The rock band Heart performed for a large Altria Theater crowd on Wednesday, Dec. 17, firing up the seated, mostly older fans in attendance with a well-oiled show featuring strong renditions of their string of radio classics, including “Magic Man” (1975), “Crazy on You” (1976) and “Straight On” (1978), as well as popular later MTV ballads like “These Dreams” (1986) and “Alone” (1987), receiving standing ovations after most of their hits.
Noting it had been many years since they played here, the legendary Wilson sisters, Ann and Nancy, took the centerstage backed by three other guitarists (Ryan Waters, Ryan Wariner and Paul Moak on keys/guitar) and a rhythm section of Tony Lucido on bass and Sean T. Lane on drums. As expected, many of the highlights came thanks to the powerhouse vocals of Ann Wilson, who has hardly lost a step since her heyday, even after dealing with colon cancer, chemotherapy and a broken elbow recently. Wearing a curly wig, she sat or leaned against a bar chair most of the night, looking at times more like a smoky cabaret singer draped in blue beneath a solo spotlight.
By contrast, guitarist Nancy appeared a little more rock-and-roll with her blonde hair dyed pink and wearing a black, Stevie Nicks-style bohemian outfit while prowling the stage, injecting boosts of energy into the show with the occasional high kick. They appeared to be a study in contrasts, even their onstage banter, but some of the finest moments came when the sisters harmonized beautifully together to minimal backing.
Besides showcasing the band’s familiar catalog of hits – which includes top ten albums in four different decades – tonight’s setlist dug deep into their hard rock roots with several choice Led Zeppelin covers (“Goin’ To California,” “The Rain Song” and “The Ocean”) as well as some folkish material, from Heart’s own lilting original “Dog & Butterfly” (1978) to a set-closing cover of Joni Mitchell’s “River” from her classic “Blue” album. Of their power ballads, “Alone” stood out for its impassioned lead vocal performance, which Ann seemed to build from desperate realization into a steady tempest of longing (“How do I get you alone?”).
Before night’s end, each band member was given a chance to shine with their own brief solo instrumental. Apart from a stormy drum solo utilizing clashing bells and other spooky violin-like effects that reminded me of the interlude in “Whole Lotta Love,” the most memorable was the acoustic solo by Nancy that she dedicated to Edward Van Halen. Recounting an old story from when Heart opened for the “hard-partying” Pasadena rockers in 1979, she explained that Eddie had once complimented her acoustic playing (and not in a “you’re good for a girl” way). This led to her gifting him her spare acoustic Ovation guitar, and him excitedly calling her hotel room in the wee hours of the morning to say how much he loved it. At the end of her solo, she pointed toward the heavens in acknowledgement of the legendary guitarist, who died in 2020.
Instead of leaving the stage after their tight, 90-minute set, which started promptly at 7:30 p.m., the band stuck around and immediately launched into its crowd-pleasing rendition of Zeppelin’s “The Ocean,” with its anthemic riffs and crowd chanting “na-na-na-nas.” Then it was time to close out the night with a familiar hit of their own, “Barracuda” (1977), a chugging rocker originally inspired by a former record label (Mushroom Records) that allegedly invented a rumor about the sisters being incestuous for publicity; rightly offended and angry, they wrote this propulsive hit and promptly recorded it for another label. Now the song seems directed toward any and all predatory sleazebags in the music biz.
My one big question going in: The band hadn’t released original material since 2016, would this Royal Flush tour feel overly nostalgic, like a warmed-over greatest hits package? It didn’t. Instead, the sisters seemed to be drawing shared energy from the music itself, with Ann admitting that she still often chokes up because the lyrics to “The Rain Song” are so moving to her. They delivered the show like consummate pros, and it felt like a triumphant third act to see them back onstage in a familiar place, basking in the love from fans.
Set list:
“Bebe Le Strange”
“Never”
“Love Alive”
“Little Queen”
“These Dreams”
“Crazy on You”
“Dog & Butterfly”
“Goin’ to California” (Led Zeppelin cover)
“4 Edward”
“Magic Man”
“You’re the Voice” (Chris Thompson cover)
“The Rain Song”
“Straight On/Let’s Dance” (Bowie cover)
“Alone/What About Love”
“River” (Joni Mitchell cover)
ENCORE:
“The Ocean” (Zeppelin cover)
“Barracuda”
