up.

Kelly Steward

 

Talented, beautiful, smart, kind and so much like the “girl next door”. I think this is what makes me adore her so much! She is just lovable from every angle!

The wife of Miles Nielsen, and also a member of The Nielsen Trust. Kelly brings amazing vocals and funny stories to the band. She has her own amazing career and is a beautiful singer and talented songwriter.

Remember above I said 3 words and told you to remember them? Well I did that because Over the Moon is a song that Kelly and Miles do together and it is amazing! I know I say amazing a lot, but all these artists are simply, AMAZING!

I did video a short clip of them doing Over the Moon, but thought I’d share a better one found on YouTube. Grab a tissue, cuz you will tear up!

 

The Nielsen Trust is a A Must See Show

If you are still not convinced that you need to see The Nielsen Trust I might have to come slap you! No, I won’t do that, but I will say that if you like Cheap Trick, if you like to have a good time, if you like live music, then you will LOVE The Nielsen Trust!

Shows that will entertain on many levels! Energy, Talent, Comedy, and so much more!

These amazing posters are a Limited Edition Joe Tallman Illustration screen prints were available only at shows. I am not sure what merch they will have at upcoming shows, or if they will put any back on their website so just keep checking.

 

Just look at the fun we had!

Fun weekends come and go but memories and pictures last a lifetime. The Nielsen Trust is a band to be sure and catch if you can.

I do hope to catch another show of theirs but if I don’t I will cherish these memories forever! So, till I see you again Rick, Daxx, Miles and Kelly… keep rocking and stay the awesome people you are! Oh, and give that wonderful woman that talked you into this a hug from me! ( Hi Karen )

Many have heard of this new music group, but may not know the name. I’ve seen people search for things like, The Trust, The Nielsen, Nielsen Group, Trust Band, etc. BUT… to make sure you all know, the band is called The Nielsen Trust!

The Nielsen Trust Tour

The band doesn’t play much, but they try to a few times a year. Keep an eye on their site The Nielsen Trust for all tour updates.

If you live anywhere close to any of the shows, I promise you it will be worth your time and money. Not only do they put on an amazing music performance, but the banter back and forth is like no other. Father and son’s, with stories of days gone by.

Check out this write up of The Nielsen Trust in the South Bend Tribune.