Heart‘s Wilson sisters have got to be having a blast in 2012. So far this year, the’ve released a new album, Fanatic, as well as their first-ever box set, Strange Euphoria. They’ve just been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They’re currently on a 50-plus city tour. And oh yeah, somehow they managed to write their combined autobiography, Kicking & Dreaming, and release it in the middle of all of this. Plus they’ve got kids. Pardon me while I sit down and rest for a moment.
Ann and Nancy Wilson, the driving forces behind Heart, have never slowed down. Fanatic, their 14th studio album, comes on the heels of 2010’s Red Velvet Car. On this album, you’ll find harder-edged material coupled with lots of introspection. (Certainly some of that conjured up by the memories sorted through for the book.) In fact, the military household in which the girls grew up had a huge influence over who they became. That feeling is evoked in new songs such as “Dear Old America” and will be part of the setlist when Heart plays the Tower Theatre on Oct. 12. Although the set list has been changing each night (they’ve been on the road since June), expect at least four songs from the new album as well as all of the hits.
Often referred to as the female Led Zeppelin, this is one band that can live up to the hype. They put up a five-song companion piece to the box set on Amazon, referred to as Heart Zeppish. We can only hope a few of those songs will be trotted out during the show (highly likely). Although they do a lovely job on the pretty acoustic-y numbers like “The Battle of Evermore,” this gal hopes for a rocker or two along the lines of “Rock and Roll.”
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And you don’t want to miss opening act Alexandro Escovedo. He also hails from a musical family with percussionist brother Coke Escovedo and percussionist/drummer niece Sheila E. His enthusiastic and exciting delivery of roots rock, Americana (or whatever you want to call it) is just plain fun. And his new song “Man of the World” is definitely one of the year’s great releases.
Heart
Ann Wilson (Vocals)
Nancy Wilson (Vocals/Guitar)
Craig Bartock (Lead guitar)
Dan Rothchild (Bass)
Ben Smith (Drums & percussion)
Debbie Shair (Keyboards & vocals)
SHOW INFO
Oct. 12: Alexandro Escovedo and the Sensitive Boys at 8 p.m. with Heart to follow at 9:15 p.m. Tower Theatre, Upper Darby. Tickets: $25-$80
