Heart performed at the Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia, on July 2. The lights went down at 9:00 P.M., and everyone started to cheer as Ann and Nancy walked out onto the stage. They looked beautiful. Ann wore her classy black outfit similar to the one she wore on The Tonight Show. She wore a few bright, shiny, sparkling necklaces and a nice ring on her finger. Nancy wore an orange top and a black skirt over blue jeans.

     The band opened with "Kick It Out" which was a great opening song. Ann still has her strong, powerful voice. She sang even higher this time around, sounding younger, almost childlike! Next, was "The Witch". Ann sang and walked around the stage with so much power, it was as if she was doing an exorcism to save someone's soul.

     Next, they went into a verse of "Papa Was A Rolling Stone," which showed the Wilson's harmony. Then they launched into "Straight On", followed by the new song, "Move On". "Even It Up" had no horn section but a harder sound than the studio version. The girls toned it down for "These Dreams", and Nancy played the acoustic guitar beautifully.

     Another new song was "Lost Angel". Ann and Nancy's way of combining soft and hard music was apparent in the new songs. Then the intro to "Crazy On You" began and the crowd went crazy. As most of the songs performed on this tour, "Crazy On You" had a harder edge than previous versions.

     Next, the stage curtain came down and Ann picked up her black acoustic guitar. Ann and Nancy displayed their killer harmonies on Elton John's "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters". In introducing "Dog and Butterfly," Ann recounted a conversation with a fan whose husband loved their music but didn't understand what the song meant.

She briefly explained the meaning of the song is about "wanting what you need but never getting it but never stop trying". Then, they went into the classic acoustic intro to the song. It is still as poetic and beautiful as it was in 1978.

     Ann's "Alone" was heartbreaking. You could feel her passion and her pain through the music. Even though she didn't write this song, you would never know that because of the way she sings it. "Alone" is truly one of Ann's signature songs.

     Ann introduced the band, then started into the next song, "The Perfect Goodbye", which was another rocker. Next came "People Get Ready" by Curtis Mayfield. Heart kicked it up a notch with "Wild Child". Hundreds of people were on their feet dancing, rockin'n rollin', clapping their hands and having the time of their lives.

     Next, Ann stepped up to the mic and sang Led Zeppelin's "Black Dog" just as good as Zeppelin, if not better. She had the audience chanting, "Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah". This was followed by "Barracuda" , Heart's signature song, and the crowd went wild! Hearing Ann sing "Ooooooooh, Barracuda" sent the crowd into a frenzy!

     Ann and Nancy left the stage, but quickly returned for the first encore. They kicked it up another notch with "Magic Man". Not only was it performed like it was 25 years ago, but Ann and Nancy did the classic harmonizing (Ahhh, ahhhh). This was followed by "Mistral Wind", which is considered by many fans to be their "Stairway To Heaven". The drummer (Ben Smith) was amazing on this song.

     Ann and Nancy left once again but returned after a minute or two for a second and final encore. They launched into Led Zeppelin' "Battle Of Evermore" with Nancy on mandolin. This is another song that shows Ann and Nancy's vocal harmony. After the line "The drums will shake the castle wall, the ring wraiths ride in black, ride on", Ben hit those drums like nothing I had ever seen. Ann's vocals at the end of this song were phenominal.

     She introduced the final song, "Dreamboat Annie", by saying, "This was one of the first songs we recorded that we weren't embarrassed to sing. We had some weird ones". Ann ended the song by playing the flute beautifully. After thanking the crowd, Ann and Nancy left the stage for the final time.

     Heart put on a first-rate show, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing them for the first time!! What a wonderful evening!!

Vienna setlist: Kick It Out * The Witch * Papa Was A Rolling Stone/Straight On * Move On * Even It Up * These Dreams * Lost Angel * Crazy On You * Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters * Dog And Butterfly * Alone * The Perfect Goodbye * Love You * Wild Child * Black Dog * Baracuda * First Encore: Magic Man * Mistral Wind * Second Encore: Battle Of Evermore * Dreamboat Annie

RockonTour   Issue #22
Concert Fan   Concertphile@yahoo.com

RockonTour.net - the Single Source for the Concertphile © 2003 RoT
RockonTour ™

 

The Wilson Sisters rock in the rain
Heart reprises its repetoire of classics

by Jeff Root