August 1, 2010 – Sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson have been together through the good times and bad over their 35 plus years in the groundbreaking rock band Heart. It boggles the mind to think of the hours spent riding with each other in the tour bus, recording songs in a studio, or putting on a show on stage. But what’s even more impressive is how the two musicians, with the help of a stellar band behind them, can pull of a concert that’s just as musically genuine and exciting as ever.
Promoting their first album of new material in half a decade, Heart’s Red Velvet Car Tour rolled into Baltimore’s Pier Six Pavilion with both the old and familiar routes to revisit, and some new avenues to explore. The energy and passion in the Wilson sisters, along with their absolutely stunning talent that never seems to fade, is the reason why watching Heart perform continues to be a thrill that can’t be matched.
There are so many powerful songs from the catalog that Heart could choose from to open their set. In the past, they’ve opted for the thumping drums and blazing guitar licks of “Wild Child“. But for this tour, “Cook with Fire“, a seldom played track from Dog & Butterfly, provided a stirring introduction of the Wilson sisters and company. The lights were dark when Nancy Wilson began to toss her hair back and rip on the guitar near the front of the stage, and before long, her sister Ann joined her at the microphone with a flute in hand.
It was both unexpected and effective; the band indeed made a great choice in opening song. And what followed was a grand mix of ’70s triumphs, ’80s knockouts, inventive new material, and cover songs like only Heart can do them.
More from this Baltimore show review at Melodic Rock Concerts
See a great set of photo’s from this show.