By Joanie Cox-Henry
Photo by Joanie Cox-Henry
In the era of A.I., thank God there's still Heart. Ann and Nancy Wilson kicked off the North American leg of the Royal Flush Tour on April 20 in South Carolina, and on April 25, they took their musical mastery to Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Fla. This is their first tour together since 2019.
Founded in 1973 in Seattle, Heart has undergone significant changes over the years, both in terms of musical style and lineup. While both Ann and Nancy Wilson have pursued solo projects and other collaborations over the years, I believe the real lightning in a bottle happens when these two are on stage together.
Nancy Wilson's brilliance as a guitarist lies in her unique blend of technical proficiency, emotional expression, and innovative creativity. She has a knack for crafting memorable riffs and inventive chord progressions that add depth and dimension to Heart's music. Whether she's experimenting with alternate tunings, incorporating intricate fingerpicking patterns, or layering textures with effects pedals, Nancy's guitar work always pushes the boundaries of conventional rock guitar playing.
And Ann Wilson's impact on the world of rock music is frankly immeasurable. Her flawless execution and power as a vocalist have solidified her spot as not only a rock legend but she is arguably the most relevant female rock singer on the planet. With Ann Wilson at 73 and Nancy Wilson just turning 70 in March, these ladies are still delivering their all show after show.
I honestly couldn't wait for Heart to take the stage in Hollywood, Fla., last night. It was a highly anticipated show and a packed venue.
"In the mid-70s, when we released our first album people were kind of jaw dropping," Nancy Wilson told ABC News. "We were a little bit of an anomaly out there when we started."
Ann Wilson added she wasn't sure that people even knew what to think of their rock and roll sister act. "Rock and roll was really the provence of men," Ann Wilson explained. "It always was. They just waited around to see what we would do. It took several years for us to really catch on."
They opened the show with "Bebe Le Strange," the 1980 banger about a rock star overflowing with animal magnetism. It's a hot song, and Heart immediately demonstrated that they were going to deliver the heat.
This show married the full-throttle, rocker hits like "Magic Man" and "Crazy On You" but also offered tender acoustic renditions of "Alone," "What About Love," and Zeppelin's "Going To California." Heart also debuted a new song "Roll The Dice," at this show. The upbeat rock song led by Nancy Wilson could be perfect for Hard Rock to feature for its casino action.
"These Dreams" is always a highlight for me since it's my favorite Heart song. And no Heart show would be complete without a few surprises. I can now check "Let's Dance" off my wish list for the band to cover. Ann Wilson belted out a mighty "Mistral Wind" and closed with the irresistible anthem "Barracuda."
One of my most cherished moments in the show was seeing Nancy Wilson perform her heartfelt instrumental original "4 Edward," which she wrote and dedicated to the late Eddie Van Halen. The two were friends, and Nancy had gifted the lead guitar legend with his first acoustic guitar. She mentioned that the two inspired each other creatively over the years and really had a special connection. I totally Heart that.