ALLENTOWN, Pa. — This year should have been a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Heart's debut album, "Dreamboat Annie."
Instead, after a year off as singer Ann Wilson has recovered from cancer, the band's current tour has been sort of a proving ground on its future.
Heart's headline opening night of Allentown Fair's grandstand on Wednesday wasn't the typical 50th anniversary blowout, but seemed more an acknowledgement of the band's triumph.
The 17-song, 96-minute set (with no opening act) seemed to please not only singer Ann Wilson and her guitarist sister, Nancy, but the crowd appearing to be less than 7,000, as well.
And the 17-song, 96-minute set (with no opening act) seemed to please not only Wilson and her guitarist sister, Nancy, but the crowd appearing to be less than 7,000, as well.
It's fair to say a lot of eyes were on Ann Wilson's performance, and the audience gave her a partial standing ovation as she was led to the microphone, where she spent the night singing from a high seat.
Early in the show, such as on the opening 1980 minor hit "Bebe Le Strange," her vocals seemed more reserved, though she still delivered them with power and tone.
The presentation of the 1985 hit power ballad "Never" was similarly lighter, and Wilson hinted at her classic-era power with scat singing on the slower, gentler 2005 album title track "Love Alive."
Nancy Wilson, though, was kinetic from the start, jumping and kicking as she played — belying her 71 years (Ann Wilson is 75).
Not 'obeying the rules'
Before the 1977 minor hit "Little Queen" — which rocked a bit more, but was a lessor song — Ann Wilson noted the group's 50 years ("time flies when you're doing rock 'n' roll," she said).
And she said that throughout its career, Heart "never did have much luck with obeying the rules."
She was referring to the fact it was a woman-led band and both rocked and played touching songs. But it clearly applied to Wednesday's concert, as well.
Despite it being the 50th anniversary of "Dreamboat Annie," the group played just two of its songs — even skipping the title track.
But when it played that disc's hit "Crazy on You" — starting with Nancy Wilson playing acoustic in a spotlight — it finally showed that Ann Wilson's voice remains powerful.
The song requires such power, and also juxtaposes it with gentle singing, and Ann Wilson delivered both.
It clearly was what the crowd wanted — as it gave Heart another partial standing ovation.
"This is a rock f—-ing band, but we also do tender ballads," Ann Wilson said, introducing the gentle and sweet 1979 hit "Dog & Butterfly."
It was one of those moments in which the sisters seemed to be embracing life, as Ann Wilson told the crowd to "look at that beautiful moon — it's perfect" (The night's weather, too, was great — clear and dipping to 63 degreed by the concert's end.)
Departures from the expected
Ironically, Ann Wilson's voice helped tremendously singing backup on the group's first No. 1 hit, 1986's "These Dreams," featuring Nancy Wilson as lead vocalist. It was very good.
"We had a lot of bad hairdos in the '80s," she said. "We also had some good songs in the '80s."
Nancy Wilson also took center stage for a gentle, heartfelt instrumental, "4 Edward," which she introduced with a story about how it was written for her mutual admiration with Eddie Van Valen, for whose group Van Halen Heart often opened.
Another departure from the typical anniversary tour — but much in line with Heart's personal celebration — it played three songs by its inspiration, Led Zeppelin.
"Going to California" was a nice interpretation of the gentle Led Zep hit — and Ann Wilson did well on the high-pitched middle section. It got a big hand.
Later, Zeppelin's "The Rain Song" was less successful, but it's not among that band's best, either.
The set also included Heart's 1991 cover of the song "You're the Voice" — not bad, but an odd choice for a 50th anniversary show.
Despite the relative brevity of the show, few songs you might expect were missed. They didn't play the 1986 hit "Nothing at All," nor 1990's "Stranded" and "All I Want to Do is Make Love to You."
Playing the hits
But it was Heart's biggest hits that the crowd clearly wanted, as a later offering of its first hit and signature song, "Magic Man."
It started with a two-minute, very Zeppelin-esque sounding solo from the five-member band's drummer and ended with a two-minute interlude from the band's two other guitarists.
But Ann Wilson's delivery, while perhaps not reaching that of the original recording, was powerful and tonally good. It also got a partial standing ovation.
The 1978 hit "Straight On" sounded like the classic Ann Wilson, and added great harmonies. It led into a cover of David Bowie's "Let's Dance."
And the main set closed with a six-minute mash-up of the 1987 chart-topper "Alone" and 1985's "What About Love" — two power ballads that built Ann Wilson's vocal reputation, and she nailed them. The only complaint is that both deserved full-length treatment.
The encore opened with Led Zeppelin's "The Ocean," a fun turn stretched by a long guitar solo, then right into the rocking 1977 hit "Barracuda."
It was well done — just as fans remember it, and it should be.
A fitting close for a 50th anniversary celebration, personal or not.
