When is the last time you had a guitar pick lodged in your ear? It could have been 2010 at the Emerald Queen Casino. That's when Cheap Trick came to town. Those who have seen Cheap Trick live - maybe "At Budokan" - you know guitarist Rick Nielsen hurls around 463 guitar picks into the crowd during the band's shows.

Cheap Trick's all right, they just seem a little weird.

Like ELO, Cheap Trick might be one of the only bands that rock ironists and sincere, lighter-holding buffoons like Bobble Tiki could ever truly agree on. The band's prowess at never seeming too far off current is almost psychic and their songs are irresistible. Beyond that, there's also the fact that at this point, something like four decades in, the band is an institution - and still rock it like they have everything to prove, which couldn't be farther from the truth.

Well, maybe. Cheap trick is headed to the Washington State Fair Wednesday, Sept. 11 two perform two of its albums - At Budokan and Sgt. Pepper Live - with an orchestra(!) The show will kick off at 7:30 p.m., and tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 8 at www.thefair.com/concerts or (888) 559-FAIR (3247). Expect to pay $25-$55.

Bobble Tiki is currently trying to track down the accompany orchestra to discover if there's a rogue violinist with a propensity to fling bows into crowds. Stay tuned.