Heart in Perth, Australia, 15 October 2011

At the beginning of 2011, I moved to Perth with my partner, after spending my entire life in Seattle. There were several factors involved in our decision to pack up and ship off to the other side of the planet, personal and professional reasons that aren't particularly relevant here. The music of Heart, my childhood idols and hometown heroes, has always served as a soundtrack to my life. But even more prominently throughout 2010, as I enjoyed my last year in Seattle, saying goodbye to family and friends for a new journey of sorts.

At the end of Summer 2010, I spent an enjoyable evening with my friend Brian, listening to Red Velvet Car from start to finish, scanning the lyrics and scrutinizing the songs' meanings like two children with new toys in their hands. We also attended Heart's EMP show earlier in the year in March, captured on film for the Night at Sky Church DVD. Look closely and you'll see me, Brian, his partner Steve, and our friend Ryan in the front row, right in front of Nancy Wilson. I could have reached up and touched her! Heart debuted six songs from Red Velvet Car at that show. I had a gut-feeling 2010 would be a good year for the band (lo and behold, 2011 has been even better!). The result? A Billboard #1 album that met with rave reviews upon its release. Red Velvet Car showcased Heart's signature acoustic/electric marriage, a confident foot forward without retreading the past, not to mention some of the most moving lyrics Ann and Nancy have ever put to song. After spending the 90s primarily out of the spotlight, Heart had been working up a momentum since 2001, and with Red Velvet Car the band was now two for two in the studio--the album was a solid follow-up to their amazing 2004 album Jupiter's Darling. I'm not sure what happened to Jupiter's Darling and why it's so hard to find, but it's an eclectic gem worth tracking down.

And finally, Heart's show at Puyallup Fair in September 2010 was a last hurrah of sorts for me personally. It was a gorgeous night at the tail end of Summer, and the band was inspired and clearly happy to return to an enthusiastic hometown crowd. One last awesome show, and that was it for me. I thought I'd probably never see Heart in concert again. Unless I'm visiting family and friends in the States and Heart just happens to be playing a show wherever I'm at. But things don't work out that way usually, so I just chalked it up to this: A warm, symbolic farewell from my favorite band. Of course, Heart had absolutely no idea it was a farewell, but that was fine with me. Thanks for rocking my world, I thought, as the curtain came down on the Seattle part of my life. In the future, I would have to live vicariously through the eyes and ears of friends back home as they relayed their after-show reports.


But then after a few months in Perth, the announcement came: Heart would tour Australia and New Zealand with Def Leppard! WHAT?! And here we are today. Er...or, yesterday. So, how was the Perth show?

The opening act was supposed to be the Choirboys, a classic Australian rock band, but I suspect it wasn't them. The band strolled onstage like guitar techs, the singer/guitarist mumbled the band's name in the mic (which I couldn't make out at all), said they play downtown on a regular basis, introduced and thanked the drummer for sticking with them since he joined this last Wednesday. And on two different songs, the singer/guitarist was bashing away in minor keys while the blues harpist wailed away at his major key harmonica. None of this band's performance suggested this was indeed a great, classic Australian rock band. Unless they've become a shambles. If anyone attended the Perth show and can confirm or correct me on who this band was, then please do so. Frankly, after this band (whoever they are) finished, I thought, OK maybe it's time for the Choirboys? Nope. To my astonishment, Heart was up next. But I'll get to that after a few words about the headliners.

Def Leppard's set was quite good, to be expected, as they've been perfecting this show for years now. Their set is all flash, with lights and video footage on the screens behind drummer Rick Allen. The band still prowl the stage like dogs let loose, and their set list was rife with hits. Joe Elliot sounds good after all these years. A shirtless Phil Collen, my high school celebrity crush, combed the stage as he played, looking even hotter and sexier at age 54 than he did 20 years ago! Overall, Def Leppard have always been good entertainment, and they didn't disappoint.

But Heart, for my money, was always more musically engaging. There's more adventure to their arrangements, and they've consistently staked out new musical territory, expanding on what they've accomplished musically without retreading the past. Heart's set reflected this, but seemed driven by two frames of reference. First, the band's set list was hits-laden and contained nothing they've recorded since 1991. Perhaps this served as a reminder to Australian audiences of Heart's most famous material. Second and more importantly, because Australian audiences were not comprised of familiar faces, Heart could not, and ultimately did not, remain complacent. Having seen several of their US shows over the last few years--all of which were great, primarily because Heart has been in a late career stride since 2004--the band's energy was distinctly more hungry, as if they had something to prove their first time touring Australia.

Their set was too short, at 10 songs in 45-50 minutes. Their cover of Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll" served as a good opening number, a showcase for Ann's singing. The 70s were represented in their best known songs: "Magic Man," Barracuda," "Straight On," and "Crazy on You." The stop-start ending of "Straight On" was effective and drew ample audience response. And Nancy's acoustic guitar intro to "Crazy on You" was great, incorporating elements of Appalachian folk, rockabilly, and bits of Zep's "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" before launching into those iconic "Crazy on You" strummed chords. This has become one of my favorite moments in Heart's show over the last few years. Elsewhere, the 80s were represented by "What About Love," a beautifully stripped down "Alone," and Nancy getting her own vocal showcase on "These Dreams." Heart also covered John Farnham's "You're the Voice" affectively (which they'd included on their Rock the House! LIVE! album in 1991). And finally, they wrapped their set with the Who's "Love Reign O'er Me," which has become a staple of their shows in the last few years.

Video screens on the sides of stage were quite nice, as we could see their facial expressions and engagement with the music. Bassist Kristian Attard bounced about the stage, as did Debbie Shair behind her keyboards and Ben Smith behind the drum kit. Lead guitarist Craig Bartock's playing was impeccable, and he roamed the stage with poise. Nancy prowled the stage guitar in hand, leapt into the air and danced about, and appeared to hold the key to eternal youth. But Ann is another story. Inevitably, everyone always addresses how Ann looks, even when they mention her outstanding performances. So let's get this out of the way: Ann looked healthy, happy, and in great physical shape overall. She's such a gorgeous lady, and her positive energy was palpable and certainly came through in her performance. Where most singers go to 10, Ann often goes to 11, and she was unstoppable in Perth. Ann's vocals were passionate, expressive, and nuanced. In the last few years, she's attributed a newfound subtlety ("pulling back," as she's said) to her work with producer Ben Mink. Perhaps that's why Ann's 11 moments stand out even more now than ever before, and there were plenty of them in Perth.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: This incarnation of Heart is my favorite, and arguably their best lineup. They've only recorded two studio albums in the last decade, both of which are among Heart's best ever albums; and their shows have reflected a sense of commitment to their music, respecting their own history while staking out new musical territory and building upon it with great new songs. Hopefully Aussie audiences are compelled enough to seek out Jupiter's Darling and Red Velvet Car, and get an understanding of where Heart is in their current artistic state.

And while my Heart experiences during 2010, my last year in Seattle, felt like a last hurrah, a farewell of sorts, the band's performance in Perth was like the most awesome housewarming gift ever. And of course, they had no idea. But that's OK, I'm fine with that. Thanks for rockin' my world again, one last time!

Set List:

Rock & Roll (Led Zeppelin cover)

Magic Man

What About Love

Straight On

You're the Voice (John Farnham cover)

These Dreams

Alone

Crazy On You

Barracuda

Love Reign O'er Me (The Who cover)

Archived Review: Heart at EMP, 6 March 2010

Heart played at the EMP here in Seattle this last Friday night, debuting a handful of new songs from their upcoming album Red Velvet Car (due to drop in July) and filming a DVD in the process. Overall, the set list was very similar to their Puyallup Fair show last September and the performances tonight were just as great. So I won't spend much time discussing the oldies in the set list here, other than a few mental notes I've made in the last few days: (1) special guest Alison Krauss sang lead vocal on "These Dreams," and it suited her voice very well, (2) the band played nothing from their brilliant 2004 album Jupiter's Darling (AHEM... *arms crossed and waiting for an explanantion*), and (3) there were NO LED ZEPPELIN COVERS! I didn't notice this until a few hours after the show. Well, I guess even Heart needs a break from Zep every now and then. And on to the new stuff...

"WTF" ("World Taekwondo Federation," Ann joked onstage) was the first of the bunch, and it's a rocker with a lot of shifting dynamics--hard electric interludes between quieter acoustic verses, and seemingly no chorus. Ann's facial expressions seemed kind of angry as she snarled some of the lyrics, but all I could understand was "what's the matter with you?" (loud song + loud sound system = indecipherable lyrics, naturally). I wasn't sure what to think, honestly, and I'll need to hear it again. I am definitely intrigued though, as it seems like one of Heart's punkier efforts.

"Hey You" is a new Nancy Wilson song, folky and melodic, and with autoharp! "I swear by my September stars I'll be going where you're going" caught my ear (very Bernie Taupin!), and my perception of the lyrics was that this is a hopeful and encouraging song, possibly directed at someone having a hard time. One of those songs that took 10 years to write, Nancy said. Great thing they had patience because the song is really quite gorgeous.

"Red Velvet Car" is another Ann song, reminiscent of Zep's "Since I've Been Loving You." Bluesy and slow-burning, the song starts off rather subdued and works toward a climactic middle section, and then back down again. It's a perfect vehicle (pun intended, yes) for Ann's incredible range.

"Safronia's Mark" (title according to Motley Sue on the Heart bbs) is a rocker and yet there was not an electric guitar in sight. This is probably one of my favorite things about Heart, how they can rock hard on all-acoustic tracks. This performance also included Alison Krauss and Ben Mink (producer of Red Velvet Car) on violins. This song also has one hell of a catchy chorus.

"Sand" is actually a Lovemongers song (A&N's 90s band with Sue Ennis, Frank Cox and Ben Smith), from their 1997 album Whirlygig. However, this version featured only Ann and Nancy with acoustic guitars. I wondered why they would re-record this song (aside from the fact that it's a really great song that should be heard by a larger audience than it was originally met with), and it occurred to me that it might be because of the deaths of Ann and Nancy's parents. I am not sure of this, so don't take it as fact. Anyhow, this was a great performance and I'll be curious to hear the new studio version as well.

Finally, "There You Go Again" is another all-acoustic guitar based rocker (at least on stage Friday night), funky and definitely a descendent of "Straight On." This song's a winner, with a really catchy chorus. I couldn't stop myself from shakin' my groove thang.

If the new songs are any indication of the album as a whole, then Red Velvet Car should be really engaging. Strangely, these songs reminded me of Little Queen era Heart, with the combination of acoustic and electric instruments, encompassing a wide range of emotions in the lyrics, and exploring an eclectic musical terrain. Ben Mink was a perfect choice of producer for the material Heart debuted on Friday night, as he probably understands the acoustic/electric marriage in Heart's music in ways that past producers might not have. So I've got a fan's confidence that he was the right producer for the job. And this lineup of Heart? Well, there's not much to say, really. This is my favorite incarnation--Deb, Ben, Kristian (onstage), Rick (in the studio), and Craig are top-notch musicians, with an undeniable alchemy. I feel sorry for some fans who still long for the 70s lineup to reunite, as those fans are missing out on some amazing musicianship. Not a lot of bands with Heart's longevity rock as hard, or seem to have as much fun onstage as they do these days.

Overall, the band's performance on Friday night was pretty sharp, and it should translate well to DVD. Ann and Nancy kept their sense of humor as makeup and hair people (the "fixy, fixy, fixers," as per Nancy) ran onstage a handful of times throughout the show. "Well ya know, we gotta look cute while we're filming this thing," Ann joked and rolled her eyes. It's all about the effin' music, and the band reiterated that in spades.

Set list (as posted on www.heartlinker.eu and on the bbs at www.heart-music.com):

Barracuda

Never (Nancy harmonica solo)

Kick It Out

Straight On

Love Alive

Mistral Wind

Back To Avalon (Nancy vox)

These Dreams (Allison Krauss lead vox)

WTF – New song (Ann vox)

Hey You – New song (Nancy vox)

Red Velvet Car – New song (Ann vox)

Safronia’s Mark – New song (Ann vox)

What About Love

Alone (trio: Ann, Nancy, Debbie)

Love Reign O’er Me

Crazy On You

Encores:

Sand (Ann and Nancy duet – Ann confirmed it will be on the new album)

Your Long Journey (Krauss song)

There You Go Again – New song (Ann vox)

Magic Man

Archived Review: Heart @ Puyallup Fair, 23 Sept 2009

Heart played the Puyallup Fair this last Wednesday, to a sold out house of approximately 10,000 fans. I was clued in by several die-hard touring-gypsy fans that the band were walking out on stage to Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.” Of course, once the recording hit the clanging mid-section, the stage lights went out, the crowd erupted, and the silhouettes of the band members could be seen strolling out from the wings. I was right up front, clinging to the edge of the stage when the lights came up and Nancy Wilson was joyously clutching an electric guitar. She teased the crowd with a few noises and sounds before throwing her arm in the air and finally launching into the signature riff of “Barracuda.” As the band bludgeoned the crowd with the song’s introduction, Ann Wilson walked out, right down the center of the stage, with an intent look as if her sole purpose was to spit out that opening line: "So this ain't the end, I saw you again today, I had to turn my heart away!" From there, we were all in the palm of Heart's collective hand until the show ended. “Barracuda” was as blistering as it should be.

Song number two was quite a surprise, a re-worked version of their 1985 hit single “Never.” This version featured acoustic guitar quite prominently, moving along at the same mid-tempo pace as the original recording, with Nancy Wilson adding in a great blues harp solo in the middle. It was still every bit the sing-along it always was.

“Kick it Out” was rockier than ever, almost metal, as one of my friends astutely observed. For “Straight On,” currently touring bassist Christian Attard surrendered his instrument to special guest Mike Inez, who played with Heart at the beginning of the decade just prior to rejoining Alice in Chains. “Straight On” was funky, with the band augmenting the song with a teaser of a stop-start ending. The crowd became unglued.

“Love Alive” and “Mistral Wind” followed. Both songs begin with folky acoustic guitars and build dramatically to their final verses. They provided a nice change of pace, nicely balancing the show’s first four straight-ahead rockers. Following both of these was the first Led Zeppelin cover of the night, “Immigrant Song,” as it was re-worked for Ann’s 2007 solo album Hope & Glory. Like “Love Alive” and “Mistral Wind,” this particular version of “Immigrant Song” works better than Zep's original because of its build toward the climactic ending. It’s a perfect showcase for Ann’s range as a vocalist, from her subtlety to her power. And it was great to hear her sing it in concert.

“Back to Avalon” was a very welcome surprise! Aside from the fact that it’s my favorite song on Heart’s most obscure and underappreciated album Desire Walks On (from 1993), it’s just a kick ass number that I always felt was musical kin to “Love Alive.” This version was fairly faithful to the original recording, but featured Nancy on lead vocal in concert (Ann sang the original studio recording). Keyboardist Debbie Shair picked up the accordion and drummer Ben Smith kept a steady Zep-like beat, with Ann singing harmony before claiming the bridge as her own.

For “These Dreams,” Nancy pulled out the mandolin and reinvented the song yet once again. This is probably my favorite arrangement of “These Dreams,” placing musical emphasis on acoustic instruments with ultimate focus on Nancy’s lead vocal, as she effortlessly spun out Bernie Taupin’s gorgeous prose.

“What About Love” was yet another surprise. Truthfully, this has never been one of my favorite Heart songs. But Ann’s lead vocal was powerful, and Nancy’s acoustic guitar was right up front—which was not the case with the original studio recording. “Alone” followed, with the guys in the band leaving the stage, with Nancy on acoustic guitar, Debbie on keyboards, and Ann front and center. This was arguably one of Ann’s finest performances of the song, as she punctuated the lyric “I always got by on my own” with arm gestures and facial expressions, lending a sense of drama. The idea that even a strong-willed person can be consumed by loneliness and passion was a nuance of the song that Ann perfectly highlighted.

The main set closed with a powerful rendition of the Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me” and Heart’s own “Crazy on You.” The former was epic, building in drama and intensity with keyboard motives that gave way to heavy electric guitar dominated choruses evoking the song’s yearning for peace. “Crazy on You” began with a killer acoustic guitar solo by Nancy, very similar to the original Dreamboat Annie version, but extended with some really funky passages. She was clearly on a plain, playing with so much joy and passion. And in that iconic moment where her solo slows down and pauses before launching into frenetic block chords, she looked as though she were about to burst. And when the band joined in, she practically leapt into the air, dancing about the stage.

For the encore, Nancy brought out the mandolin again for a cover of Zeppelin’s “Going to California.” The full-band arrangement, dominated by mandolin and acoustic guitar, managed to retain all of the subtlety of Zep’s original voice-and-guitar version. Ann sang Robert Plant’s original lyrics as if she were weary but happy to be back home. Finally, the band ended the show with “Magic Man,” their iconic first hit from 1976.

What was most striking about this particular show was Nancy Wilson’s palpable energy. At several points in the show, I noticed the other band members watching Nancy, as if she were the focal point for tempo changes, etc. Lead guitarist Craig Bartok complimented Nancy’s rhythm guitar work perfectly, and bassist Kristian Attard functioned amazingly well as part of the rhythm section with drummer Ben Smith. Overall, there is little doubt that this incarnation of Heart is incredibly significant. In my humble opinion, this is my favorite line up and I hope they will continue to explore their vast musical possibilities, both on stage and in the studio.

The only complaint I have is that Heart’s brilliant 2004 album Jupiter's Darling went ignored in the evening’s set list, which is unfortunate. Nonetheless, the show was rightfully met by an ecstatic crowd. Most bands with Heart’s longevity (30-plus years) are not as aurally visceral as they were on Wednesday night, so it was great to see the band feed off the energy of their hometown crowd and return it with some kick ass rock.